Published in the July 2013 issue of Today’s Hospitalist
As regular readers know, our articles often examine trends that affect hospitalist careers. So it seems fitting that in this month’s issue, one article looks at the issues that hospitalists face as they take new jobs and another announces a veteran hospitalist’s decision to leave the specialty.
Our cover story looks at recruitment incentives being offered to hospitalists. These incentives, which may include signing bonuses and debt relief, are important, particularly to young physicians feeling crushed by student loans.
Not too many years ago, hospitalists willing to relocate could expect incentive packages with top figures. But because the job market for hospitalists is cooling off, at least in certain parts of the country, signing bonuses appear to be getting smaller and scarcer. The trend is surely no crisis for hospitalists looking for work, but it may be another sign that the field is settling down a bit.
While young hospitalists may be focused on finding jobs within the specialty, some veteran physicians are taking an entirely different career path. That’s the case for Erik DeLue, MD, MBA, who many of you know from his commentaries in the pages of this magazine.
After 13 years in hospital medicine, Dr. DeLue is moving to an administrative position in the large health system where he’s worked as a hospitalist for many years. You can read more about why he’s leaving clinical practice in his commentary, but suffice it to say that the new opportunity was too good to pass up.
We’re happy that Dr. DeLue has found so much success at Virtua, but the news is bittersweet. His wicked sense of humor has brought levity not only to the pages of this magazine but to the entire specialty, and his unique reflections will be sorely missed. Our best wishes to him.
Edward Doyle
Editor & Publisher
edoyle@todayshospitalist.com
