What Young Doctors Want

By Dr. Jessica Wu
Residen

These days, many new doctors entering practice have different priorities than they did a few decades ago. With the realization of massive debt after medical school, younger doctors are serious about what they want from their careers and how they practice medicine. 

Work/Life Balance

For young doctors, the flexibility to take time off to enjoy family, friends, hobbies and travel is crucial—maybe even more important than compensation. They certainly want to make money, but they’re not willing to take a higher salary if that means enduring super-long hours at the office with not much of a work/life balance. They are also aware of the older generation’s difficulties with burnout, so they want to take steps to diminish the risks for themselves. They know long hours, lack of sleep, increased stress levels and high-pressure work environments can all take a huge toll on mental health. Burnout is not a sacrifice they are willing to take.  

Autonomy

Young doctors know working as an employee in a hospital or large group may guarantee more financial security, but they also know that means less autonomy. They want the freedom to practice medicine the way they want—without a plethora of red tape and regulations. They also desire the ability to spend more time with patients and develop long-term doctor/patient relationships. And they want to determine themselves how many or how few patients they see per day, without the pressure of a mandated number.

Financial Growth & Independence

Financial security is always an important factor. Because most medical students graduate with a mountain of student loan debt, it’s essential they make enough to start paying it off. And they want the ability to increase their salaries quickly. For many, the dream is to start their own practices, but it is often not feasible to obtain a bank loan and sign a long-term lease shortly after finishing residency. 

The Solution

For young doctors—or MDs of any age—achieving the practice they want may be easier than they think. Residen offers doctors an easy, flexible and affordable way to start an independent practice with no long-term financial commitment. As a doctor’s practice grows, we can accommodate their schedules and needs—on their own terms.