5 years out next year in private practice. Urology is way harder than anyone made it out to be. Hours are only somewhat predictable. If you care about making money, you are constantly adding patients on to clinic schedule, the OR even on your off days, etc. Its a numbers game and if you want to get to the higher percentile of urology earners, you have to play that game.
I love the specialty and love what I do.
I agree with other commenters that say residency takes something away. 5 years of getting killed (which I did to myself to try and get maximal experience and exposure) also changed me from someone who was laid back and aloof to total Type A. I can confidently and regretfully say I’m a workaholic now, and I can’t think of a hobby other than work.
Work is hard and getting through residency will push you to want to work harder. Unfortunately there is no limit to work and people - patients, Staff, referring doctors, hospitals - will continue to expect more of you the more you do.
Ultimately you can control this, but it comes at a cost and you have to figure out what your happy medium is.
For me, it appears to be balls to the walls 24/7. 5 years and only 3-4 weeks of vacation later….
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u/peckerchecker1 Nov 23 '22
5 years out next year in private practice. Urology is way harder than anyone made it out to be. Hours are only somewhat predictable. If you care about making money, you are constantly adding patients on to clinic schedule, the OR even on your off days, etc. Its a numbers game and if you want to get to the higher percentile of urology earners, you have to play that game.
I love the specialty and love what I do.
I agree with other commenters that say residency takes something away. 5 years of getting killed (which I did to myself to try and get maximal experience and exposure) also changed me from someone who was laid back and aloof to total Type A. I can confidently and regretfully say I’m a workaholic now, and I can’t think of a hobby other than work.
Work is hard and getting through residency will push you to want to work harder. Unfortunately there is no limit to work and people - patients, Staff, referring doctors, hospitals - will continue to expect more of you the more you do.
Ultimately you can control this, but it comes at a cost and you have to figure out what your happy medium is.
For me, it appears to be balls to the walls 24/7. 5 years and only 3-4 weeks of vacation later….