Perceptions of the nephrology job market continue to improve and most nephrology fellows would recommend the nephrology specialty, according to a report presented by the American Society of Nephrology.

Stephen M. Sozio, M.D., from the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine in Baltimore, and colleagues surveyed current nephrology fellows from adult and pediatric training programs to examine perceptions of education and transition into practice. A total of 498 fellows responded to the survey.

According to the report, before incentives, the median base starting salary was $190,000; female respondents reported lower median starting salaries than their male colleagues ($175,000 versus $200,000). Considerable geographic variation was seen in salary distribution. Overall, 35 percent of respondents reported dissatisfaction with opportunities near their training location, although perceptions of the local and national nephrology job markets continue to improve. When fellows assessed job opportunities, the most important considerations were weekend call frequency, employment in a desired geographic location, and overnight call frequency; overall compensation ranked 11th in importance. A total of 80.6 and 78.4 percent of U.S. and international medical graduates, respectively, would recommend nephrology to future trainees.

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