Salary, Happiness, and the Dermatologist

Medscape recently released its 2012 survey data on salary and level of happiness in different medical specialties and the results are interesting. While dermatology is the 8th highest compensated specialty in medicine (with a mean compensation of $306,000), the overall satisfaction rate among dermatologists remains the highest of all specialties. In total, 59 percent of dermatologists state they are satisfied, versus only 44 percent of orthopedists (who rank #1 in overall compensation). Moreover, 74 percent of dermatologists say they would choose the same specialty, versus only 56 percent of orthopedists.

These data and other intriguing statistics are available at Medscape’s site (www. medscape.com), but what we can glean from these core numbers is that happiness does not always coincide with salary. And although we must consider salary and reimbursement carefully, there are other factors that may be even more important. As dermatologists, we see many patients with a high level of happiness, and this is passed on to our lives in a positive manner. Additionally, many ancillary staff members gravitate to our specialty because they want to be around people and patients who are satisfied, while making a difference and enjoying their job. We should all remember that we are fortunate to enjoy our work and foster an environment in our offices that cultivates the proper positive atmosphere. It is very easy to get caught up in the day-by-day minutia and not take the time to reflect on how fortunate we are in our choice of specialty.

I have always found it interesting that plastic surgeons, while ranking 7th highest in salary (just above dermatologists), also rank 7th from the bottom in satisfaction. At the same time, their likelihood of choosing the same career is 58 percent, which is fourth highest in rank, behind dermatology, ophthalmology and urology. That plastic surgeons don’t feel satisfied and yet still want to stay in the specialty is a thought-provoking finding. Given the overlap in procedures and care that dermatologists offer in comparison to plastic surgeons, the contradictions leave much for further thought.

One important consideration that occurs to me, when comparing dermatology to plastic surgery, is that many dermatologists have a medical component to their practices. That provides extra stimulation that plastic surgeons do not have. Could it be that the concentration of all cosmetics in their practices may provide too much vanity for them to absorb? It could be that the level of their patients’ demands may be more than that generated by our patients who selfselect for dermatologists to perform the desired cosmetic procedures.

Whatever the case, we have to be mindful of the fact that minor, negative fluctuations in salary and reimbursement pale in comparison to the ability to come home after a day in clinical practice with a smile on our faces. Congratulations to all of us for choosing our careers wisely!