I would consider NatCH's comments pretty accurate, with about 50% of associates working out pretty well. However, I've also seen this as a two-way street and not always the fault of the employer, but often the fault of the employee/associate, and I will explain.
First, please remember that in many markets, it's extremely difficult for a new doctor to establish a practice. The cost of opening a new practice is ridiculously high, especially if you ALREADY have a high debt due to school loans.
If you rent a space, there's a good chance you will have to incur large costs for a "build out" to turn it into a DPM office, even if it was previously used for a doctor's office. You must purchase expensive equipment such as treatment chairs, x-ray equipment if you decide to take x-rays, a developer, computers, instruments, supplies, cast shoes, cast boots, a cast cutter, copier, fax machine, plus about a hundred other things it takes to run an office. Not to mention the cost of health insurance, disability insurance, employee salaries, workmen's comp insurance, office liability insurance, rent/mortgage on the office, utilities, hospital dues, APMA dues, ACFAS dues, ABPS dues, etc. BEFORE you even see your first patient!!!!
On the other hand, you can whine and complain of not being paid "enough" while working for a DPM group and not getting enough "respect", but having ZERO expenses and getting a guaranteed paycheck each and every week, while the OTHER doctor has the responsibility of filling your appointment book and paying all the expenses I've mentioned above.
Sometimes, it 'ain't so bad when you look at it from the employer's perspective!! If it snows for a week, and our associates see ZERO patients, they still collect a paycheck!
Now here comes the part where I've seen many associates ruin the relationship early on in their contracts. They agree to a set number, and then get "pissed off" when they begin to "count the other doctor's money".
I'll give you a perfect example;
Let's say a first year associate is making $78,000 his first year before any bonuses, etc. That means he's making $1,500 weekly or $300 a day. Then he has a few days when he makes orthoses for 2 patients a day a few days a week. So each week he's averaging 5 pairs of orthoses a week. And he's also doing about 3 pairs of diabetic shoes weekly and two surgeries weekly.
Now his wheels start turning and he thinks that the office is getting $450 or more for the orthoses x 5 a week, and is getting $300+ dollars per pair of shoes x 3 a week and is getting at least $900 per surgery x 2 per week. Therefore, despite ALL the other patients he's seeing a week, the office is grossing $4,950 on JUST those 10 patients, and all he is grossing is a stinking $1,500!!
So, now he is bitter and is "counting the other doctor's money". However, he is forgetting that the other doctor is paying his malpractice, hospital dues, rent, ABPS dues, ACFAS dues, APMA dues, DEA registration, state license fees, and all office over head and YES is making a profit.
The assoicate also forgets that he will be getting a bonus and will be working his way up the ladder in the practice and his salary will be increasing.
But instead of understanding, he starts to bitch to the office staff about how much Dr. Owner makes, and about how "cheap" Dr. Owner is, and how Dr. "Owner" takes a lot of vacations, and drives a REALLY nice car, and wears a REALLY nice Rolex and wears REALLY expensive suits, etc.,, etc.
But the young doctor forgets that the office staff has been working for Dr. Owner for a LONG time and has a loyalty to him, not the new associate. So, of course they tell Dr. Owner and now he's not happy. He doesn't want anyone in HIS office speaking poorly about him, especially to his own office staff.
So, now an unnecessary tension develops because Dr. Associate is bitter and jealous, and Dr.Owner has lost his trust in Dr. Associate.
So my point is that it's not always the partners/owners screwing the new associate. Many times the associate simply isn't willing to pay his/her dues and doesn't realize that most of the owners/partners worked hard to get where they are presently. The owners aren't trying to screw them, but just like a law firm, accounting firm, etc., you aren't made a partner on day one and it's something that comes with hard work and dedication, not with whining and jealously.
That's not to say that there aren't a-holes as owners/partners out there that treat associates like crap and chew them up and spit them out. There are bad apples in all professions, and I can not defend those pricks.
....Not very realistic ....As a DPM, I'd say almost improbable........A DPM has NEVER made it to 0-7....Usually rear admirals are selected by a special committee composed of other senior officers, etc.....As a MSC officer & DPM, it would be VERY difficult to secure a recommendation from a 0-7 & above in order to be considered...Then, once u get that, it takes the SENATE to actually vote on you & u gotta get a majority vote...Then......say u get that, it goes to the president, & based on ur record, he could select you...MD's/DO's can become a Surgeon General (Vice-Admiral=0-9)
