Shortage of Dermatologists???

[Sparky Man]

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Hey everyone,

Twice this week someone has told me there is a shortage of dermatologists. Is there any truth to this? This came up at my mother's dermatologist (in CA) and at my pre-matriculation physical (NY). Since it's such a competitive specialty, I'm wondering if there will be more residency positions in the future...

Anyway, I'm not super interested in the specialty, but this was news to me.

Sparky

 

[Bfriccia1]

Hey everyone,

Twice this week someone has told me there is a shortage of dermatologists. Is there any truth to this? This came up at my mother's dermatologist (in CA) and at my pre-matriculation physical (NY). Since it's such a competitive specialty, I'm wondering if there will be more residency positions in the future...

Anyway, I'm not super interested in the specialty, but this was news to me.

Sparky

A dermatologist in my hometown told me that she is having a lot of trouble finding anybody to work with her in her practice. She is really busy in a suburb of nyc but every derm person she talks to either wants to work part time or do a lot of cosmetics. She said that the dermatologists limit the supply of new attendings each year and she thinks there is a big shortage. Don't know if this is true everywhere but if its true in my area then its probably true elsewhere.

 

[DrBowtie]

Just try cold calling a dermatologist to get an appointment. It can be up to 3 months. Whether this is a real shortage or a purposely tight controlled to protect salaries shortage is up for debate.

 

[doc05]

yes, there is a shortage due to the fact that the # residency positions is so limited. this, however, means job prospects for derm residency graduates is very good, and the # spots will unlikely change anytime soon.

 

[thackl]

yes, there is a shortage due to the fact that the # residency positions is so limited. this, however, means job prospects for derm residency graduates is very good, and the # spots will unlikely change anytime soon.

You forgot to mention that this is done intentionally........ one of the many abuses by Dr's when they were "in control". As HMO's and businessmen continue to wrestle that control away, this will change. I think we will eventually find a healthy ballance for everyone but the patient 👎

 

[Dental08?09]

My wife is a derm PA and she got an offer to work in an orlando practice for $180k a year !!! Currently she makes around 120k a year including year end and quarterly bonus.

Insane. I would never ever pay a PA that much. So seeing they pay PA's so much, I would assume there is a huge shortage of Derm MD's

 

[DrBowtie]

My wife is a derm PA and she got an offer to work in an orlando practice for $180k a year !!! Currently she makes around 120k a year including year end and quarterly bonus.

Insane. I would never ever pay a PA that much. So seeing they pay PA's so much, I would assume there is a huge shortage of Derm MD's

Not really. Although they are paying her higher wages, that means they can book more appointments. The increased income from these patients would more than cover her salary. Overall, there is a reason there is a shortage....They are protecting their profession.

 

[Sustiva]

There certainly are a shortage of REAL dermatologists...cosmetic dermatologists are everywhere. At the ID office I work, it was very difficult finding a dermatologist that would see a patient for HIV related skin problems... they all want to do botox.

 

[ForSkin]

there is no such consortium of dermatologists plotting to keep the numbers in their profession scarce. family med docs want to be "skin specialists" and freeze off some ak's and diagnose melanoma .... go right ahead. derm residency slots are funded by the federal governement and derm programs for years fought to expand the number of slots. recently, they have gone so far as to start a pilot program in which private drug companies would sponsor an additional 10-15 derm residency spots for this upcoming year - completely unprecedented and wrought with tons of conflicts of interests issues.

derms hire PA's and nurses precisely to handle the patient load and to serve the community more expeditiously. also consider the fact that the typical graduating derm resident is now a 29-31 year old female, working or hoping to work on her second kid, averages about 70% the productivity of her male counterpart, and would prefer to work part-time doing fillers and botox. hey, they kicked our asses in med school, so kudos to them for getting what they can.