12.07.2007
The Youngin' in the room
There are few arguments I hate more than, "You'll grow out of those grand ideas of yours once you enter the real world." First of all, don't make assumptions about my experiences and how much experience in the real world I've had. Secondly, don't apologize for your condescending behavior. There is no way I can take that statement that is not negative. Lastly, why are conservative ideals associated with maturity. This is my biggest fear of family practice. I feel they are too conservative and too concerned with physician reimbursement schedules to recruit the right people into their ranks. If we discuss the disparity in incomes between the specialists and the generalists in these terms we reinforce the entitlement that medical education endows inappropriately on new physicians. The annual starting salary for the lowest paid group, pediatricians is 140,000. On what planet is that not enough money? Even with debt and a family, it's possible to get by pretty comfortably. As a profession we have gotten greedy, and this greed percolates through our entire profession. To change it, we have to reframe the entire argument and promote primary care as more rewarding instead of constantly defending the field in spite of the crappy reimbursement rates. But I'm a baby, what do I know? I know that I would make a great family practice doc, but I'm going into psychiatry. If the grownups won't listen when I tell them the messages they are giving me are turning me off, I don't know how else I can help them.
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8 comments:
What year in med school are you? I suggest you revisit this topic near the end of your residency and then again a few years out in practice. You might change your tune a bit.
I think the reason docs get to carping about salaries and reimbursements has more to do with the principles and less to do with raw numbers...when government programs give you 15 cents on the dollar for the patients you see, place a higher value on procedural medicine than cognitive medicine, and when physician salaries do not keep up with inflation, it's hard to be pleased with the state of our finances. Especially when overhead is increasing and so is student debt.
And yes I think you are naive to think we should all feel grateful for our salaries despite the above issues...and where did you find the data about peds starting at 140K for salary?!
I stand by my story folks. But I don't come from money, I've lived on so little, that I know 140 K is a lot. Don't assume that you know anything about me or where I come from. This post led to unbelievably sexist comments in response to a couple posts by so-called "grown ups" physicians. Those posts won't be tolerated here, and if you post anonymously, I won't publish your comments. If you want to speak out against me, be brave enough to tell me who you are.
Oh and the 140 K.... from the American Association of Pediatrics, and it's already bee nfact checked by someone else too.
I totally agree. I think that a lot of the focus is on reimbursement when it should be on results! I'd like to live a comfortable life and have a successful practice with happy patients some day. The difference between 100,000 and 500,000 in starting pay for a primary care vs. uber specialist shouldn't exist, but it does. Demand should drive the wages in the opposite direction... primary care is more needed than specialty care! Of course, I say all of this as a youngling myself.
Hi Paige,
Sorry to hear other docs have shown less than basic courtesy to you when they've had a difference of opinion.
I don't agree with you that we should just take our 6 figure salaries gratefully. I come from no money at all and have a load of debt from putting myself through college and med school. I still spend like I am living on $8,000 a year from my loans...
While I am happy to have financial stability, I am also disheartened that physicians are viewed (not necessarily by you, but by the public at large) as martyrs who should be at the service of the nation. I am angered by the value placed on general practice versus specialties. I am frustrated that someone shooting Botox into a forehead makes 5x what I do managing a patient's complex medical issues during a 20-minute visit.
For me, it's more about the principle than the actual figure I take home each year.
Thanks for your post, it was thought-provoking. Please don't let the others get you down.
Hiya Paige,
Quite the stir you've created, eh? I think Zelda and anonymous #2 have good points about physicians incomes being more about the principle than the actual figure, but I also agree that $140k is plenty for anyone. I'm going into anesthesia and when I tell people that, the first thing 95% of them say is "wow, the big bucks, huh?" or some variation thereof. I can tell you I don't give a rat's butt how much they make - I feel rich with the $45k I'll make as a resident (of course that doesn't include repaying any of my $200k debt, so I wouldn't accept that for a lifetime salary). I chose my field for the love of it, but there as sooooo many of our peers picking fields solely for the money. And while I think specialists should make a bit more since they spend more time in training, I agree with Zelda's botox comment.
I heard something the other day about the richest 25% (or maybe it was 15%?) of the country. How is that defined? Anyone who makes more than 55k. If 55k puts you in the top 25% of the country, $140k has gotta be the top 10%. We're doing fine. But of course, it's a statement of change, and of lack of control, all of which I understand.
Lots of rambling... My opinion is for you to stay strong in your opinions - if people don't agree then we simply argue.
Oh, and very original of anonymous #1 to use verbatim what you said in your post about condescending behavior.... Entertaining anyway.
p.s. I'd love to see some of the inappropriate unapproved comments if you can send 'em to me by email. Don't know if they're even accessible anymore, but I'm curious... Especially about the sexist stuff - what the hell does being female have anything to do with your opinion on greed, incomes and the such??
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