Transitioning from being a cardiovascular disease fellow to an early career attending can be both exciting but anxiety provoking at the same time. Not only do you have to ensure you choose the right career setting, but you also must consider family and personal responsibilities with your job choice. Here are some things to consider:

Job Setting

There are different career settings one can choose to practice in. An academic setting gives you the opportunity to teach fellows, residents and medical students. It is also the prime setting for incorporating research which can range from outcomes research to clinical trials and registries. If your focus is more on clinical work and engaging with community partners with a focus in building your own clinical practice, then a private practice setting may be the way to go. Over time, there has been a rise in community affiliated academic programs which gives one the option to hybridize both settings. Another important factor when choosing your job setting is loans. If you are opting for public service loan forgiveness, then your job setting would be geared towards a not-for-profit hospital setting.

Geography

Geographical location is important from both career aspect and family. Choosing a job in an area that offers a strong compensation package can be enticing, but ensuring that the location fits with your personal goals is pertinent. For example, if you wish to stay in a major metropolitan area, your compensation may be lower than a smaller town or rural setting.

Contracts

Most physicians do not get training or dedicated time during medical school, residency or fellowship to learn how to navigate contracts. The main thing is to make sure that you review your contract offer with an attorney who specializes with contracts specifically related to health care workers. In fact, some attorneys even have experience related to certain specialties or subspecialties. You will also want to make sure that the attorney has experience with the laws related to your state. Remember that unlike fellowship contracts, these are flexible, so work with your lawyer to identify what is most important to you and ask for it.

Payment Model

There are different payment models to consider when choosing your first job. You must consider both your short-term and long-term career goals when looking into different compensation models. Typically, the two most common are relative value units based vs. a fixed salary. Some employers provide a mix of both with an incentivized plan.

Benefits

When getting your compensation package from your employer it is imperative to also ensure you're getting the right benefits. The basic benefits to discuss are malpractice insurance, short-term and long-term disability, medical insurance, and retirement plans. For medical insurance you should determine whether immediate family is included or if you will have to pay separately for them. Also, some employers offer discounted rates or reduced fees for obtaining care within the practice or affiliated hospitals/clinics vs. obtaining care outside of the care system. Equally, you should look to see if dental and vision insurance is included. Medication formularies can also differ by plan. In terms of retirement, you want to see what retirement plans are offered and how much your employer will match your contributions.

Watch on-demand webinars from the ACC on transitioning from FIT to Early Career.