Emergency medicine usually conjures up images of ER docs greeting patients at the hospital's front door.
While this is the case for many emergency physicians, there are several paths that EPs can pursue.
Knowing the differences between academic medicine and private practice can help steer the course of a budding career or help to influence a career change down the road.
Physicians motivated by a desire to shape the future of emergency medicine can flourish in a career as an academic EP.
While academic physicians are generally paid less than private practice physicians, they reap the benefits of notoriety in their field, as well as the chance to mentor residents and even med students.
In addition to practicing emergency medicine, academic physicians are involved in performing research, leading research studies, and teaching residents, all aspects of academic medicine that can be rewarding.
This can seem like quite the work load, but the potential for accolades in the medical community due to significant research is an attractive goal to aspire to.
Also, since it is a relatively new specialty, there is the opportunity to influence the future of emergency medicine education.
In addition, academic physicians are less likely to burn-out because of the variety of activities they pursue outside of seeing patients.
Another option for practicing emergency medicine is practicing in a private group.
Working for a private practice may increase an emergency physician's earning potential, but he or she may not enjoy the prestige which comes with being an academic emergency physician.
Private practice emergency physicians belong to a group that staffs hospital emergency rooms and other arenas.
While they are not required to conduct research or be involved in clinical training, they will most likely be responsible for handling the administrative end of their practice.
Private practice physicians are generally better compensated than academic physicians because they aren't funding huge research projects or supporting the overhead for operating a large university hospital.
In addition to academic and private practice options, there are a variety of career paths for emergency physicians to choose.
Academic physicians may choose to take on a fellowship if they are especially enthusiastic about hospice care, medical toxicology, hyperbaric medicine, pediatric medicine or sports medicine.
There are also opportunities for emergency physicians in the government, such as the armed forces.
No matter where emergency physicians end up practicing, they are high in demand and can expect to enjoy a long, exciting career.