KEEPING IT REAL
Facing Facts
Be prepared for some interesting, tedious, frightening, curious and unusual issues.

When I heard we'd be publishing a quarterly magazine for new ophthalmologists, I took a stroll down memory lane, trying to recall exactly what it was like to be a newbie. Then, someone asked me what topics I thought should be covered in new Ophthalmologist. Here, in no particular order, are what I see as important issues for doctors 1 to 5 years out.

Personal Finance

►Now is the time to start stashing away money before your kids take it all away.

►Everyone goes through the "new car" and "eat out a lot" periods when they begin making real money. But you soon realize you have to put on the brakes and stop spending it as fast as it comes in. Eventually, you have to grow up and buy a home instead of renting.

►Fancy investments aren't necessary because you have little to invest anyway. Stick to the basics. Write a check to yourself religiously each month, and see the nest egg begin to grow.

Practice Revenue

►Know the ropes. You'll need to understand the realitiesof insurance coverage. Even though you're working harder, fee reductions mean the harder work doesn't necessarily translate into higher net income.  

Professional Growth

►Once practice growth levels off after the first few years and your surgery numbers are flattening, you'll be settling into your real future and facing a big decision: Should you settle for that reality or continue to seek new techniques and offerings to enhance your practice? A lot of doctors, unless encouraged by mentors, start to become fuddy-duddies about their fifth year in practice, which is sad. This is the time you should be developing your individual areas of interest and expertise.  

►Keep your feet on the ground. These are the years when ophthalmologists mature, make better decisions and become better surgeons. However, increased confidence can lead to a cavalier attitude in the OR, leading to a sudden increase in complications.

►Keep an open mind. I see too many young doctors criticizing new techniques ("that's not what I learned in residency," they say). Try to learn a new technique every year.

►Enjoy your practice. By about your fourth year in practice, the reality of going to work every day, knowing that's not going to change for 30 years, sets in. It's important to remember the work we do is enjoyable. You should find pleasure in it.

►Remember to enjoy vacations. Try to get away and refrain from catching up on work. Turn off the Blackberry, avoid the cell phone and e-mail and just veg on a beach.

Personal Growth

►Every day, notice someone doing something special for somebody. This helps you appreciate everyone you work with — and vice-versa.

►At holiday parties, have one less drink than you want, chat with everyone in the office for at least 5 minutes, but never about work.

►Develop a thick skin. Recognize that over the course of your career, 20% of your patients will really like you, 20% will come to see you but they really won't like you very much at all, and the other 60% will have no feeling about you one way or the other. Don't take it personally.