Why do people judge me for choosing Family Med?

[crazyboi1993]

I don't understand why people are judgmental w/ Family Med. I always wanted to go into primary care. I never wanted to specialize ever. I hate surgery, hate the OR vibes. I have grades and boards for both Internal, FM, Peds, OB, etc. People always see to get "Oh your doing Family med?" "WHY??. Do internal instead! I wish there wasn't a stigma. My cousin in the Caribbean judges DO schools and Family medicine route. I am happy with Family Med. I could do internal, but I 100% don't want to specialize, I much rather have the versatility and see a wider range with family med. I could practice anywhere. I know I shouldn't let people get to me, but dam, some people are so judgmental!!

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[crazyboi1993]

Ya I like FM too but have decided against it due to $$$ and status

FM from what i hear still makes 200-220k, especially if u practice in midwest or south. What do you mean by status?

 

[deleted87716]

Try more like $250K+ (plenty of us are making >$300K). As for "status," insecure much...?

 

[crazyboi1993]

Try more like $250K+ (plenty of us are making >$300K). As for "status," insecure much...?

Thats what I love to here. I hate how people legit say, youll make no money as FP. Like 250k+ not a lot of people make. My friends are happy with 40-50k. like dam

 

[deleted87716]

I don't understand why people are judgmental w/ Family Med.

They're just trying to justify their own specialty choice. Ignore them.

 

[deleted87716]

Thats what I love to here. I hate how people legit say, youll make no money as FP. Like 250k+ not a lot of people make. My friends are happy with 40-50k. like dam

Many of the primary care folks in my group are making more than some of our non-procedural specialists.

 

[deleted87716]

I know you make pretty good coin but I also know EM docs that are making 400k and they work 12 shifts a month.

Sure...but they're doing EM. I'd need at least a mil to put up with that crap (I originally planned to go into EM, FWIW). As an aside, I'm working 15 "shifts" this month, and mine are only 8 hours each.

I'm worried about paying off my loans

I've never met an FP who had trouble paying off their loans.

 

[deleted87716]

How easy is it to find a job like you've got?

There are private multispecialty groups like mine all over the country. They're not all equal in terms of governance, etc., but your earning potential will likely be better than if you were working for a health system.

 

[Make Or Break]

How easy is it to find a job like you've got? Partner track, eat what you kill, cash money millionaire in FM?

There is a lot of bs in the ED but I consider resuscitation to be the crux of this doctor thing, plus you get plenty of primary care in the ED.

You can do em with fm (I know plenty of fm working in the ED, plus there is a 1 year fellowship if you need more exposure). You can do hospitaist with fm. You can do regular clinic with fm. You can do hospitalst + em with fm. You can do sports medicine. You can do c sections and ob and deliver babies that em hates to do by the way. Fm gives you options to practice how ever you like. Downside is you can’t subspecialize. Em locks you into em related medicine for the rest of your career while fm gives you a bit more freedom to do all that is mentioned above + more.

 

[Make Or Break]

How easy is it to find a job like you've got? Partner track, eat what you kill, cash money millionaire in FM?

There is a lot of bs in the ED but I consider resuscitation to be the crux of this doctor thing, plus you get plenty of primary care in the ED.

Also the primary care in em is basically ordering labs and basic management. You will never do full blown work ups and management in the ED.

 

[InternistDO]

I don't understand why people are judgmental w/ Family Med. I always wanted to go into primary care. I never wanted to specialize ever. I hate surgery, hate the OR vibes. I have grades and boards for both Internal, FM, Peds, OB, etc. People always see to get "Oh your doing Family med?" "WHY??. Do internal instead! I wish there wasn't a stigma. My cousin in the Caribbean judges DO schools and Family medicine route. I am happy with Family Med. I could do internal, but I 100% don't want to specialize, I much rather have the versatility and see a wider range with family med. I could practice anywhere. I know I shouldn't let people get to me, but dam, some people are so judgmental!!

Because med students are insecure and family med has been historically seen as the place where failures end up, because there are a lot of spots and its not terribly competitive because historically compensation has been relatively low (less true now--FM salaries are up).
Just ignore them. No one is going to judge you for your specialty when you're an attending, and its better to be happy in primary care than it is to be miserable in interventional radiology. Also this is just my experience, but in the Real World of community medicine I've found FM gets much more respect than EM, if that kind of thing matters to you.

 

[crazyboi1993]

Because med students are insecure and family med has been historically seen as the place where failures end up, because there are a lot of spots and its not terribly competitive because historically compensation has been relatively low (less true now--FM salaries are up).
Just ignore them. No one is going to judge you for your specialty when you're an attending, and its better to be happy in primary care than it is to be miserable in interventional radiology. Also this is just my experience, but in the Real World of community medicine I've found FM gets much more respect than EM, if that kind of thing matters to you.

