During your final year of medical training, you might be daydreaming a bit about life beyond residency and fellowship. You’re looking forward to getting to work, making some money and start living! You have credit card debt, student loan debt, car payments, and perhaps some loans from family members to pay back. And with any luck, in addition to starting a new job that pays well, you hope to line up some moonlighting on the side. Sure, it might mean some long hours, but you’re already accustomed to that from your residency.
But – not so fast! Your new employer expects you to devote essentially all of your professional efforts to growing and promoting your practice. And a close look at your employment agreement indicates that there are several potential barriers to working outside your normal full-time work environment.
The first issue has to do with your restrictive covenant, an issue that I touched on in my previous blog (Restrictive Covenants), which prevents you from competing with your employer. You will also need to see what restrictions have been placed on moonlighting. Do you need your employer’s permission? Are there restrictions as to the type of work you can do? Is there language about the type of work you specifically can’t do? Continue reading
It’s Your Time!
You’re nearing the end of the formal training phase of your career. You’re probably planning your next career move, and possibly interviewing or even considering an offer.
Unfortunately, business, legal and financial issues are neglected areas of physician training. This is expected, given the overwhelming volume of the clinical knowledge you must master. Near the conclusion of my Family Medicine residency, I remember feeling hesitant and apprehensive. As I began to contemplate my next career move, I thought…
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