Dermatologists work 4 days a week, earning half a million USD (12 billion) per year, double that of colleagues in other fields.
4-day-a-week work schedule, double the salary of some other colleagues and not having to answer emails at night, these are some of the “perks of” dermatologists – a job considered “dreamy” “best wishes” in the medical industry. Because of those advantages, more and more students are striving for a residency position in this specialty.
“The competition is fierce,” says Lindsey Zubritsky, a dermatologist in Ocean Springs. She completed her residency in 2018 and is balancing clinical work and creating medical content on social media. Her Tiktok account has more than 3 million followers.
According to data from the Association of American Medical Colleges, applications for dermatology residencies have increased 50% in the past five years, with the majority being women. The younger generation of doctors wants a balance between work and life. Meanwhile, high-pressure specialties such as cardiac surgery and resuscitation rarely meet this need.
“This is one of the few majors where you can work 40 hours a week like a normal person,” Zubritsky said. The female doctor is 36 years old, has two children and usually sees patients from 8am to 4pm, three days a week.
According to a recent survey of more than 150,000 American physicians conducted by the Healthcare Management Association, dermatologists earn an average of $541,000 a year. In contrast, a pediatrician’s income is $258,000 per year.
Because skin emergencies do not occur often, few dermatologists are available on nights and weekends. Traditional schedules and flexible work hours are attracting more women into the field. According to the National Residency Program, 71% of candidates who selected dermatology when applying for residency this year were women, up from 63% two years ago.
The explosion of the skin care industry and social networks has contributed to the attraction of this field. Dermatologists build personal brands on digital media platforms, making many students dream of being in a similar position. Some people earn up to $30,000 per sponsored post promoting skin care products from various brands.
“The community is now more aware of our field,” says Dr. Shereene Idriss, 40, a dermatologist who owns a cosmetic clinic in New York City.
A dermatologist is examining a patient. Image: WSJ
At Idriss’s clinic, patients are willing to spend $550 for microneedling sessions, laser therapy and filler injections; Or spend $4,000 to even out skin tone, smooth skin, and reduce wrinkles. These procedures last from 20 minutes to an hour. Idriss declined to reveal how much she earns, but said the cost depends on the level of effectiveness.
In fact, the work of early dermatologists was not glamorous. They often have to be treated for sexually transmitted diseases, including syphilis, said Dr. Donna Stockton, a 65-year-old dermatologist in Chicago. During his residency in New York City in the late 1980s, Stockton had a lot of contact with patients with skin rashes caused by HIV.
The field has been gaining traction since 2002, when the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved Botox injection therapy to reduce forehead wrinkles, Stockton said. She chose dermatology because she liked the feeling of being able to deal with a single organ – the skin. She said the medical residents she has worked with in recent years are concerned about the cost of this procedure.
According to Dr. Mary Alice Mina, a dermatologist specializing in skin cancer, many of her colleagues have dual expertise, both medical and cosmetic treatment. She commented that aesthetics is not the only way that makes dermatologists’ income higher than other professions. A person working in this field can see up to 60 patients per day. Meanwhile, customers who pay for cosmetic surgery require doctors to invest more time and provide more dedicated care.
“Starting your career with the mindset of alternating between aesthetics and treatment is a misconception. Aesthetic clients want personal attention and private care,” Dr. Mina said.
In the past, dermatology was often an underrepresented field. However, Dr. Jane Grant-Kels, 74, vice chair of dermatology at UConn Health, said its importance in medicine cannot be denied. Skin cancer is the most common type of cancer in America. Dermatologists are also often the ones to detect early signs of chronic diseases and tumors.
Having established the department of dermatology for nearly 50 years, Dr. Grant-Kels has witnessed firsthand the explosion of this field over time. Recently, her department received more than 600 applications for 4 resident doctor positions.
“Their records are extremely impressive. Some took a year off after graduating from medicine just to focus on dermatology research, giving themselves an advantage,” she said.
Industry insiders say the work of a dermatologist brings almost instant satisfaction to patients. Care effects are much faster than in other fields. Dr. Jules Lipoff, a physician in Philadelphia, says dermatology patients can often see their skin problems firsthand and are motivated to address them.