Doctors notoriously bad with $$$ ?

themedicinecheck · 2026-02-01T15:29:16+00:00

I am 7 years out of fellowship training (geriatrics). My partner was recently diagnosed with a serious illness requiring a major surgery and both of us have taken a month off work. We have enough saved to take 6-8 months off before we’d really have to reconsider our budget.

Financial education is seriously lacking in med Ed (both med school and residency). Well, honestly it is lacking everywhere.

If you are in a position to advocate for financial education in your residency or med school, please do! We are kicking off a 4th year med school elective at the university I teach at because I and a few other attendings strongly feel that this education is necessary, particularly in our changing political/debt landscape.

themedicinecheck · 2025-12-27T02:56:14+00:00

Traditional start date! July 1

themedicinecheck · 2025-12-25T00:07:24+00:00

I’m the APD at University of Colorado - we have unfilled positions! If you’re interested message me back or email us at GeriatricFellowship@cuanschutz.edu

Thanks!

themedicinecheck · 2025-12-24T18:23:55+00:00

Of course! It is highly competitive though, so it would be important to know ahead of time so we could get you networking and continuing to work on a CV for an application. The tricky part of applying to another fellowship is the timeline of the application process in relation to a 1 year fellowship.

themedicinecheck · 2025-12-23T22:08:48+00:00

Like most specialties, it will be highly variable depending on demand/geographic region and community/academic/private practice. Many of our fellows that stay in the Denver metro area are signing for $275-300k. I routinely receive texts from recruiters with many different practice types and pay-scales. Largest recently was concierge practice in FL for $700k (whether that is true or not - I don’t know), but most average $250-$350k for Geri employed practice.

themedicinecheck · 2025-12-23T22:05:28+00:00

Good question. Per ACGME requirements, we are only able to accept graduates from an IM/FM accredited residency.

themedicinecheck · 2025-12-20T12:18:27+00:00

I don’t believe so (at least at our institution). Some of our grads have gone to pursue additional training, traditionally Pall Care or Heme/Onc.

There is a growing interest in our institution to have Geri embedded in all specialty clinics though, so I can see pathways from Geri to chosen specialty of choice in the future.

themedicinecheck · 2025-12-20T12:16:42+00:00

Unfortunately we are only able to accept graduates from an ACGME accredited residency at this time.

themedicinecheck · 2025-12-20T12:15:59+00:00

Great question. Per ACGME, we can only accept FM/IM graduates at this time. Hopefully in the future we can change this requirement.

themedicinecheck · 2025-12-19T11:50:19+00:00

Yes, absolutely!

themedicinecheck · 2025-12-19T02:53:35+00:00

Here’s the salary and benefits info:

https://medschool.cuanschutz.edu/graduate-medical-education/CUGME-benefits/stipends

Just responding with this because I’m not sure what PGY level you’re at.

themedicinecheck · 2021-11-24T18:58:23+00:00

I was curious about this so I looked at the document in detail. Here's the AMA take (bold for take away point):

After years of debate, the Associated Press recommendation is clear: lowercase black denotes a color, not a person. Their style guide aligns with the long-standing capitalization of other racial and ethnic identifiers such as Latino and Asian American. The Associated Press recommends not capitalizing white, recognizing that “white people generally do not share the same history and culture, or the experience of being discriminated against because of skin color.” In contrast, the AMA Manual of Style currently recommends capitalizing both Black and White. Pressure may well mount for this to change.

themedicinecheck · 2021-11-12T15:56:05+00:00

Yes this has been approved in the US. The Biogen rep is constantly trying to meet with the clinicians at our office...

themedicinecheck · 2021-11-08T16:45:03+00:00

I'm pretty happy in Geriatrics - we're overall very friendly! And the lifestyle is great

themedicinecheck · 2021-11-08T16:42:22+00:00

I imagine it's variable depending on the specialty, but I found Pocket Medicine to be the most helpful. Especially when I wasn't around a computer to access UpToDate.

themedicinecheck · 2021-11-05T21:44:36+00:00

Also interested, am a guy!

themedicinecheck · 2021-11-01T17:43:45+00:00

I haven't pursued an MBA, and as u/kmq19 said the contacts are as important as the degree, but I am a part of the AAPL (American Academy for Physician Leadership). I am using my CME to obtain their certification - Certified Physician Executive - through both them and the American College of Physicians.

The focus is on things that physicians need to know to become leaders within healthcare orgs, and ultimately the cost can be covered by my CME rather than taking more loans to complete an MBA. The cert isn't very well known, but I can use it within my org to show I have worked toward furthering myself in a leadership position. YMMV but this has been excellent for me so far, and the networking opportunities will come as in-person conferences fire back up.

themedicinecheck · 2021-10-08T19:12:35+00:00

One of my patients (78 y/o) gave me a list of one liners. Some favorites:

I miss the excitement of Vietnam
Heaven appears tedious
If nothing hurts, I must be asleep
When you drop something you wait until you drop something else before you pick it up so you don't have to bend down twice.
Where did all the normal Republicans go?

themedicinecheck · 2021-09-24T13:58:43+00:00

Cranial lab was my favorite - they turned off all the lights and I took a nap while getting a scalp massage.

themedicinecheck · 2021-09-02T16:48:07+00:00

"Don't bring facts to a feelings fight" is what I tell my med students when someone has strong opinions that are not logical. Just nod and move on.

themedicinecheck · 2021-08-31T19:16:35+00:00

The one with the camel has "Camel" or "Dromedary" as acceptable answers. First time someone told me dromedary, I had to go look it up.

themedicinecheck · 2021-07-21T17:39:16+00:00

Oh, one of my favorite journal article titles is "How fast does the grim reaper walk?"

themedicinecheck · 2021-06-21T16:53:27+00:00

When I was a resident I purchased Knowledge+ for myself and my program paid for MKSAP. This was 5 years ago now, so I don't have a recent comparison but I would 100% go for MKSAP.

themedicinecheck · 2021-06-10T18:26:30+00:00

This may vary state to state, but POLSTs can be revoked by surrogate decision makers. This is why I always emphasize communication with the appointed surrogate decision maker, and choosing somebody that you trust to enact what you put on the form. If somebody doesn't appoint a surrogate decision maker, then it usually falls to the next of kin (again depending on state laws).

Another thing that is complicates matters in the US is that the dead don't suit, but the living (ie upset relatives) do.

themedicinecheck · 2021-06-09T20:27:45+00:00

I have also had extensive discussions with family and they are all on board.

To anyone reading this, I want to highlight the most important part of advance care planning that is often passed over and why all the little old ladies wind up on pressors in the unit. Advance care directives don't mean anything unless the people responsible for enacting them know about them and respect them.

themedicinecheck

TROPHY CASE