Training salaries in Derm

[stellahead]

I tried to get into derm straight out of the PA school gate in 2014. The farthest I got was a dermatologist willing to train me if I could create a "fellowship" and scrounge up funding for the position. I had to bury the dream when I got my first reasonable offer in South Florida, which happened to be neurosurgery. After more than two years, I'm ready to try to my original track again.

 

I'm starting to cold call and network in earnest. At a recent networking event sponsored by AAD in Orlando, I was met with either sheer surprise that anyone without experience could ever get a job -- classic Catch 22 -- or the dreaded $50,000 a year training salary. 

 

Is this really how it is? I see the offers listed here, and some seem pretty decent. My neurosurgeon didn't lowball me for my training period. He grabbed me, and I ran with him. Why is derm so different?

 

Any and all advice welcome.

[EMEDPA]

the only acceptable training salary is in an established residency program. period. end of story.

[BruceBanner]

"Training salaries" are really just a synonym for cheap labor. This is misuse/abuse any way you slice it.

 

The MDs love love love to use the tired old "well we did a residency and so should you" line, but we are not docs!! We are credentialed, licensed professionals with a standard of pay. Dont ever accept a training salary unless it is a bonafide residency program.

[rookiejay]

I'm at 50% of my base for 2 to 3 mo to train in LA with some outstanding MD's. I am overjoyed to do so. I think it also depends on where you are in life. I've done FP/UC for 9 years, and I am ready to move on. Not thrilled with the low pay, but the training I am getting would have cost me more than what I am losing. Then I transition to my own clinic and leave LA for another town to work. For some people, this might have been a deal breaker. I compared my contract to some of the job offer posts, and it was better than most. I've only 3 more weeks in FP. I'm not sure how much '' free labor'' they are getting as I am a student again and shoulder to shoulder with an MD. If you can live with the training time/ wages and it is truly what you want, then go for it. 

[tenjjetnis]

A hospitalist pa here in my hospital recently switched specialties to dermatology. She was required to go through a 6 month residency at our main trauma 1 hospital. She will still be paid her full salary and benefits during the training and after the residency she will be working alongside one other pa as the only providers at the derm clinic located here in the country. At the clinic, all new patients will be seen alongside physicians via telemedicine, while she will be able to see f/u visits solo. I thought that was a pretty sweet setup! 

[PACJD]

3 hours ago, tenjjetnis said:

A hospitalist pa here in my hospital recently switched specialties to dermatology. She was required to go through a 6 month residency at our main trauma 1 hospital. She will still be paid her full salary and benefits during the training and after the residency she will be working alongside one other pa as the only providers at the derm clinic located here in the country. At the clinic, all new patients will be seen alongside physicians via telemedicine, while she will be able to see f/u visits solo. I thought that was a pretty sweet setup! 

This sounds like a great setup! What state are you in if you don't mind me asking?

[tenjjetnis]

Central PA!