Of all the medical specialists that exist, surgeons are some of the highest income earners in healthcare. That’s due, in part, to the fact that they spend more time than almost any other specialist in education and training.
Yet for many surgeons, getting a license, becoming board certified, and practicing full time is just the first step in building a lengthy and successful career. There are multiple opportunities and pathways that surgeons can take, some of which don’t involve practicing surgery at all.
Whether you’re still in residency or have decades of experience behind you, here are five different ways that you can advance your career as a surgeon.
Sub-Specialize in a Particular Procedure
While some physicians train to become general surgeons, sub-specializing in a particular area of the body can advance your career. You can also boost your income by focusing on a particular surgical procedure.
The median salary for an orthopedic surgeon is $629,360 per year, but those that specialize further can earn even more. According to MGMA data, hip and joint specialists earn an average of $756,911, and spinal surgeons average $835,573 per year.
This article from Physician Thrive delves deeper into the orthopedic surgery salary and examines other factors, such as geographical location, that can affect your earnings.Specializing in certain areas of the body and/or training on new procedures can also separate you from your colleagues. This is a way to gain more recognition than colleagues that have been in practice for a longer period of time.
More experience, education, and training often leads to a position as a chief surgeon. For many physicians, the opportunity to oversee the entire surgical department at a given hospital is the goal.
Lecture and Teach
Many physicians find it gratifying to turn their focus to lecturing and teaching. Training aspiring surgeons-to-be is a viable career option; some choose to go this route early on in their careers, while others venture down this path later in life.
Academic settings are less stressful work environments. Teaching positions do tend to pay less than the average surgeon salary, but they sometimes lead to a higher paying position. Years of teaching experience may qualify you to become a department head at a medical college or university.
Is your goal to establish a better work-life balance?
If reducing your work hours and not participating in clinical practice is your goal, teaching may be the right route for you.
Consider Consulting
Like teaching, consulting is another option. Insurance companies often hire surgeons as consultants regarding medical malpractice cases.
Law firms and prosecutors also hire physicians as expert witnesses in trials. This opens up another possibility for surgeons looking to put their education and experience to work without having to actually perform surgical procedures.
Join a Professional Association
Another way to advance your career is to join a professional association. This is an excellent way to network with other colleagues, which can lead to future job opportunities and higher paying salaries.
Professional associations hire physicians to serve on their boards and take leadership roles on committees within their organization. Doing so can position you as a respected leader in your field.
This can also lead to a higher paying job as a hospital administrator, chief surgeon, or department head.
Establish a Private Practice
Regardless of your specialty or subspecialty, one of the best ways to advance your career is to go into practice for yourself. Establishing a private practice takes time, costs money, and requires you to focus not just on practicing medicine, but on the business of running a practice.
Self-employed physicians generally earn more each year than employed physicians, though it can take time to get a practice off the ground and attract enough patients to be profitable. It’s not the right choice for every physician, but it is a smart option for surgeons seeking more autonomy and looking to build a bigger name for themselves in the field.
An alternative option to opening your own practice is to go into business as a partner in an already established group practice. This is a way to share the expenses and responsibilities involved with fellow partners rather than shouldering all of the burden yourself.
In Conclusion
Those in a surgical specialty stand to earn far more than other physicians, and there are many different routes you can take to advance your career over time.
From learning the most up-to-date medical procedures to opening your own practice to switching gears to teach or consult, surgeons are in demand and have many options to pursue.
As our aging population continues to grow, so does the need for surgical experts. No matter which surgical specialty you choose, you’ll have many ways to advance your career and many opportunities to build wealth throughout the course of your career.
