Private practice vs Academics

[DrJD]

So what is the difference in what rad oncs do at these two places? Are those in private practice just not doing research or working with residents?

Seems like the schedules are relatively similar, so what during your day is different?

Thanks!

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[deleted4401]

In an academic practice, there is time (1-5 days/week) working on research/educational activities, and the remainder of time is spent on patient care activities.

In a pure private practice, all time is spent on patient care activities.

From what I know, most academic practices are a bit of a hybrid - perhaps 1-1.5 day of research/academics per week, and 4 days clinic. There are certainly places where academic radiation oncologists function solely in the lab, but these are few and far between. There are also some "academic" positions where you see patients all week, and any research/educational activities are done on your own time.

My thoughts are that radiation oncology departments/divisions are usually the revenue producing workhorse of a hospital or cancer center, so any time spent on non-patient care activities can significantly impact the bottom line of any institution, so we are more likely to be responsible for patient care even in an academic setting then someone in medical oncology.

-S

 

[OTN]

There are two types of academic positions at many institutions, a tenure and clinical track.

For both, benefits of an academic position include having residents do as much of the clinical work you want them to do, not having call, and (usually) not having to worry as much about a referral base/competition/etc unless you want to get involved in those aspects of the department. For the tenure track, in exchange you publish and (ideally) write grants that get funded or participate heavily in cooperative group trials. Lots of writing.

For the clinical track, in many departments you'll be expected to carry more of the clinical load while still spending some time teaching, possibly publishing a bit with residents, etc.

In a private practice you'll be taking care of patients and doing all the work yourself. If you have a nurse practicioner you'll have someone to take some of the busy work off your hands, but generally practices that are busy enough to warrant an NP mean the radiation oncologist is hustling.

Starting salaries are usually pretty similar between most academic institutions and private practices that follow a partnership-type structure, though will be higher for hospital-based private practices, urorads groups, and HMO organizations (Kaiser). Post-partnership income will generally be higher in private practice, though some academic physicians and those in hybrid practices do very well.