5 years out.... Still worth pursuing a pod career?

Hello,

I have not read the forum for a while & decided to post. A little about myself 1st. I switched careers in mid life, so i am not a young guy in ther 20's or early 30's. I have worked all my life including the 1st 2 years of pod school, so i do know business.I graduated 5 years ago & have not pursued the career due to some personal problems, nothing to do with academics. I was the average student with an average gpa & an honor in a rotation. I have not done a residency & need part 2 of boards yet. I do have the degree.

I am hesitant about this profession. I know that pods that have been in practice since the 80's or longer are doing well, so that is not the issue. What is the issue is the grads in the 90's. Those that DO NOT have a family memeber in the profession. I am speaking about someone like myself who has no connections.

In previous years i have called almost all the pods in my area to ask if i can come into the office & observe, i think maybe 2 ever called me back, always the same answer ..no ( too busy, we don't do that, etc, etc, etc)..excuses ( are they afraid i may steal their patients & open up down the road?). Anyway that was what a pod i talked to out of town told me. He experineced that & finally quit. Sold his stuff to a friend of mine.

Now..from what i have heard from talking to others from my class & there conversations with more of their friends.

1. I have a personal friend who opened up a practice, had about 20 patints at the most & closed after 1 year.

2. Another, borrowed money & is still only able to work 1 1/2 days a week, after 2 years, barley making it & is not able to build up any more patients.

3. There is the doc that if not for his wife working, he would not be able to have a practice.

4. Another had to close his office & work out of his house.

5. Another, opened & closed, when into another line of work.

These were all good students with decent residencies, all good people. I could list more, but i think you get the idea.

Is anyone doing well? Is a surgical resideny needed?
Should i even bother with part 2 of boards & a residency? I am trying to move on here, but podiatry seems hopeless at this time from what i am hearing & seeing? My ex is a nurse & making more then all the pods i have talked with that graduated with me. Oh...there are a few exceptions, those who had the connections or relatives in the medical field are doing good.

I went into this field to help people & earn a decent living. I did not pursue regular medicine because i did not want that.

Your thoughts & opions appreciated.

Thank you & happy holidays.

The ToeDoc