Wow thanks a lot, your post made me really happy. Thanks for the encouragement. I needed to hear this!

 

[deleted87716]

in the Real World of community medicine I've found FM gets much more respect than EM

Depends on the doctor. There are clowns everywhere, and the barrier to entry in EM isn't that much higher than FM.

 

[SXMMD]

I don't understand why people are judgmental w/ Family Med. I always wanted to go into primary care. I never wanted to specialize ever. I hate surgery, hate the OR vibes. I have grades and boards for both Internal, FM, Peds, OB, etc. People always see to get "Oh your doing Family med?" "WHY??. Do internal instead! I wish there wasn't a stigma. My cousin in the Caribbean judges DO schools and Family medicine route. I am happy with Family Med. I could do internal, but I 100% don't want to specialize, I much rather have the versatility and see a wider range with family med. I could practice anywhere. I know I shouldn't let people get to me, but dam, some people are so judgmental!!

They jelly. Do you, be happy

 

[LeroyJenkinsMD]

FM can make 300+ working a cush four day work week, no holidays or weekends. Or you can do urgent care, hospitalist, EM, surgical OB and make even more. You can also do cash only direct primary care and make buckets of money if you get fed up with the current system. As reimbursement for procedures drops, office visits are how people will make money and family physicians are the king of office visits. We can see anyone, very easy to fill a schedule and make serious money in any town.

 

[InternistDO]

Depends on the doctor. There are clowns everywhere, and the barrier to entry in EM isn't that much higher than FM.

Oh yeah for sure. I don't think it has anything to do with the skills of the doctors, just the nature of EM lends itself to more people complaining about it.

 

[676188]

I don't understand why people are judgmental w/ Family Med. I always wanted to go into primary care. I never wanted to specialize ever. I hate surgery, hate the OR vibes. I have grades and boards for both Internal, FM, Peds, OB, etc. People always see to get "Oh your doing Family med?" "WHY??. Do internal instead! I wish there wasn't a stigma. My cousin in the Caribbean judges DO schools and Family medicine route. I am happy with Family Med. I could do internal, but I 100% don't want to specialize, I much rather have the versatility and see a wider range with family med. I could practice anywhere. I know I shouldn't let people get to me, but dam, some people are so judgmental!!

This is going to sound harsh at first, so bear with me...who cares? You are choosing FM for reasons that only matter to you and your future patients. Anybody who hates on that doesn't deserve your emotional energy in the first place.

And as for your family members and friends who ask what you're going to specialize in, either stop telling them (think like a politician, "I'm considering my options as I move forward"), or learn not to care what they think.

 

[VA Hopeful Dr]

Because med students are insecure and family med has been historically seen as the place where failures end up, because there are a lot of spots and its not terribly competitive because historically compensation has been relatively low (less true now--FM salaries are up).
Just ignore them. No one is going to judge you for your specialty when you're an attending, and its better to be happy in primary care than it is to be miserable in interventional radiology. Also this is just my experience, but in the Real World of community medicine I've found FM gets much more respect than EM, if that kind of thing matters to you.

Yep, because where do you think all the specialists get their patients from? If you're a jerk to me or say anything negative about FM, guess who is getting cut from my referral list?

Just last week I had a cardiologist call to "educate" me about plavix and stents. Guess who isn't getting any more referrals from me?

 

[TheOther]

Yep, because where do you think all the specialists get their patients from? If you're a jerk to me or say anything negative about FM, guess who is getting cut from my referral list?

Just last week I had a cardiologist call to "educate" me about plavix and stents. Guess who isn't getting any more referrals from me?

 

[VA Hopeful Dr]

Try more like $250K+ (plenty of us are making >$300K). As for "status," insecure much...?

Bingo.

I work for a health system so I see everyone's production numbers every week. Of our full time doctors more than 2 years out of residency, the lowest income on the year looks to be about 248k. Most are in the upper 200s or low 300s. Heck, my wife is on track to hit 200k working 3 days/week.

 

[exodian1]

Bingo.

I work for a health system so I see everyone's production numbers every week. Of our full time doctors more than 2 years out of residency, the lowest income on the year looks to be about 248k. Most are in the upper 200s or low 300s. Heck, my wife is on track to hit 200k working 3 days/week.

Wow that's really encouraging to hear especially with all the talk about low salaries for primary care. Is this a common occurrence especially if I'm not really interested in living on the coasts but also don't want to live rural either?

