b/c this is EXACTLY the type of specialist I'd go to - the one who chose salary over passion

Anonymous wrote:What are doctors making in this area now? I'm trying to help a family friend choose a specialty.

Gastroenterology
Orthopedic Surgeons
OBGYNs
Cardiologists
Family Practice

For better or worse, doctor's salaries are going to change due to Obamacare. Maryland is already running a trial program (meaning it is the only state doing so, but it will affect all hospitals in the state) where hospital revenues will be capped regardless of the number of patient visits, with exceptions for certain types of procedures. This is going to change the calculus dramatically in terms of compensation -- high volume will matter much less. Your friend should do what he or she enjoys. If they want to maximize their salary, especially in relationship to hours worked, medicine is a poor choice of occupation.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:MD here.
This post can't be real. Your family friend is choosing between VASTLY different specialties based solely on income and asking a non-medical person for this information? Right.
Not only are those specialties vastly different in practice, there is a huge spread in length of training between them (3 to 10 years).

+1

I ask my mechanic for legal advice!

Uhhhhh

+2

Your family friend should have already completed rotations through most specialities and developed an idea of what she/he is interested in. Not asking an non-medical professional for salary advice of the various specialties, med students talk about these things amongst themselves all the time and work with various doctor mentors that they can speak with about this.

Also, let your "family friend" know that if they choose a specialty solely for salary purposes they will be woefully miserable getting up each day to go to work. There are emotional impacts to working with sick patients and possibly their families daily and being responsible for their care and getting them better. If their heart isn't into it they will suffer as well as their patients.