02/24/2016    Daniel T. Hall IV, DPM

Podiatrists Joining Orthopedic Groups (Ira Baum, DPM)

I believe the increased number of 3 year PMSR
trained podiatrist joining orthopedic group is
simple - the MONEY and OPPORTUNITY! As a recent
graduate from a very competitive surgical
residency, my fiancee and I opened our own
practice - however, had I not been blessed with
this unique opportunity, I would have sought out
a job that paid well, whether it be a podiatrist
or orthopedist.

I pose this question to Dr. Baum and the many
other solo/small group practitioners out there,
including myself: how can we compete with
offering starting salaries > $100,000 w bonus
incentives + moving expenses + malpractice
insurance + paid CME conferences + 401k benefits
+ potential buy-in opportunities for surgery
centers and/or group + immediate referral source
both inpatient/outpatient like many of these
orthopedic groups are offering?

The supply of newly graduating podiatrist capable
of performing foot and ankle surgery equal, if
not superior, to an orthopedic surgeon has
outgrown the demand for solo practicing
podiatrist to employ said individuals. Especially
when we (newly graduating podiatrist) know our
value and what orthopedic groups are willing to
pay versus solo podiatrist/podiatry groups.

While there are many podiatrist and podiatry
groups offering similar, if not better offers to
the newly graduating residents, the continuous
office struggles of decreased payments and
increased overhead remains a heavy burden. A
burden that prices many of us out of the game of
attracting and hiring these new podiatrist.

And lastly, I have profound respect for Dr. Baum
as I trained at the residency program he is
affiliated with and I know first hand the battles
he faced at Baptist Hospital fighting with
orthopedist to ensure podiatrist had a voice and
were respected as equal colleagues. As Dr. Baum
once told me before a surgical case, "we have to
be twice as good, to get half as much."

Daniel T. Hall IV, DPM, Lake Charles, LA

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