Those who are about to embark on a medical career, whether it’s in primary care or as an emergency room physician, often ask what the best path is for them.
Should they choose an employed position with a hospital? Should they open up their own private practice? Or would it be better to go down the academic route and teach at a college or university?
Here’s everything you need to know about each option.
- Hospital-Employed Physician
One of the more common options for physicians is to become a hospital-employed physician. This means that you will work in a hospital as an employee of the hospital rather than as an independent practitioner.
The benefits of this route are that you may have greater job security and get to work with other doctors who are also employed by the same institution. You may even find yourself learning from them or having them mentor you as well!
While it can be difficult to grow in this career path because there’s less room for growth than if you were working independently, there are still plenty of opportunities available at hospitals across America! If you want to work at a hospital as an employed physician, there are a few things that you can do.
One is to get your medical degree and begin working in the field. You’ll need to apply for residency positions with hospitals around the country and hope one of them takes you on.
Of course, you can always get help with placement from a physician recruiter.
- Private Practice Physician
A private practice physician can be a great way to start your career as a doctor. If you like being on your own, then working for yourself is the way to go. You’ll have complete control over your schedule and be able to set your own hours.
However, if you prefer working as part of a team, this might not be the right option for you.
Another disadvantage of becoming a private practice physician is that many doctors are required by law to purchase their own equipment and supplies when they open up shop; this can cost anywhere between $100,000 and $250,000!
The upside is that after those initial costs are paid off (usually about three years), most private practitioners earn around $150 per hour or more through their practices alone without any other income needed!
One of the benefits of being a private practice physician is you get paid more than most other jobs in healthcare.
Because private practice physicians get paid on how much work they do instead of having fixed salaries like other businesses, they have a higher salary.
- Academic Practice
For those who want to make a difference in many people’s lives, academic practice is a good option.
This type of practice is often associated with teaching hospitals and involves working alongside other physicians who are also involved in research and education.
As an academic physician, you may have many responsibilities beyond simply treating patients.
In some cases, you will be responsible for conducting and publishing your own research while working on clinical trials that improve patient care at large-scale institutions such as universities or government agencies like the National Institutes of Health (NIH).
Academic physicians often have much more freedom than their counterparts who choose private practice careers because they aren’t required to keep regular office hours or maintain long waiting lists for appointments.
However, this doesn’t mean that they enjoy unlimited vacation days.
Academic physicians are expected by their employers to attend conferences and provide educational services—either by speaking about their work at these conferences or teaching medical students about various topics related to medicine through classes held within an institution’s curriculum program (which takes place outside regular business hours).
Choosing the best career path for you should be personal.
When considering your future career, it is important to think about what you enjoy doing and how that relates to what you are good at. This will help you choose the best career path for you.
Is being a doctor your passion? If so, then perhaps becoming a surgeon is right for you.
Do you want to spend more time with your family? Then becoming an emergency room physician might be the best possible fit for you.
Are you looking for challenges that only come with working in high-stress environments or on emergency teams like trauma surgeons, who work as first responders during emergencies involving traumatic injuries and other life-threatening situations?
Conclusion
Ultimately, it’s important to remember that there are no right answers. Your decisions should be tailored to you. The best thing you can do is ensure you have all the information and weigh your options carefully before making any decisions.
