The Residency Racket

[SuzySunshine]

There is only one moonlighting opportunity at DHs training institution for his specialty and it's a small hospital over an hour away and they only let you do it during your research years, we decided it wasn't worth it.


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[MrsK]

There was one opportunity in DrK's program too. The departing residents basically willed it to a successor that they deemed sufficiently needy and capable. The one who had it before DrK was married with three kids and a SAH wife. DrK had two kids and I was at home. When DrK left, he recommended a resident who had just had a baby. When DrK took the job, thw program director warned him that he couldn't be chief if he was moonlighting. It was kind of a no brainer to take the paid moonlighting experience instead of working more residency hours for no extra pay. It was a nice job. DrK hated to give it up.

Once we get the ball rolling here, he might moonlight at a nursing home or something like that.

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[spotty_dog]

How is this possible? I'm incredulous.

I could show you my budget from 2009. Net pay was $3082. We paid an exorbitant amount for pet food, lived in an unnecessarily nice 4-bedroom house, had a huge grocery budget, belonged to a gym, and even went out to eat weekly. It was a pretty luxurious lifestyle. But thanks to DH bike commuting, having paid-off cars, and no loans (and a tiny bit of outpatient care from family, things like our cell bill and gifts to the babies) it was very doable for our family of 3 -- 4 at the end. Plus starting in year 2 we had a second income from DH moonlighting at area urgent care clinics; we used that for savings since we were spending the vast majority of the regular paycheck.

Not saying it would have worked out for anyone else's family, but coming from supporting the two of us on about $30k per year (university department secretary), it felt kind of luxurious. Adding in that I know a number of families in my current location, where COL is about 20% higher than the national average, raising families of 4 or more on $1700-3000 per month, it doesn't seem so terribly far fetched for a childless couple to be okay on a single salary.

That said, the "new lawyer" comparison is eye-openingly valid and I definitely see where compensation ought to be re-evaluated in light of the value a resident offers a hospital. It's a complicated subject to be sure.

[weeniegeniewife]

Moonlighting would be a big help - not allowed here. Do any surgery programs allow moonlighting?

DH moonlighted his entire 5 year uro residency and 2 year peds fellowship.

[TulipsAndSunscreen]

Yeah, moonlighting used to be allowed for surgery here too but they got rid of it in the last 5 years.

[Pollyanna]

Moonlighting was prohibited for us as well. It was allowed in fellowship but malpractice and tail coverage was iffy at best so dh decided it wasn't worth the risk.

[WolfpackWife]

Yeah, moonlighting used to be allowed for surgery here too but they got rid of it in the last 5 years.

Come to think of it, the cardio fellows at your institution are allowed to moonlight - wondering now if the IM residents are allowed to. We were there in 2011- mid-2012 so I wonder if anything has changed in the IM/cardio arena re: moonlighting.

[mommax3]

Moonlighting was not allowed for DH, but like someone else said, I don't know when he would have done any if it had been....he was at work all the time as it was!

[moonlight]

Come to think of it, the cardio fellows at your institution are allowed to moonlight - wondering now if the IM residents are allowed to. We were there in 2011- mid-2012 so I wonder if anything has changed in the IM/cardio arena re: moonlighting.

Cards are allowed to moonlight here!!

[TulipsAndSunscreen]

DH says medicine people can and people with research years. But no active surgery residents.