I know that age discrimination doesn’t seem to be a big problem in getting into medical school - but how about in finding a position after school? My partner keeps worrying that no one will want to hire a newly minted 45 year old doctor. does anyone have any info on this? is there reason to worry?
By the time you are working through your residency, you’ll see clearly that, as with most other jobs, getting a job in medicine is about networking, who ya know, getting plugged into the grapevine for openings, etc. Depending on the field you’re going into, you may be cold-calling folks for jobs or sending your resume out into the unknown, but you will ALSO most assuredly be talking to people you know. Most residents end up getting jobs near where they did their residency - this certainly makes the job-hunting and networking easier. But even if you want to move elsewhere, you’re going to find that someone went to school wtih someone who knows a guy who… and the next thing you know, you’ve got someone offering to make a call to personally introduce you to the person who could talk to you about your dream job.
So relax. You’ll be able to make your own opportunities. I’ll be 51 when I finish residency two years from now and I have two practices already “recruiting” me.
Mary
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I know that age discrimination doesn’t seem to be a big problem in getting into medical school - but how about in finding a position after school? My partner keeps worrying that no one will want to hire a newly minted 45 year old doctor. does anyone have any info on this? is there reason to worry?
Hi there,
I will be almost 60 by the time I finish residency and fellowship (General Surgery and Vascular Surgery). I have had plenty of job offers and invitations to join practices. Age has little to do with your employability post residency. I am a good surgeon now and my patients love my style of practice. As a couple of my attendings have hinted, this means increased revenue to their practices. They would rather have a partner who is capable of bringing in revenue and building the practice rather than someone who is a particular age.
Very few physicians no matter what age are going to experience difficulty finding employment post residency and some specialists are in great demand i.e. Family Medicine.
If you make it through medical school and residency, you really do not need to worry about finding a job.
Natalie
thanks - I figured as much but wanted to help put her mind at ease.
I know that I’m posting late to this thread, but I recall reading somewhere an opinion piece exhorting medical clinics, hospitals, and physician practices to consider hiring older just-out-residents (older new physicians) obstensibly because they have both recent medical knowledge and training (while many of their counterparts who went through med school earlier in life do not: check out www.ama-assn.org/amednews/site/free/prsb0307.htm) and their “older-ness” can help them relate to older patients. While I find this last point a bit stereotypical, it is a point of truth: many older patients feel more comfortable talking to older doctors. On the other hand, there is this: http://enews.tufts.edu/stories/031505ForDoctorsDoesAgeMatter.htm
All in all, I agree that most age at which you finish your residency is probably not a detriment to finding a practice with which to work. Of course, you could always start your own . . .
Well, the Tufts piece really doesn’t relate to us because the point being made by the docs quoted is that they are “older physicians” in the usually-understood sense of the term - they are EXPERIENCED doctors. By the same token, there are usually a few articles every year about the rigors of training for “new young doctors.” I get a good laugh out of being called “young” since I’ll be 50 this year. 
The article I’m familiar with, about hiring newly-graduated older physicians, is one for which I was interviewed extensively, actually. I think I posted the link at the time but it’s now a few years old. Amazingly the link still works, so you can find the article here. In the article I’m just 46!
Mary
Hi there,
Yesterday, the Army Reserve recruiter stopped by the hospital and pointed out the HUGE incentive offers for surgeons to join the reserves. They get an automatic age waver up to age 60 if they wish to join. They will pay off tuition with you having to give back year for year. They also are offering a monthly stipend in addition to your regular residency pay. The Army and Air Force Reserves are really looking for surgeons and are offerning some great financial incentives to those who are finishing up surgical residency in the next three years. Who know? They might get me.
Natalie 
Of course the only issue is that you may get sent to war. In fact, one of the “retired from the military” pathologists I used to work with who had first served in the Army in the 1970’s, has been called to go to Iraq.
Somehow grandmas and grandpas going to war just doesn’t seem right. 
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Of course the only issue is that you may get sent to war. In fact, one of the “retired from the military” pathologists I used to work with who had first served in the Army in the 1970’s, has been called to go to Iraq.
Somehow grandmas and grandpas going to war just doesn’t seem right.
