part-time post-residency

[baya]

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Does anyone know whether it's often possible / practical to work 1/2 to 3/4 time immediately post residency?

I know I would have to negotiate with the other people in the practice, since it's hard to set up a solo practice right off the bat in ophtho, and I'm not sure if the prevailing culture is very amenable to part-time work.

I also realize it depends on the area of the country that one is in. I'm particularly interested in the West Coast, with an emphasis on northern California.

Thanks for any info.

 

[cme2c]

Certainly possible. I think you will see a decrease in the number of open jobs. Docs are worried about the economy and don't want to risk the money on a new associate. Academics would be an area that part-time works great. That said, I think you will have a little trouble finding a full-blown partnership opportunity if you are only going to work 1/2 to 3/4 time.

 

[speyeder]

It's certainly possible. Of all the surgical fields, ophtho is the one most amenable to part time work. On the AAO website, I've seen ads for part-time ophthalmologists. Another possibility is working locum tenems. I think this will be a more viable option in the future for practices wanting to expand but not wanting to make a full commitment for taking on a new associate fulltime. The only downside with locum work is lack of stability and the lack of a partnership track.

Do you plan on working as an operating ophthalmologist? The reason I ask is that if you are, you might encounter the issue of generating enough surgical cases for yourself working part time. Basically, if you work 3 days a week & operate on 1 day, that only leaves you with 2 days/week of clinic to generate surgical volume. Unless you have some other route of bringing in cases, you may have to settle operating every other week or so, because it may not be worth your time to do a few cases on an OR day.

One last option to consider is working for the VA attached to a residency program. I know a VA attending who works 1.5 days/week. She operates 1 full day with the residents and does a 1/2 day of clinic/week. She gets away with this because the residents generate the surgical cases from clinic when she's not there. She just comes to operate.

 

[Wolverine98]

I know several people who have successfully gotten part-time positions after residency, both in private practice and in academic centers.