Do people quit during residency?

Yes, people do quit residency, with overall attrition rates around 12-13%, though it varies greatly by specialty, with surgery often higher and medicine lower, driven by issues like burnout, excessive hours, sleep deprivation, and lifestyle concerns, leading some to new careers like consulting or healthcare administration.

What percent of people quit residency?

The overall attrition rate is 12,7%, ranging between specialties from 4.9% to 24.4% [28], [29].

Is it normal to want to quit residency?

Quitting residency is more common in certain specialties, which is primarily a reflection of the lifestyle. That's why you see so many residents in general surgery leave—the lifestyle is brutal, and many decide it's not worth it.

What happens if you quit a residency program?

Therefore, quitting residency could limit your potential for certain traditional medical positions in the future. Medical education is expensive, and residents often have significant student debt. Leaving residency can impact your earning potential and your ability to repay this debt, at least in the short term.

Do residency students get breaks?

In most programs, residents receive 3-4 weeks of vacation per academic year where they're free from educational and clinical work. Depending on your program, this may come in the form of 2-week stretches, 1-week stretches, or a combination. This is your best opportunity in residency to go somewhere for vacation.

WHY I Quit Plastic Surgery Residency

What is the hardest year of residency?

The second year of residency training—postgraduate year 2 (PGY-2)—is a notoriously stressful time for physicians in training.

Is a 3.7 a bad GPA for med school?

No, a 3.7 GPA is not bad for medical school; it's generally considered competitive, often falling within the average range for matriculants, but success depends heavily on a strong MCAT score, solid science GPA, and a well-rounded application with strong clinical experience, research, and personal statements. While it's strong, top-tier schools might look for higher averages (closer to 3.8+), so it's crucial to excel in other areas and research specific program averages. 

What doctor makes $500,000 a year?

Doctors in high-demand surgical and specialized fields like Orthopedics, Plastic Surgery, Radiology, Cardiology, and Gastroenterology often earn over $500,000 annually, with some top earners in Thoracic Surgery or Neurosurgery making significantly more, while even family doctors can reach this level through practice ownership or specialized services.
 

Do residents work 7 days a week?

These limitations mean residents can work no more than 80 hours per week, no more than 24 consecutive hours on duty, cannot be on-call more than every third night, and should have one day off per week.

What is the most common reason doctors get fired?

The most common reasons doctors get fired often stem from professional misconduct, poor interpersonal skills (like being difficult with staff/patients), substance abuse, or significant performance/competency issues (like medical errors or charting problems), leading to a breakdown in teamwork and patient care, with many issues rooted in burnout or “anti-group” behavior that makes them liabilities, notes www.scottsharrislaw.com, Gail Gazelle, and National Institutes of Health (NIH). 

What are red flags for residency?

Residency red flags are issues in an applicant's record that can raise concerns for program directors, primarily falling into categories like academic performance (failed board exams, low scores, failed courses), gaps in education (unexplained time off, delays in graduating), and professionalism issues (disciplinary actions, legal problems, negative MSPE), along with weak application materials (generic statements, poor LORs) or limited clinical experience. These flags signal potential challenges, but can often be mitigated by explaining the context, demonstrating growth, and showing alignment with the program's values. 

What is the most stressful residency?

The Hardest Residency Specialties and What to Expect

• General Surgery. ...
• Neurosurgery. ...
• Orthopedic Surgery. ...
• Ophthalmology. ...
• Otolaryngology. ...
• Plastic Surgery. ...
• Urology. ...
• Interventional Radiology. In interventional radiology, applicants must match both a prelim spot and a PGY2 spot for IR.

Which type of doctor has the highest rate of depression?

Urology and Emergency Medicine often top lists for the highest depression rates among doctors, followed closely by Family Medicine, OB/GYN, and Neurology, according to recent studies from organizations like the American Medical Association (AMA) and Medscape. These front-line, high-stress specialties, dealing with heavy workloads, administrative burdens, and demanding patient care, contribute to higher burnout and depression rates. 

