[1fastdoc]

One of the Cardiologists here picked up a 2005 575 Maranello. We went for a drive and I had a chance to get behind the wheel. Unfortunately, it was around 5pm and we were limited to some neighborhood style back roads.

That car has been my dream car for years. I've changed my mind. It's fun and if I hadn't owned the DCT M3 I would have probably loved the F1. But, by comparison the M3 is so much more refined. Can't comment on the highway but around town the M3 is also a lot more comfortable.

Sucks. Now I need a new dream car. I'm thinking McClaren MP4-12C.

[silvergray545]

I love the 575M. It's such a classy looking Ferrari. Technology has advanced quite a bit since 2005 so I'm not surprised that you weren't mind blown. Jump in a 599, F430 or 458 and then you'll get what you were expecting.

[1fastdoc]

Originally Posted by silvergray545

I love the 575M. It's such a classy looking Ferrari. Technology has advanced quite a bit since 2005 so I'm not surprised that you weren't mind blown. Jump in a 599, F430 or 458 and then you'll get what you were expecting.

Funny thing, he bought the 575 to have a more laid back driving car. His other Ferrari is an F430 and he said it's not that great for getting around town. He compared them to girlfriends -- the 575M is like the experienced and matured 30 y/o while the 430 is like a 19 y/o wild child. It's gotten a lot colder here lately so it will probably be Spring before I get to see or drive the 430.

On a side note, I really should have been a Cardiologists. You can always find their cars in the garage. One little section that goes Porsche turbo S, Porsche turbo, BMW Alpina, BMW M3, Merc, Viper, Porsche, etc...

[silvergray545]

Originally Posted by 1fastdoc

Funny thing, he bought the 575 to have a more laid back driving car. His other Ferrari is an F430 and he said it's not that great for getting around town. He compared them to girlfriends -- the 575M is like the experienced and matured 30 y/o while the 430 is like a 19 y/o wild child. It's gotten a lot colder here lately so it will probably be Spring before I get to see or drive the 430.

On a side note, I really should have been a Cardiologists. You can always find their cars in the garage. One little section that goes Porsche turbo S, Porsche turbo, BMW Alpina, BMW M3, Merc, Viper, Porsche, etc...

Haha I like his comparison. I should have been a Cardiologist as well. Too bad I'm graduating in about 4 weeks. Lol

[NAV8TT]

[upstatedoc]

Originally Posted by 1fastdoc

I really should have been a Cardiologists.

I have a med school buddy (now a cardiologist) who busts my balls and says I drive the "Primary Care" BMW.

[NAV8TT]

Pulmonologists rule..

[DevJ]

I should tell my dad to buy a ferrari. he's a cardiologist

Originally Posted by upstatedoc

I have a med school buddy (now a cardiologist) who busts my balls and says I drive the "Primary Care" BMW.

he sounds like a douche..i know plenty of sub-specialists who have 3-series.
your car is awesome

[rad doc]

Originally Posted by DevJ

I should tell my dad to buy a ferrari. he's a cardiologist

he sounds like a douche..i know plenty of sub-specialists who have 3-series.
your car is awesome

Ha ha. I am a sub-specialist and drive a 1 series (well 1M). Maybe i need to up my game.

[1fastdoc]

Originally Posted by rad doc

Ha ha. I am a sub-specialist and drive a 1 series (well 1M). Maybe i need to up my game.

I'm an ENT and with all the BS we put up with from Ins companies and Medicare I sometimes regret not going with my first plan -- interventional radiology.

At present the Radiologists and Pulmonologists I know make considerably more than I do. We have a very high Medicare rate and a moderate amount of a Medicaid. They contract with the hospital so it doesn't hurt them. I'm private so it's just money pissed away when I take a Medicaid pt to the OR. But in the end it's what they need. Unfortunately a Ferrari is not in my future.

I have a friend who is also an M3 owner who is an Anesthesiologist. He makes about what I make but he took 9 weeks off last year to my 5 days. If any medical students are reading this, think long and hard before choosing a specialty, the difference in reimbursement can easily amount to millions over a career.

[Joekerr]

Originally Posted by 1fastdoc

I'm an ENT and with all the BS we put up with from Ins companies and Medicare I sometimes regret not going with my first plan -- interventional radiology.

At present the Radiologists and Pulmonologists I know make considerably more than I do. We have a very high Medicare rate and a moderate amount of a Medicaid. They contract with the hospital so it doesn't hurt them. I'm private so it's just money pissed away when I take a Medicaid pt to the OR. But in the end it's what they need. Unfortunately a Ferrari is not in my future.

I have a friend who is also an M3 owner who is an Anesthesiologist. He makes about what I make but he took 9 weeks off last year to my 5 days. If any medical students are reading this, think long and hard before choosing a specialty, the difference in reimbursement can easily amount to millions over a career.

Weird how it seems like all the posters in here are doctors...I am not, wanted to change the trend.

