Study Shows Majority of New Pediatricians Satisfied With First Jobs

Tuesday, March 24, 2015

According to a recent study, at least one group of doctors seem to be happy with their first jobs out of residency.

That group? Pediatricians.

The findings, published March 23 in Pediatrics, show that more than 80% of new pediatricians are very satisfied with their post-residency jobs and how those positions matched with their future plans, career goals and lifestyle.

"There are frequent concerns about whether new physicians are being matched with positions that meet their career ambitions, and we found that for pediatricians, the news is quite good," said Gary Freed, MD, MPH, lead author and director of the hild Health Evaluation and Research (CHEAR) Unit at the University of Michigan Health System and professor of pediatrics at U-M’s C.S. Mott Children’s Hospital.

Gail McGuinness, MD, and Linda Althouse, PhD, of the American Board of Pediatrics and Lauren Moran, BA and Laura Spera, MS, MCS of the University of Michigan are also additional authors of the study. Funding was provided by the American Board of Pediatrics Foundation.

Additional findings include:

  • 69 percent of new pediatricians said lifestyle and family considerations were the most important considerations for their first job. The response was more common by women but still endorsed by more than half of men.
  • 2 percent said earning potential was the most important factor in first job selection.
  • 9 percent said debt at the end of training was the most important factor in first job selection.
  • and more.

To read more, visit Pediatrics or the University of Michigan Health System.

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