At what age do most people finish residency?

The average age for doctors finishing residency in the U.S. is around 29 to 30, typically after 3-7 years of training post-medical school (which starts around age 26). However, this varies significantly by specialty, with shorter programs (like Family Medicine or Pediatrics) finishing younger (around 29) and longer ones (like Neurosurgery or Plastic Surgery) finishing closer to 32-33; those pursuing additional fellowships can be in their mid-30s.
 

What's the easiest residency to get into?

The easiest residencies to get into are generally Family Medicine, Internal Medicine (especially community programs), Pediatrics, Psychiatry, and Pathology, due to higher demand, more available spots, and less stringent score requirements compared to surgical fields, though "easiest" is relative and depends on your profile. Family Medicine and Pediatrics consistently rank as the least competitive, offering broad training and often better work-life balance with regular hours. 

Why is residency so stressful?

Residency is challenging; there is no denying it. Residents have packed workdays, pushy deadlines, intense time pressures, and unthinkable learning curves--this, all on top of the emotional intensity of caring for patients who are sick and under emotional stressors themselves.

How much do 2 year residents make?

Second-year (PGY-2) residents earn roughly $60,000 to $75,000 annually, with averages around $65,000-$73,000 in 2024-2025, depending on the institution, location, and specialty, with figures like $69,000 at Banner University and $72,672 at UT Southwestern showing typical increases over first-year pay. 

Is residency harder than med school?

Residency is generally considered harder than medical school, but in a different way: medical school is academically intense with high-stakes exams, while residency involves long, draining hours, critical patient responsibility, physical exhaustion, and emotional stress, as you transition from student to practicing doctor under supervision, making real-life decisions with real consequences. Medical school focuses on foundational knowledge and grades, whereas residency is about applied skills, autonomy (within limits), and professional growth in a high-pressure, time-poor environment. 

How many hours of sleep do resident doctors get?

Resident physicians in all specialties averaged 5.7 hours of sleep a night in PGY-1, and only 13.8 minutes more a night in PGY-2, a nationwide survey shows. Among more than 1,600 PGY-1 residents in 21 specialties, those in pathology got the most sleep, an average of 6.9 hours a night.

What is the lowest paid doctor?

The lowest-paid doctor specialties are often pediatric subspecialties, with Pediatric Endocrinology frequently cited as the lowest, followed closely by Pediatric Rheumatology, Infectious Disease, and Hematology/Oncology, alongside general Pediatrics, Public Health/Preventive Medicine, and Medical Genetics, due to factors like broad training needs, lower patient volume for complex cases, and systemic compensation structures, though salaries vary by source and year. 

What jobs in the US pay $300,000 a year?

Jobs paying $300,000 or more in the U.S. are typically senior roles in technology, finance, law, and medicine, including roles like CEOs, Chief Technology Officers, Investment Bankers, Partner-Level Lawyers, Surgeons, and Specialized Physicians, along with top-tier Sales Directors, Management Consultants, and Private Equity Executives, often relying on bonuses, commissions, or profit-sharing for high earnings. High-income careers without traditional degrees can also be found in tech entrepreneurship, high-level skilled trades, and top-performing sales. 

Is the average doctor a millionaire?

One-quarter of doctors in their 60s are not even millionaires. The chart from the prior year was even more stunning, as it showed 11%-12% of doctors in their 60s didn't even have a net worth over $500,000, and only 48% of doctors over 65 were multi-millionaires.

Can I get into Harvard Med with a 3.8 GPA?

Yes, you can get into Harvard Medical School (HMS) with a 3.8 GPA, as it's within the range of successful applicants (average ~3.9), but it's not a guarantee; your extremely high MCAT score (aim for 520+), exceptional research, clinical experience, volunteering, strong essays, and stellar recommendations are crucial to stand out against other high-achievers. A 3.8 is strong, but HMS is highly competitive, so you need a truly outstanding application beyond just grades to show you're visionary, compassionate, and self-motivated.