Yes, the difference in reimbursement can be significant, but chances are good you picked ENT because you liked it right? Probably interesting surgeries or whatever. But if you went through to be a cardiologist, you might be either bored, or annoyed, or a little depressed with your job - irregardless of the money. I know a person who picked general surgery as a career because she genuinely enjoyed operating in the stomach and doing those types of surgeries. She could have been like any of her friends and did Derm or Eyes and would have probably been making close to twice what she currently makes AND with a much saner life (no call...or very little calls when she is "on call") but instead chose GS where she's up most of the night.

But that's what she likes...so any med students should NOT think about the money, but rather what they actually like, because that will keep them happy in the long run, not the money. Besides, all the avenues get paid pretty well I think. If they like none of the opportunities in medicine then they probably shouldn't do it, but if they choose to anyways, THEN they should think only about the money.

Are there any general surgeons on the board out of curiosity? I'd be curious how much a gall bladder or an appendix costs to remove in the states (ie. how much does one make). It is surprisingly low in Canada. Though the insurance is also a lot cheaper too I'm sure.

[Echo M3]

Originally Posted by 1fastdoc

I'm an ENT and with all the BS we put up with from Ins companies and Medicare I sometimes regret not going with my first plan -- interventional radiology.

At present the Radiologists and Pulmonologists I know make considerably more than I do. We have a very high Medicare rate and a moderate amount of a Medicaid. They contract with the hospital so it doesn't hurt them. I'm private so it's just money pissed away when I take a Medicaid pt to the OR. But in the end it's what they need. Unfortunately a Ferrari is not in my future.

I have a friend who is also an M3 owner who is an Anesthesiologist. He makes about what I make but he took 9 weeks off last year to my 5 days. If any medical students are reading this, think long and hard before choosing a specialty, the difference in reimbursement can easily amount to millions over a career.

I think one important point you left out is that the patterns of reimbursement change over time. For this reason, I don't think it's very prudent to choose a career within medicine purely based on compensation. People who have entered radiology for this purpose are starting to discover this, as employment opportunities and compensation are starting to drop across the nation.

Perhaps I'm being a bit naive, but my focus has been to systematically eliminate and select specialties based on considerations like job satisfaction, intellectual challenge, work environment and lifestyle. The downside is that I'm halfway through my 3rd year, and I've eliminated everything thus far .

Back on topic: Chief of specialty at my current rotation has a LMB E92 M3 ZCP. I wish I could bring up the topic of cars with him without coming off as a complete douche.

[max08e90]

Do cardiologists make more than surgeons who have more than one specialty?

[Joekerr]

Originally Posted by Echo M3

...I wish I could bring up the topic of cars with him without coming off as a complete douche.

You cannot prevent what you are....























I keed, I keed

But I don't get it - why do you think you'd look like a douche? Because you also drive an M3 and he's the Chief? I don't think that would do it.

[1fastdoc]

Originally Posted by Echo M3

I think one important point you left out is that the patterns of reimbursement change over time. For this reason, I don't think it's very prudent to choose a career within medicine purely based on compensation. People who have entered radiology for this purpose are starting to discover this, as employment opportunities and compensation are starting to drop across the nation.

Perhaps I'm being a bit naive, but my focus has been to systematically eliminate and select specialties based on considerations like job satisfaction, intellectual challenge, work environment and lifestyle. The downside is that I'm halfway through my 3rd year, and I've eliminated everything thus far .

Back on topic: Chief of specialty at my current rotation has a LMB E92 M3 ZCP. I wish I could bring up the topic of cars with him without coming off as a complete douche.

I like talking about cars with anybody and if a med student brought it up it would probably end up in a long conversation that had nothing to do with medicine or surgery. If he has a ZCP I would guess he either just bought the most expensive one he could or he is a car guy at heart. A conversation lie that would mean I'd remember that that student. People who stand out usually have more responsibility tossed on their shoulders and as a result have more opportunities to stand out and shine.

Reimbursement patters definitely change but there are some pretty stable trends. Payment for surgical procedures continues to decline. There are many better ways for a person to make money than in medicine and I agree that reimbursement shouldn't play the greatest role but it should play some role. Job satisfaction and lifestyle should be the biggest factors. Satisfaction is going to be low however if you work 80 hrs/week and make far less than peers who work 40 hrs and spend far more time with their families.

[amanda hor$t]

doctor here, i specialize in heat injections

[upstatedoc]

Originally Posted by Joekerr

Are there any general surgeons on the board out of curiosity?

They're too busy to be posting.

Originally Posted by max08e90

Do cardiologists make more than surgeons who have more than one specialty?

Interventional cardiologists do extremely well. The ones that do heart catheterizations and ablations but they have the hours of a surgeon.

[alwaysbored786]

agh im so jealous!

[upstatedoc]

Originally Posted by veloziROTHTOR

doctor here, i specialize in heat injections

they call him "doctor love"...