What kind of doctor works the least hours?

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Goosh

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I just want to know what specialization will get you the least hours with the most flexibility. The work can be of any intensity, just so long as there aren't too many hours per week. Thank you.
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If you don't want to work hard, medicine is not the field for you. But in general, the specialties that are most competitive (derm, rads, rad onc) are those with the 'best' hours.
 
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Goosh said:
I just want to know what specialization will get you the least hours with the most flexibility. The work can be of any intensity, just so long as there aren't too many hours per week. Thank you.
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women doctors. they get pregnant, and start working part-time.
 
mvenus929 said:
If you don't want to work hard, medicine is not the field for you. But in general, the specialties that are most competitive (derm, rads, rad onc) are those with the 'best' hours.
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I'm pretty sure the OP stated that the work itself can be of any intensity....

I'm a very hard worker but I definitely prefer working my butt off if it means fewer hours....more time to spend with my family, friends, and on the vball court 🙂
 
pathology, dermatology, ophthalmology, and many fellowships such as allergy, REI, and pain medicine. It isn't unreasonable to expect <=45hr work week in these specialties.

If you really want a great lifestyle then go into dentistry. 350K/yr working 35 hrs/wk as an Orthodontist or other dental specialist. You can't get close to that in medicine.
 
Last edited:
plastic surgery
 
Lijia4 said:
I'm pretty sure the OP stated that the work itself can be of any intensity....

I'm a very hard worker but I definitely prefer working my butt off if it means fewer hours....more time to spend with my family, friends, and on the vball court 🙂
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Depends on how you define hard. Personally, I go more for the hours... longer hours means harder work. Doesn't particularly matter how intense the work is, because if it's super intense, it'll go by faster, and if it's boring, then it'll drag on by. Either way, it's not fun.

And with few exceptions, it'll be a while before those nice hours come along anyway. Med school is time consuming, as it at least intern year of residency.
 
Edit: got a bunch of answers while I was typing.

Thank you for the information so far.
 
I also forgot psychiatry. I'd say the top 3 are derm, psych, and path.

another edit: PM&R also.
 
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Goosh said:
I just want to know what specialization will get you the least hours with the most flexibility. The work can be of any intensity, just so long as there aren't too many hours per week. Thank you.
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Derm, then EM comes to mind. The former is ultracompetitive to match into; EM, not as much, but still requires a solid application.

Frazier said:
I see this Burnett's Law mentioned often. Can you link me to some explanation of what it is, broseph?
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Frazier, you're going to be a horrible doctor.
 
exi said:
Derm, then EM comes to mind. The former is ultracompetitive to match into; EM, not as much, but still requires a solid application.

Frazier, you're going to be a horrible doctor.
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eh, I was thinking about EM but it doesn't have a lot of flexibility. nights, weekends, holidays...
 
Thank you all for your very helpful answers. This thread has been eye-opening for me. I used to think almost all doctors worked crazy hours, but now I see there are many reasonable options.
 
Totally depends on what practice situation you set up.

I guess you could say locum tenens depending on what kind of gigs you pick up.
 
Well, since you say the work can be of any intensity EM would be a contender. Many emergency physicians work around a dozen 12-hour shifts per month -- however this includes varying shifts such as night shifts and evening shifts. So while you technically may be working less your circadian rhythm would suffer so you would need more time off to recover.

But as others have mentioned asking questions like this is practically moot -- no matter what specialty you choose, medical school and residency demand very long hours in and of themselves, so it will be a long time before you're able to create the schedule you desire anyway.
 
The ultimate answer to this is set up your own practice and set your own hours
/thread
 
Eh, but still certain specialties demand higher overhead and you'll probably have to take call if you want hospital privileges.
 
An unemployed one. Also, a Caribbean one...possibly because they're one and the same.
 
rHinO1 said:
🙄

overhead
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Yep. In fact having your own practice is becoming more and more cost prohibitive even for doctors who work A LOT.

Your best bet would probably be to find a salaried position that would accommodate your wishes, though this would come with a disproportionate hit in income -- or to find an existing private practice group that may be looking for a part time doctor.

And while the lifestyle of certain specialties is something to consider when making a choice... is it really such a great idea if all you can think about during work is when you'll get off to enjoy your supposedly 'cush' hours?
 
doctor of fine arts....










...wait for it....









....cause theyre usually unemployed ZING
 
Goosh said:
I just want to know what specialization will get you the least hours with the most flexibility. The work can be of any intensity, just so long as there aren't too many hours per week. Thank you.
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Radiology in private practice. You have the option of no call. You work 8-4, lots of vacation, and lots of money.

I knew a prominent New York group that had 12 weeks vacation.

Of course you have to like Radiology first.
 
At the moment it's Doctors of Law because the market and the economy can't absorb anymore lawyers

@Toff4l: You also have to get the grades to get into it
 
getdown said:
At the moment it's Doctors of Law because the market and the economy can't absorb anymore lawyers

@Toff4l: You also have to get the grades to get into it
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Considering that, I think I answered the OP's question.
 