Hi there,
Going to war is not an “issue” for me but a duty that I welcome as an American citizen. Since my father’s family emigrated to the country, the opportunities that we have been received through the sacrifices of those who went to war before us have been many. I am proud to serve and would welcome the opportunity to head to the front line to give surgical aid where ever I can. My father and uncle were batallion surgeons in Korea (the real MASH folks). My brother and sister have served in the armed forces. We are proud and happy to serve so that we can give some aid and comfort to those who have given so much before us. No problem here with heading to Irag tomorrow and I would be an excellent trauma surgeon to boot!
Natalie
I guess the ironic thing about this conversation is that I tried on 3 different occasions to go into the Navy as an officer, but couldn’t get passed the health exam (I’m asthmatic). My original plan was to serve a few years then try to matriculate at USUHS. My dad was a Marine too, so I knew early on that I only had 2 choices among the branches of the military. And I’m just a little bit envious of my fiance’ who was also a Naval officer.
But this war in Irag seems much less like “fighting for one’s country” and more like Vietnam II. I’m still not sure WHY we’re there.
pathdr, I’m certainly with you on questioning this particular war. I do get a good feeling thinking that someone like our own Dr. Nat could be tending to my son or one of his Marine colleagues… but would frankly rather we weren’t in such a situation that I’d be contemplating that!
Mary
proud Navy mom supporting the troops, not the war
Is it only surgeons that they want? What about emergency medicine, radiologists, anaesthesiologists, GPs, internists, etc. I would think that they would need a full spectrum of specialists. Or do they pretty much just fly out to Germany for anything less than life threatening and rely on medics for the routine stuff?
P.S. I’d go, too, if called up.
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Is it only surgeons that they want? What about emergency medicine, radiologists, anaesthesiologists, GPs, internists, etc. I would think that they would need a full spectrum of specialists. Or do they pretty much just fly out to Germany for anything less than life threatening and rely on medics for the routine stuff?
P.S. I’d go, too, if called up.
Hey there,
They are in great need of orthopedic surgeons and general surgeons. The problem is that surgeons generally take a substantial pay cut in the armed forces so they are in very high demand and are particularly sought after. The general medicine ranks are nicely filled because the armed forces are a great place to practice medicine.
Natalie
I am 45, just became an attending. They were happy to have me and I am happy to be there. Age is a non-factor, just concentrate on being a good doc and the rest will take care of itself. Good luck!
Quote:I have to disagree because the general medicine ranks are not filled…nothing is filled. Pediatricians are being sent to serve as battalion surgeons and Officers as high as O6 are being deployed to Iraq to provide medical service. The need is that great. Some Army units are sending the physicians out with the units patrolling so in case there is an injury the physician is on the scene immediately…ie…carrying a M16 and walking along with the troops. The military medicine is hurting in the enlisted ranks as well.
Hey there,
They are in great need of orthopedic surgeons and general surgeons. The problem is that surgeons generally take a substantial pay cut in the armed forces so they are in very high demand and are particularly sought after. The general medicine ranks are nicely filled because the armed forces are a great place to practice medicine.
Natalie
Unfortunately only certain spots within the military are great to practise medicine, usually those which have hazardous pay attached to them. For the most part you have to do more with much less. I’m not talking about practising medicine at a lower salary but providing care at less than standard levels of care, while stationed in the US. When you hear bullets, beans, & bandaids that is exactly it…bandaids.
Now, I love the military life and lifestyle. However the idealism has to be tempered with a heavy dose of reality and some thick, thick skin.
Currently, Air Force neurologists are non-deployable because there is a shortage Air Force wide. There is a difference between how the services manage their medical personnel. Unfortunately, the Army, and more and more nowadays, the Marines, are the ground-pounders who shoulder the responsibility of performing the day-to-day mission on the ground. Don’t get me wrong, the other services are also performing more missions, but they don’t “face the enemy” on a day-to-day basis.
Tara
There isn’t really much difference between the Army and Navy. Because in actuality there are really only 3 services, Army, Navy, Air Force…with the Coast Guard and Marines falling under the Navy. So if the Marines are in harms way then the Navy medical department is in harms way. Army gets to war on planes and the Marines on ships and then there’s the Chair…umm…Air Force.
I can’t think of anyone at the Naval Hospital who hasn’t done or about to do some time in the sand. The shortages are ugly all the way around…
And that is why after seeing my husband for only 20 of the first 48 months we were married while we were both in the Army that I accepted an Air Force scholarship for med school (although I still want to deploy in the future, I wishfully want there to be some balance this time around 
)
just be careful what you wish for… 
My husband reminds me of that ALL of the time, espescially now that he is preparing for his fifth trip to the middle east in the past two years.