 

[Keona]

Wow that's really encouraging to hear especially with all the talk about low salaries for primary care. Is this a common occurrence especially if I'm not really interested in living on the coasts but also don't want to live rural either?

Very common. My starting physician guarantee salary this year is 200,000. I’ve been working three months and last month I exceeded expenses and salary. My salary will go up in the future. I am rural. My friends in the nearby larger city (not on the coasts) will likely stay a bit less than me. They are working for hospital systems and I’m in a physician owned practice with much more control than they have over what I’m doing.

 

[exodian1]

Very common. My starting physician guarantee salary this year is 200,000. I’ve been working three months and last month I exceeded expenses and salary. My salary will go up in the future. I am rural. My friends in the nearby larger city (not on the coasts) will likely stay a bit less than me. They are working for hospital systems and I’m in a physician owned practice with much more control than they have over what I’m doing.

Did you mean to say 300,000? If so thats amazing especially if you've already exceeded salary. Is this for 40 hours per week?

 

[deleted87716]

Did you mean to say 300,000? If so thats amazing especially if you've already exceeded salary. Is this for 40 hours per week?

$300K would be pretty much unheard of as a starting salary. If anyone was actually offering that, I'd be highly suspicious as to the nature of the job.

 

[septoplasty]

I don't understand why people are judgmental w/ Family Med. I always wanted to go into primary care. I never wanted to specialize ever. I hate surgery, hate the OR vibes. I have grades and boards for both Internal, FM, Peds, OB, etc. People always see to get "Oh your doing Family med?" "WHY??. Do internal instead! I wish there wasn't a stigma. My cousin in the Caribbean judges DO schools and Family medicine route. I am happy with Family Med. I could do internal, but I 100% don't want to specialize, I much rather have the versatility and see a wider range with family med. I could practice anywhere. I know I shouldn't let people get to me, but dam, some people are so judgmental!!

SMH. Glass house scenario.

I agree, you're making a solid choice. FM is good.

Ex. Working 3 days a week at UC makes ~$195k. What other specialty allows for such flexibility w/ that level of acuity w/ 3 years of GME? None!

 

[Keona]

Did you mean to say 300,000? If so thats amazing especially if you've already exceeded salary. Is this for 40 hours per week?

No $200 is the salary starting out. It will go up. I work 4 days a week in clinic and 1 day is a small amount of nursing home. If I wanted more nursing home or other things I could increase my income further. I like my mostly 4 day work week.

 

[jacobus1919]

I do not get it why FM is judged. But based on experience in my home country, FM is one of a few specialties that shows what being a physician is all about. This year I am applying to FM programs and only FM. I have yet to get any invitations. Nonetheless, I would re do my residency in FM all over to be an FM in the US. I truly do not care about if I get paid lesser versus other specialties as long as I practice FM. I can't see myself practicing any other specialty to be honest. And mind you I had a year experience too in Anesthesiology back home before I moved to FM. And have been with FM ever since.

 

[Sardonix]

I don't understand why people are judgmental w/ Family Med. I always wanted to go into primary care. I never wanted to specialize ever. I hate surgery, hate the OR vibes. I have grades and boards for both Internal, FM, Peds, OB, etc. People always see to get "Oh your doing Family med?" "WHY??. Do internal instead! I wish there wasn't a stigma. My cousin in the Caribbean judges DO schools and Family medicine route. I am happy with Family Med. I could do internal, but I 100% don't want to specialize, I much rather have the versatility and see a wider range with family med. I could practice anywhere. I know I shouldn't let people get to me, but dam, some people are so judgmental!!

Any Caribbean student or attending that is succeeding despite the many, many more obstacles they face (compared to MD/DOs) starts out with my admiration and gratitude. If you can make it through that mess, that says a lot.

But the moment they start crapping on any other specialty/degree** that also says a lot. I immediately assume they are compensating for some sort of complex or mommy/daddy's disapproval... which helps prevent the knives from coming out because I can just tell myself I'm already the winner.

**Addendum: Naturopathic degrees of course being the exception. Those are always up for ridicule.

 

[W19]

Depends on the doctor. There are clowns everywhere, and the barrier to entry in EM isn't that much higher than FM if you are a US student.

FTFY

 

[Zatorith]

Try more like $250K+ (plenty of us are making >$300K). As for "status," insecure much...?

is that take home?

 

[deleted87716]

is that take home?

Nobody quotes take-home incomes. They're meaningless for comparison purposes, because they don't account for taxes, pre-tax savings, etc.

