Expert: JM Starkman, MD - 4/27/2010

Question
Hello. I'm Brianti and I'm doing a research project on becoming an anesthesiologist. I am also interested in becoming an anesthesiologist in the future. I have some questions about your career. What is a typical day for you like? What health benefits are available to employees? Where could I gain experience? What is the minimum education requirements for this job? How can start up costs be financed, underwritten, or deferred? Thank you for your time and help.

Answer
I've answered most of these questions already----check out my answers. As to the health benefits question, that might be a good question to pose if you're applying for a salaried postion or a part time job but is not a question to ask at the start of a major effort to design a career path.  The financing question is better asked of a banker or other finance expert.  In general though, anesthesiology start-up costs are minimal as a hospital-based physician whose expenses are mostly liabiity (malpractice) insurance and negotiable bookkeeping office expenses.  Many of these costs can be paid by an employer if you are willing to be salaried as opposed to being 'the boss'.