what's wrong with practicing in Mass.?

[musm2008]

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I'm on my OB clerkship now and I was listening to some attendings tell me how horrible it is to practice medicine in Massachusetts. They also mentioned New York. These are two of the states I am thinking about going to for residency and maybe staying.
Is it that miserable?
What laws are there that make it so hard?
Do you think it's horrible for psychiatrists as well?

 

[Doc Samson]

I have no idea what they're referring to. Psychiatry is a lot of fun here in MA, and I really don't here any state-based complaints from other specialties either.

 

[strangeglove]

I suspect that this is related to malpractice issues, such as litigiousness and insurance rates. This would be particularly concerning for an OB-gyn, I imagine.

 

[musm2008]

that's interesting

 

[OldPsychDoc]

I suspect that this is related to malpractice issues, such as litigiousness and insurance rates. This would be particularly concerning for an OB-gyn, I imagine.

I suspect that there is also some component of generalized p1$$1ng and moaning about the awfulness of everything involved in these complaints. Likely they'd be equally unhappy in any other state as well.🙄

 

[PGY2Psych]

What's the entry salary range for academic psychiatrists in MA? Private practice?

 

[musm2008]

I'm glad to hear that it's just baloney. Comments like that can really discourage impressionable young minds.
Does anyone know anything especially GOOD about practicing in MA?

 

[Doc Samson]

What's the entry salary range for academic psychiatrists in MA? Private practice?

Academic practice in MA is essentially divided into 3 spheres:

1) Harvard teaching hospitals (BIDMC, BWH, MGH, McLean) - high prestige, lower pay (~$115-120k out of training)

2) Non-Harvard teaching hospitals in Boston (BMC, NEMC, St. Elizabeth's) - lower prestige, higher pay (variable, but I've heard up to $150k out of training)

3) Teaching hospitals outside of Boston (UMass, and the community affiliates of Harvard, Tufts, BU, etc.) widely variable in terms of both prestige (UMass -high, Metrowest - not so much), and pay.

And of course, you can add in the VA which is affiliated with everyone, and pays like a VA.

 

[Doc Samson]

I'm glad to hear that it's just baloney. Comments like that can really discourage impressionable young minds.
Does anyone know anything especially GOOD about practicing in MA?

There's an internationally reknowned expert in EVERYTHING here. Interesting population to treat with broad ethnic and socioeconomic diversity (e.g. southie Irish (think Good Will Hunting), huge Cape Verdean population, MIT/Harvard students, etc.). The chair of a department and the homeless alcoholic in the ED both care just as passionately about the Red Sox. Great food. An easier time getting published in the NEJM (they LOVE publishing stuff from Harvard hospitals). A relatively low level of stigmatization of mental illness.

 

[musm2008]

Is it hard to do a residency in Boston if you have big dogs? I kind of want to live in the suburbs, but I don't think I want to drive into the city. How is the T?
Also, I know EVERYONE asks this question, but humor me if you can. I am really a very average student, but my husband would really be happy in Boston, and I really owe him one for putting up with me. Are there residency programs there that take average students? I'm not expecting harvard or mass general. Are there other options? If it's not realistic for me to expect to be able to go there, I need to think more seriously about other options.

thanks!

 

[Doc Samson]

Is it hard to do a residency in Boston if you have big dogs? I kind of want to live in the suburbs, but I don't think I want to drive into the city. How is the T?
Also, I know EVERYONE asks this question, but humor me if you can. I am really a very average student, but my husband would really be happy in Boston, and I really owe him one for putting up with me. Are there residency programs there that take average students? I'm not expecting harvard or mass general. Are there other options? If it's not realistic for me to expect to be able to go there, I need to think more seriously about other options.

thanks!

Lots of big dogs in Boston... quite a dog friendly town - especially the South End. Many of the suburbs are quite accessible by T. Some of the Harvard programs will even pay for a cab to/from a 24 hour call to keep you from driving while sleep-deprived.
In terms of where you could be considering residency, I'd need more details about your scores, etc. PM me if you like. There are Boston residency programs that take students from all across the spectrum , but you might be selling yourself short.