 

[ankiii]

I don't understand why people are judgmental w/ Family Med. I always wanted to go into primary care. I never wanted to specialize ever. I hate surgery, hate the OR vibes. I have grades and boards for both Internal, FM, Peds, OB, etc. People always see to get "Oh your doing Family med?" "WHY??. Do internal instead! I wish there wasn't a stigma. My cousin in the Caribbean judges DO schools and Family medicine route. I am happy with Family Med. I could do internal, but I 100% don't want to specialize, I much rather have the versatility and see a wider range with family med. I could practice anywhere. I know I shouldn't let people get to me, but dam, some people are so judgmental!!

Seeing this post, along with your post in another forum about med school has been pretty easy for you....I think you're at least a bit insecure? Be confident and truly at peace with the decisions you make...and if you can't, then perhaps re-evaluate what you're truly seeking?

 

[QueenJames]

I don't understand why people are judgmental w/ Family Med. I always wanted to go into primary care. I never wanted to specialize ever. I hate surgery, hate the OR vibes. I have grades and boards for both Internal, FM, Peds, OB, etc. People always see to get "Oh your doing Family med?" "WHY??. Do internal instead! I wish there wasn't a stigma. My cousin in the Caribbean judges DO schools and Family medicine route. I am happy with Family Med. I could do internal, but I 100% don't want to specialize, I much rather have the versatility and see a wider range with family med. I could practice anywhere. I know I shouldn't let people get to me, but dam, some people are so judgmental!!

U need to tell ur cousins in the caribbean to go suck it and go study for their steps and pray his ****ty school doesn't drop his sorry ass or make him/her repeat another semester and to let him know he better have plans for his "year off" that every caribbean student takes between graduation and actually matching.

LOL

Miss me with that bull****.

 

[BigSib]

I don't understand why people are judgmental w/ Family Med. I always wanted to go into primary care. I never wanted to specialize ever. I hate surgery, hate the OR vibes. I have grades and boards for both Internal, FM, Peds, OB, etc. People always see to get "Oh your doing Family med?" "WHY??. Do internal instead! I wish there wasn't a stigma. My cousin in the Caribbean judges DO schools and Family medicine route. I am happy with Family Med. I could do internal, but I 100% don't want to specialize, I much rather have the versatility and see a wider range with family med. I could practice anywhere. I know I shouldn't let people get to me, but dam, some people are so judgmental!!

Yeah there's a stigma out there for some. I would say mostly lay people or those without experience in the healthcare field from a professional standpoint have that opinion. Or maybe it's those with a big head about how much they expect to earn. My wife for years seriously questioned my FM decision while in medical school / residency and had the impression somehow that we'd be struggling financially. Of course you can earn much more in surgical fields, but I'm very financially comfortable and professionally satisfied by what I do.

 

[QueenJames]

Yeah there's a stigma out there for some. I would say mostly lay people or those without experience in the healthcare field from a professional standpoint have that opinion. Or maybe it's those with a big head about how much they expect to earn. My wife for years seriously questioned my FM decision while in medical school / residency and had the impression somehow that we'd be struggling financially. Of course you can earn much more in surgical fields, but I'm very financially comfortable and professionally satisfied by what I do.

Outside of psych...

FM / IM is one of the few fields where working 4 days a week making ~240/250K with quite a bit of investment opportunities in primary care is feasible.

I'm glad people are overlooking it.

 

[deleted480308]

U need to tell ur cousins in the caribbean to go suck it and go study for their steps and pray his ****ty school doesn't drop his sorry ass or make him/her repeat another semester and to let him know he better have plans for his "year off" that every caribbean student takes between graduation and actually matching.

LOL

Miss me with that bull****.

100%. No one gets to judge you from a non-US school until they get that residency match.

Do you and know your life is on a legit top 5% trajectory

 

[Goro]

I don't understand why people are judgmental w/ Family Med. I always wanted to go into primary care. I never wanted to specialize ever. I hate surgery, hate the OR vibes. I have grades and boards for both Internal, FM, Peds, OB, etc. People always see to get "Oh your doing Family med?" "WHY??. Do internal instead! I wish there wasn't a stigma. My cousin in the Caribbean judges DO schools and Family medicine route. I am happy with Family Med. I could do internal, but I 100% don't want to specialize, I much rather have the versatility and see a wider range with family med. I could practice anywhere. I know I shouldn't let people get to me, but dam, some people are so judgmental!!

Your cousin in the Carib has a 50-50 chance at best that he will ever be a doctor, so f him.

You do you and don't look back.

 

[Cuze]

Omg, really? Who the heck cares....learn what things are worth caring about and what things are not worth you time...it will make you a better doctor.

 

[galactus]

Hate us cuz they ain't us