I don't think you can compare an IT person's $85k salary to the typical doctor's income or job security.
IT people are getting laid off in droves, not to mention getting outsourced to India. (Yes, I know the radiologists will complain about their cush, well-paid jobs being outsourced, but overall we IMPORT more doctors.)
I do think IT people with engineering degrees short-changed themselves by not choosing medicine.
Shortchanged themselves indeed. After all, the time commitments are so similar.
And what exactly prevented them from seeking careers in medicine? Quicker and easier money in IT, perhaps? I think so. There wasn't a "dot-med boom" during which doctors one year out of med school made a killing on stock options, fortunes enough for several lifetimes before age 30.
Actually I have an Elect Engr/Comp Sci degree worked in industry and then did the MD. But I work in combined technology and medicine which I love to do and prefer it to treating patients, especially those that caused their illnesses through lifestyle habits. Imagine a guy has a new (red) Porsche and bashes it into a wall. He takes it to the body shop and they fix it good as new. Then you see him a few months later with the car bashed up again. Again you fix it. This repeats over and over again. I remember this is how I felt when treating patients. HH has a post about being a medicare pimp or drug pimp of some sort along these lines.
I much prefer working with technology and medicine. I know other docs that are also working with technology and medicine and are no longer seeing patients in areas such as medical IT as in EHRs/EMRs and also devices.
"There wasn't a "dot-med boom" during which doctors one year out of med school made a killing on stock options, fortunes enough for several lifetimes before age 30."
Even the Microsoft secretaries became millionaires, but so what?
Point to all the outliers you want, but the average engineer ain't never gonna hit the option jackpot.
They only way they can hope to make what Happy makes is to get promoted to upper management.
They can double their salary by switching to medicine but most don't like dealing with people and are too laid back to give up their 9 to 6 jobs for extra bucks.
I don't think you can compare an IT person's $85k salary to the typical doctor's income or job security.
ReplyDeleteIT people are getting laid off in droves, not to mention getting outsourced to India. (Yes, I know the radiologists will complain about their cush, well-paid jobs being outsourced, but overall we IMPORT more doctors.)
I do think IT people with engineering degrees short-changed themselves by not choosing medicine.
Shortchanged themselves indeed. After all, the time commitments are so similar.
ReplyDeleteAnd what exactly prevented them from seeking careers in medicine? Quicker and easier money in IT, perhaps? I think so. There wasn't a "dot-med boom" during which doctors one year out of med school made a killing on stock options, fortunes enough for several lifetimes before age 30.
Everyone forgets so quickly.
Actually I have an Elect Engr/Comp Sci degree worked in industry and then did the MD. But I work in combined technology and medicine which I love to do and prefer it to treating patients, especially those that caused their illnesses through lifestyle habits. Imagine a guy has a new (red) Porsche and bashes it into a wall. He takes it to the body shop and they fix it good as new. Then you see him a few months later with the car bashed up again. Again you fix it. This repeats over and over again. I remember this is how I felt when treating patients. HH has a post about being a medicare pimp or drug pimp of some sort along these lines.
ReplyDeleteI much prefer working with technology and medicine. I know other docs that are also working with technology and medicine and are no longer seeing patients in areas such as medical IT as in EHRs/EMRs and also devices.
David MD
"There wasn't a "dot-med boom" during which doctors one year out of med school made a killing on stock options, fortunes enough for several lifetimes before age 30."
ReplyDeleteEven the Microsoft secretaries became millionaires, but so what?
Point to all the outliers you want, but the average engineer ain't never gonna hit the option jackpot.
They only way they can hope to make what Happy makes is to get promoted to upper management.
They can double their salary by switching to medicine but most don't like dealing with people and are too laid back to give up their 9 to 6 jobs for extra bucks.