Contracting while still in residency

We know of several people who have signed contracts with hospitals while still in residency. They usually are paid a stipend and are eligible for a bonus at the end of residency.

DW and I are interested in moving to a rural/under-served area to practice. We have already been contacted by recruiters and it is sooooooooo tempting to sign. It sure would ease some financial pressures, but we would have a year-for-year commitment after training.

Has anyone on here done something similar, or know someone that has. I want to hear the good and bad, so we can decide whether to proceed down this road.

Thanks!

The option to do so really varies by specialty. In some it's unheard of, others it's totally common practice. If it's the job you want, do it. If it's not, or you're not SURE, then don't do it just for the $$. You'll be screwed legally, you'll have to repay the stipend, and your name will likely be dragged through the mud.

[diggitydot]

It's pretty common with the dude's program for those doing rural family medicine. We're rural fam medicine peeps, too.

[Chrisada]

I have a friend whose DH is in his final year of gen. surgery. They signed a contract several months ago because it was in the rural city where they are from in NM. They always had plans to go back, so it worked for them.

[oceanchild]

How many years of residency do you have left? I'd just want to be really, really sure it's the job you want. And I know my husband's thoughts on the kind of job he wants have changed considerably over just two years of residency.

We are just in our first year of Gen Surg. but the offers are from the area around where we both grew-up. This is where we will ultimately want to settle anyway. My only concern is that we will have no say in how DW is scheduled etc for the years we are under contract. I don't want her to get stuck with every gallbladder that the other Docs don't want to mess with.

[corn poffi]

Oooh...first year? I don't know if I'd do it. So much can change!

[corn poffi]

Ps I find it really weird that a hospital would put out an offer to somebody who's been a doctor for less than three months...

[SuzySunshine]

I think unless its a practice that you're REALLY familiar with it would wait. I totally understand the going home idea but unless you personally know another doc in that practice and they would be invested in you and vice versa I'd wait until the last year or two of residency.

I'm not surprised they would do this now, a lot of small towns do that, especially for kids that were raised there to get them to come back.

[corn poffi]

Well that could explain the crappy care I got growing up. pretty sure all the docs were hired because of who they knew and not what they knew. Scary. If somebody would want to hire my bf right now, I'd be like "are you crazy?!?!? Don't you want to actually see if he's a halfway decent surgeon before you give him a knife?" yes, I realize that he has years left of training, but I don't love the idea of being hired based on who you know. I also realize that's how I got my current job, but I don't cut people open.

[diggitydot]

Depends on circumstances. We've known since we left the state for med school that we'd return. If the dude seriously wanted to sign as an intern -- eh, whatev. It would have been fine. I'm also OK not having a contract yet.

[KCwife]

DH signed during the beginning of third year, and we had a stipend throughout. Contract is for two years. DH has had complete control over how his schedule runs, etc. If you KNOW where you want to go, etc... Ask for the moon, and if they really want you, they will give it.

[TulipsAndSunscreen]

DH signed during the beginning of third year, and we had a stipend throughout. Contract is for two years. DH has had complete control over how his schedule runs, etc. If you KNOW where you want to go, etc... Ask for the moon, and if they really want you, they will give it.

We will do this as soon as we can in residency for the right program in the right location. Apparently it's fairly common in Urology so it's something we're already thinking about.

[MrsPotts]

I'm taking it that your wife does not want to do a fellowship after residency? Just something to think about!

I'm taking it that your wife does not want to do a fellowship after residency? Just something to think about!

A fellowship is still on the radar but any rural place will bend over backwards for someone wanting to do such. DW could sign as a Gen Surgeon and they would have no problem extending themselves to allow for a fellowship. To go a step further, the states we are looking at will take a large chunk of our loans and the rest will dissolve after 10 years of working for a non-profit....