DNP, that way you can go into derm
Dey tuk er jobs!!!
 
patel2 said:
women doctors. they get pregnant, and start working part-time.
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Really? No one's jumped all over this sexist bigot yet? 😡 I'll have you know not all women want children and not all fathers decide to be absent from their home life because of their careers.

That being said, family and/or laziness do not usually mix well with a career in medicine. Sounds like it's not for the OP.
 
Gawande talks about a surgeon who works one day a week and only takes cash and make $1 million+ doing non-invasive surgeries for rich people.
 
iheartstats said:
Really? No one's jumped all over this sexist bigot yet? 😡 I'll have you know not all women want children and not all fathers decide to be absent from their home life because of their careers.

That being said, family and/or laziness do not usually mix well with a career in medicine. Sounds like it's not for the OP.
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didn't imply either of those. Think about it though logistically. If medical schools train males and females at a 1:1 ratio, and a percentage of those women become stay-at-home moms, or more likely, start working part time and taking time off to rear children, this contributes to a future shortages of physicians (srs). Not proposing changing anything, but jus sayin...

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/life_and_style/health/features/article7120486.ece
 
Most practices now are becoming more and more flexible. In almost any field there are now opportunities to work as little or as much as you want.

EM is a good example because of the shift-work. You can just do 2-3 shifts a week and have the rest of the time off.

IM you can be a hospitalist and work similar shifts. Same for critical care.


PM & R is an other option but I don't know much about it.
 
A Hospitalist working 7 on/7 off. You usually work 7 12-hour shifts, and then have the next 7 days completely off, no call, no anything. Give and take.
 
Disinence2 said:
EM is a good example because of the shift-work. You can just do 2-3 shifts a week and have the rest of the time off.

IM you can be a hospitalist and work similar shifts. Same for critical care.
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Besides hospitalist, emergency med, and intensivist, other shiftwork docs who have more control over their schedules are laborists (OBGYN) and neonatologists (pediatrics).
 
Catalystik said:
Besides hospitalist, emergency med, and intensivist, other shiftwork docs who have more control over their schedules are laborists (OBGYN) and neonatologists (pediatrics).
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o rly? I thought being able to find a gig doing shift-work in neonatology was rare due to the need for continued care.
 
patel2 said:
didn't imply either of those. Think about it though logistically. If medical schools train males and females at a 1:1 ratio, and a percentage of those women become stay-at-home moms, or more likely, start working part time and taking time off to rear children, this contributes to a future shortages of physicians (srs). Not proposing changing anything, but jus sayin...

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/life_and_style/health/features/article7120486.ece
Click to expand...

Nope, sorry. It's obvious what you meant the first time and you're not going to be able to take it back by posting an article trying to explain away your inappropriate response to a post.

I think you may have some problems in this world if you are going to dismiss others based on their gender, sexuality, skin color, or nationality. At least, I sure hope you do.
 
iheartstats said:
Nope, sorry. It's obvious what you meant the first time and you're not going to be able to take it back by posting an article trying to explain away your inappropriate response to a post.

I think you may have some problems in this world if you are going to dismiss others based on their gender, sexuality, skin color, or nationality. At least, I sure hope you do.
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2f07s79.jpg
 
iheartstats said:
Nope, sorry. It's obvious what you meant the first time and you're not going to be able to take it back by posting an article trying to explain away your inappropriate response to a post.

I think you may have some problems in this world if you are going to dismiss others based on their gender, sexuality, skin color, or nationality. At least, I sure hope you do.
Click to expand...
This is an SDN joke. There was a discussion about it a while back. You should search for it and maybe his reference will sink in a bit more.
 
iheartstats said:
Nope, sorry. It's obvious what you meant the first time and you're not going to be able to take it back by posting an article trying to explain away your inappropriate response to a post.

I think you may have some problems in this world if you are going to dismiss others based on their gender, sexuality, skin color, or nationality. At least, I sure hope you do.
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you are obnoxious
 
muhali3 said:
o rly? I thought being able to find a gig doing shift-work in neonatology was rare due to the need for continued care.
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it depends. there is a shortage of neonatologists however, so shift work isn't hard to get, especially in private practice. a lot of 24 hour shifts and no call seems to be common.
 
iheartstats said:
Really? No one's jumped all over this sexist bigot yet? 😡 I'll have you know not all women want children and not all fathers decide to be absent from their home life because of their careers.

That being said, family and/or laziness do not usually mix well with a career in medicine. Sounds like it's not for the OP.
Click to expand...

iheartstats said:
Nope, sorry. It's obvious what you meant the first time and you're not going to be able to take it back by posting an article trying to explain away your inappropriate response to a post.

I think you may have some problems in this world if you are going to dismiss others based on their gender, sexuality, skin color, or nationality. At least, I sure hope you do.
Click to expand...
tumblr_lgxwh1wWbv1qcecjn.gif
 
patel2 said:
didn't imply either of those. Think about it though logistically. If medical schools train males and females at a 1:1 ratio, and a percentage of those women become stay-at-home moms, or more likely, start working part time and taking time off to rear children, this contributes to a future shortages of physicians (srs). Not proposing changing anything, but jus sayin...

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/life_and_style/health/features/article7120486.ece
Click to expand...

So... what's your point? The OP's asking about specialties and bringing this up is irrelevant.
 
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