What does a endocrinologist/pulmonologist do?

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surgeon_hopeful

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Hi,

I guess you can say that I'm trolling, but I'm just posting this message in various forums just to get a general idea of what this type of doctor does.

1. What are some of the procedures that this type of doctor does?
2. How would you rate the lifestyle and compensation for these doctors?
3. How competitive is this type of speciality? Is it a speciality where just about everyone who wants it, gets it or what?

thanks (answers for both specialities would be appreciated, but not required)

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Strange question actually, are you in med school, because if you are you should already know about this.

Anyways,

endocrinologist study thyroid disease, diabetes, obesity, anything that deals with hormonal regulation. It's actually harder to get into endocrine now given that the obesity and diabetes epidemics are getting more press time - and especially if you want to go to a top program. I'm starting endo next year for fellowship. The money isn't much more than a primary care doc, but you do have a better lifestyle than primary care and it's really academic but fun. Not much procedures, thus not so much pay, however you do do thyroid biopsy via ultrasounds. Most endocrinologists make between $160K to $200K a year (which is close to what a hospitalist makes who didn't need to do two years of training). I enjoy endo, and I don't want to work 60 hours a week that hospitalists work in order to make the same amount of money I work 30-40 hours a week as an endocrinologist.

pulmonologist deal with critical care medicine and pulmonology. Most programs train you to be an ICU doctor - you do office work in terms of asthma, restrictive lung disease, etc - but the bulk of your money comes from being an intensivist and doing procedures like bronchoscopy, tracheostomy, chest tubes, thoracentesis, central line placements, etc. Lots of excitement, but also a lot of responsibility and stress - all your patients are dying and septic and you're basically keeping them alive on ventilators and pressors and hope they pull through - lots of deaths you experience.
 
critical care/pulmonologists make around $180K to 240K per year depending on what you do and where you do it, some places more. Top programs are hard to get into, since most hospitals when they hire an ICU doctor wants ones that come from the best training programs. Competitioin is not as bad as cards or GI or heme/onc, however getting into a top program can be tough if you don't know anyone.

if you are going into surgery, you don't need to know about these subspecialties...word of advice, don't do general surgery - do either plastics, orthopedics, neurosurgery (stay away from CT surgery, there's too many of them out there who are unemployed now).

good luck
 
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Out of curiosity, how competitive are endo fellowships?
 
critical care/pulmonologists make around $180K to 240K per year depending on what you do and where you do it, some places more.

good luck

Really? When I was looking into this, I keep comming accross averages that have PCCM making more. Entry is about 210, average of 288 with a max closer to the mid 300's. I would assume a sleep fellowship would boost you some, but Im not sure about how much.

Where did you get your numbers?
 
Endo fellowships are not as competitive as other fellowships, such as GI or Cards, but it is getting more difficult to get into the "top tiered" programs - especially in cities where everyone wants to live in, such as Los Angeles, New York, etc. If you have a good academic record, research, and strong letters - you're likely to get into one of your top choices.


In terms of where I got the numbers from - I'm talking about California salaries - we have an over supply of specialist in the big cities, and so salaries are lower than other parts of the country - your numbers probably apply outside of Los Angeles where I live. I got my numbers from critical care attendings and job postings in the area.

good luck
 
I am currently in the job hunt for a Pulm/CCM position and salary quotes out of fellowship are starting at $250K to $265K for a private practice position. In academics....expect to make less than half that. The quotes I am getting probably have lot to do with the market I am looking in (West/Northwest). I suspect pickins' aren't as good in areas that are more saturated with physicians (Northeast, California for example). There is a fairly wide spectrum of salary for Pulm/CCM out there.
 
I am currently in the job hunt for a Pulm/CCM position and salary quotes out of fellowship are starting at $250K to $265K for a private practice position. In academics....expect to make less than half that. The quotes I am getting probably have lot to do with the market I am looking in (West/Northwest). I suspect pickins' aren't as good in areas that are more saturated with physicians (Northeast, California for example). There is a fairly wide spectrum of salary for Pulm/CCM out there.

What are salaries like in the south? Tx, La, Ok areas?
 
Hi,

Does anyone know how easy it is to work part-time as an endocrinologist? I would like to live in the Los Angeles/Orange County area and work part-time. Also, is it difficult to get a job in these two areas due to the saturation issue?
 
Hi,

Does anyone know how easy it is to work part-time as an endocrinologist? I would like to live in the Los Angeles/Orange County area and work part-time. Also, is it difficult to get a job in these two areas due to the saturation issue?

Epic bump. Also, a pre-pharm student shouldn't really be worried about a PT job as an endocrinologist anywhere.
 
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