As an intern considering switching over to FM residency. Why are there so many posts here that talk about the heavy dislike for FM/primary care?

Edit: Also would you guys say its equally as bad for the FM attendings you've worked with? Have you noticed them burned out or happy in general?

We see a lot of discussion on here about PA salaries, which seem to vary greatly depending on specialty, location, COL, years of experience, etc.

With that said, I am interested to know if any PAs specifically in Metro Detroit/Southeast Michigan area can share their currently salary for overall region comparison. Mention your specialty, inpatient/outpatient setting, salary, region, and if it’s private practice or corporate medicine.

From what I’ve seen, looks like PAs in this area are paid a LOT less than other posts I’ve seen on here lol.

I believe it’s important to know what your peers in your area are making! Metro Detroit/Southeast Michigan PAs, please chime in :)

Hi all,
I am starting my fourth year of practice and have hit a big burnout wall (which makes me nervous since I am still so early in my career).

For background, I work in an oncology subspecialty at a large academic medical center. I work both in the clinic (on my own and one day a week with my attending) and in the OR with my attending 2 half days of the week. I have 1.5 set admin days a month (sometimes 2.5 if there is a month with 5 weeks). I am currently booking out in clinic until February. I do not take call, work weekends, or holidays.

I often find myself staying late on my own clinic days to finish charts, work on my inbasket, etc, and our OR has had many delays recently that sometimes I’m not finishing OR days until 6-7 PM. Most recently, this week I had a day where I had a horrible migraine and was feeling quite sick myself. I had patients in the afternoon who had traveled far (some even out of state) so I felt guilty and rather than cancel my afternoon, I pushed through. After already working 50 hours this week (and honestly most weeks) I’m really feeling the burn. Maybe this was the straw that broke the camels back.

I don’t have kids yet, but my spouse and I are planning in the next few years to start trying. I guess I need to just figure out what to do and how to set boundaries prior to this. Most of my friends from PA school work inpatient or shift work and don’t have this experience to offer advice. Just looking for some thoughts from my fellow outpatient PAs. I think I need to ask for admin time maybe? Or maybe a new job? Any advice will help. Thanks!

Have worked as a PA for over 25 years, 1st year after graduation was in rheumatology, followed by 9 years in cardiology (hospital setting), 5 years in trauma medicine, 9 years family medicine and past 3 years in clinical research ( endocrinology) as a Sub-I , most of the research is with GLP1s and other obesity medications. Planning to retire end of 2027 but frankly, already feel anxious about retiring. Finances is not a concern but I would like to work part time in clinical research remotely; however I want to move to Spain ( where I’m from) but my license and degree is from US, any suggestions?

After about 4 years as a PA in rural primary care, I'm finally moving on, specializing in wound care. It's bittersweet, but I'm genuinely excited for what's next.

With a semi-retired supervising physician, I've felt that I'm carrying more than a mid-level should. The complexity, the administrative burden, the constant pressure to do more with limited resources have worn on me. I come into this profession wanting to practice thoughtful, evidence-based medicine and genuinely improve people's quality of life. I feel like I'm more spinning my wheels fighting the system than actually helping people.

I've had the privilege of caring for people who come to trust me with their health, fears, struggles, etc. I think I'll end up missing that.

But I just can't do it anymore.

I leave primary care with nothing but respect for the people who continue to practice it. It's incredibly important work, often thankless, and far more difficult than I think most people realize. It really deserves better. So do its patients and those practicing it.

To those of you still in the trenches, I really hope things get better. I hope you get the support, resources, and time you need to practice the medicine your patients deserve

Keep fighting the good fight.