quote:
Just realize for like an orthopedic surgeon you would be giving up 300k or more in salary for like a 65k salary. Most doctors can pay off their loans after a few years without tring to

I'd guess an ortho MD would pull closer to $120-150K in the military.

But relative to your point, you are actually "giving up" income in your peak years, not straight off.
E.g., If one starts off $500K-$1M in start up practice debt, yet 15yrs later peaks at clearing $1.5M/yr income, the time spent in the military could be said to cost much more than you claim . . . i.e., $1.35M/yr of military service. Four fewer "peak" years.

OTOH, the military route is no where near an obligatory static loss. Administrative/leadership opportunities can far outstrip anything one would experience at similar experience levels in private practice. So it may contribute to post-military financial opportunity.

1 ...

Report Post

Posted by BearsFan

Member since Mar 2016

1283 posts

Posted on 5/25/18 at 10:05 pm to NC_Tigah

There are some down sides to doing the military route.

1) Sometimes if you are in the military it can be harder to garner a residency spot than if you were just a civilian. Some military physicians get to do civilian residencies, but most do military residencies (i think). The military match is complex and though I have discussed the experience with a few people, the intricacies of it are beyond me.
2) Sometimes the military will pull people out of their residency after just the first year and make them work as a general physician of sorts. Since you can practice medicine after just an intern year (the first year of residency), the military can use you as a full physician anywhere in the world. I knew a guy who got pulled out of his residency and had to work for like 5 years. Then he was later going back to do a full residency.

1 ...

Report Post

Money Talk - Replies to Post

Return To Board

Page 1

Return To Board