How to Switch Specialties During Residency: What’s Actually Possible, What It Costs, and How to Do It
Switching specialties during residency is possible through three distinct paths: reapplying after SOAP, transferring mid-training, or leaving and re-entering. Each carries different costs in time, credentialing, and career trajectory. The key is treating it as a logistics problem to solve, not a moral failing to justify—and being honest about whether the issue is the specialty or just a bad program.
Medicare Fee Erosion Threatens Orthopedic Practice Viability
Proposed CY 2027 Medicare cuts threaten orthopedic practices with 20% reimbursement reductions for joint replacements, compounding a 33% inflation-adjusted decline since 2001. As independent practices face margin compression, consolidation accelerates—even as orthopedic compensation reaches a record $611,000 average.