Pediatricians salaries

[Anonymous]

Some have loans, few have the hefty loans that you hear mentioned here.

That is entirely not true and I think you are pulling that statement out of thin air. My husband is a dean at one of the medical schools in town and while I don't have an exact figure, I know that a daily concern of his is just how much debt his medical students are graduating with these days. Almost universally 100K+ and often $250K+.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
My husband is a dean at one of the medical schools in town and while I don't have an exact figure, I know that a daily concern of his is just how much debt his medical students are graduating with these days. Almost universally 100K+ and often $250K+.

That will change as the credit lines for student loans start to dry up.
move over student, give your spot to someone elses priveledged child who deserves your spot.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Fertility doctors also have amazingly cushy hours. Really, it's the specialty to go into if you're in med school.

Senior med student here...

FWIW, OB/GYN is a brutal residency to do. Think 80-100 hour weeks every week for 4 years on top of the 4 highly competitive years of medical school and 4 years of undergrad. Then applying in Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility (or any other OB/GYN subspecialty) is extremely competitive. You're not in any way guaranteed one of the 38 positions a year, as less than 50% of applicants get a spot in REI. If you don't get an REI position, you'll probably be stuck as a generalist working very high hours for the rest of your life for ~$150k/year. Every year a high percentage of OB/GYNs (I hear ~25%) leave OB/GYN residency for something else when they realize all of this.

So believe me, we've all thought about REI, but few are willing to take that risk. Even those who are willing to take the risk are often disappointed.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP again, The strangest part of this whole thing is that student loan debt can not be forgiven in bankruptcy. Which is true for everyone. But since MD's have such a large debt, they are committed to working ( hard) after med school. The loan seems to own them.
Canadian MDs education is so heavily subsidized that if a person wants to take time off, to raise a family for instance, they can.

It used to be. Then people caught on to that, and abused the system. They filed Chapter 7 right out of school, discharged their debt along with whatever frivolous amount they racked up through spending, and took the credit hit. By the time they hit their 30s, it was gone. (Worked bankruptcy law in the late 80s). It's always a bad few that ruin it for everyone.

[Anonymous]

[quote=Anonymous]

Did somebody read my story written yesterday at 8:56 ?

Any comments? [/quote]

Yes. I seriously hope you're not a native English speaker. If you are, I hope the quality of your grammar is not reflective of the quality of your medical care. Of your caring, which seems low as well.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:[continuing last post]

To suggest that they be squeezed for more money so that doctors can afford to have a certain standard of living is a bit silly and unfair. Also, it is not lost on me that some of the poster on this thread have significant other and relatives in the medical profession. I am so sorry that the "cash cow" career that you thought you had has not worked out that way. I will say it again - most of the people in this country do not make anywhere close to $150K a year.

Most people in this country also do not go on to college and med school. Many people in this country aren't even motivated enough to finish high school. What is your point here? Is everyone supposed to make the same amount of money regardless of education or motivation?

[Anonymous]

[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]I think this is a discussion of Doctors who "take insurance". What about the hoards of Docs in the DC area that DO NOT TAKE INSURANCE. They went into medicine for the money and they are making plenty of it.[/quote]

There are hoards of pediatricians who don't take insurance? I've never met one. Plastic surgeons, or anything elective: you bet. And I bet there are a fair number of peds that don't take Medicaid. But I doubt many pediatrician scould stay in business in this area without taking insurance. [/quote]

Spring Valley Pediatrics for a start. Big, bustling and very popular practice in NW.




[/quote]
Not true. I had a fantastic GP and she stopped taking all insurance. I got recommendations for another good GP - no insurance.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have a friend who is an OBGYN. She's 37 and just finished a fellowship in fertility medicine. She lives in a $1.6 mil home on the coast of Florida. Her salary for next year (with guaranteed bonuses) is over $400K. That's a nice chunk of change.

Good for her. She deserves it.

Totally agree she deserves it. But again, a specialized practice where people typically (of course, not always) pay out of pocket.

