Part-Time Careers in Medicine

Two interesting articles in Academic Medicine this month address the issue of working part-time. With the increasing desire for work/life balance, many women and men are seeking part-time career options.

"Studies indicate that part time faculty may enhance quality of care, patient satisfaction, resource utilization and productivity." It was acknowledged that division chiefs who allow part-timers will be able to recruit and retain better faculty.

Articles such as this in major academic journals represent changing attitudes towards part-time careers which is wonderful news for those embarking on a career in medicine. Many of my friends and colleagues drop out of other careers because they do not have such alternatives.

While I do not advise pursuing part-time work immediately following residency because it is important to establish yourself and gain experience early in your career, priorities change and, for different stages of life, the choice to work part-time might be perfect.

Click here and here to read the articles.

Dr. Freedman offers personalized career guidance and mentorship for premedical and medical students and residents. Visit: www.MedEdits.com

Primary Care: The Better Career Choice?

A series of articles this week in the New England Journal of Medicine discusses the need for the "reinvention" of primary care. This series focuses on the training, practice, compensation and overall reform of primary care. Many American medical graduates are choosing to pursue "controllable lifestyle" fields such as anesthesiology, radiology and emergency medicine, to name a few, because of higher compensation and the perception that these fields will enable them to achieve a better work/life balance.

Interestingly, some (currently unpublished) data presented at the Association of American Medical Colleges earlier this month might change students' minds. In a survey of practicing physicians over 50, a higher percentage of primary care physicians felt they had control over their lives versus practicing physicians in the "controllable lifestyle" fields.

With attention being placed on the need for primary care reform, salaries will likely increase in the future for primary care clinicians. With the potential for better compensation combined with a healthy work/life balance and the opportunity to provide care where it is needed most, hopefully more students will explore career options in primary care.

Click Here to access the series.

I provide mentoring for medical school, residency and fellowship applicants. Visit: www.MedEdits.com.