Not in Fairfax County . . . teachers' health care plans pay for fertility treaments. A friend who is a teacher had hers covered.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:For all the posters complaining about doctors' pay, are you willing to pay more either directly to the doctor's office or through higher insurance premiums? If not, where do you propose the additional money comes from?

No, I would not be willing to pay more, and honestly, I think that $150K is a decent salary. There are tons of people who are making a lot less.

I agree. I'm making less than that as a lawyer, and am working just as hard.

[Anonymous]

I'm sorry, I'm a NP and didn't read through every single prior post, but don't *some* doctor's go into the pediatrics b/c they love children not because they want to hang out at Congressional all day? Of course, both of the docs at my practice drive very nice cars - Porsche and Mercedes. I doubt they could afford that with hefty student loans on $85K/year. The people who deserve to make the most amount of money never do... ie: police officers, teachers, and now, I guess pediatricians.

[Anonymous]

[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]I think this is a discussion of Doctors who "take insurance". What about the hoards of Docs in the DC area that DO NOT TAKE INSURANCE. They went into medicine for the money and they are making plenty of it.[/quote]

There are hoards of pediatricians who don't take insurance? I've never met one. Plastic surgeons, or anything elective: you bet. And I bet there are a fair number of peds that don't take Medicaid. But I doubt many pediatrician scould stay in business in this area without taking insurance. [/quote]

Spring Valley Pediatrics for a start. Big, bustling and very popular practice in NW.




[/quote]
Not true. I had a fantastic GP and she stopped taking all insurance. I got recommendations for another good GP - no insurance.
[/quote]

My internist does not take any insurance. I pay out of pocket because she is so good. Apparently I'm in good company (she has a full patient roster).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:For all the posters complaining about doctors' pay, are you willing to pay more either directly to the doctor's office or through higher insurance premiums? If not, where do you propose the additional money comes from?

No, I would not be willing to pay more, and honestly, I think that $150K is a decent salary. There are tons of people who are making a lot less.

I agree. I'm making less than that as a lawyer, and am working just as hard.

You don't have as much schooling either and your student loans are probably smaller.

[Anonymous]

You don't have as much schooling either and your student loans are probably smaller.

ditto this (and i'm not an MD). Law school is 3 years. Med school is worthless without residency which brings the training to 7 years minimum.

[Anonymous]

[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]I think this is a discussion of Doctors who "take insurance". What about the hoards of Docs in the DC area that DO NOT TAKE INSURANCE. They went into medicine for the money and they are making plenty of it.[/quote]

There are hoards of pediatricians who don't take insurance? I've never met one. Plastic surgeons, or anything elective: you bet. And I bet there are a fair number of peds that don't take Medicaid. But I doubt many pediatrician scould stay in business in this area without taking insurance. [/quote]

Spring Valley Pediatrics for a start. Big, bustling and very popular practice in NW.




[/quote]
Not true. I had a fantastic GP and she stopped taking all insurance. I got recommendations for another good GP - no insurance.
[/quote]

My internist does not take any insurance. I pay out of pocket because she is so good. Apparently I'm in good company (she has a full patient roster).[/quote]

Ditto this...my pediatrician, internist, ob/gyn and dermatologist have all dropped insurance over the past two years.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:For all the posters complaining about doctors' pay, are you willing to pay more either directly to the doctor's office or through higher insurance premiums? If not, where do you propose the additional money comes from?

No, I would not be willing to pay more, and honestly, I think that $150K is a decent salary. There are tons of people who are making a lot less.

I would be willing to pay more, but I also think insurance needs to be fixed. B/c while I can pay more, there are many many people in our country who cannot. Think about the sacrifices doctors make- they have an extra 4 years of medical school beyond college, an additional poorly paying residency requirement and who knows what else, some will be richly rewarded, and some won't.

I am 30, have only a bachelor degree and make 130k with bonus, and have been working for 7 additional years beyond my doctor friends, saving for retirement the whole way. I'm not trying to downgrade my job- I work VERY hard, but I think my pediatrician and psychiatrist friends should get paid more- they have sacrificed more and have more education. I don't know the answer on where it comes from, but the math for me just doesn't work.