To be fair, and I've heard this from doctors, the practice of Dermatology is as easy as it gets. And since Dustin is well on his way to being fully self-educated in the field, I'll at least send my worst enemy to him for mole check.
For once, what you have heard is correct. The sad thing is is that dermatology is attracting the best and the brightest in medicine. There was an article not long ago entitled "The Brain Drain". I think that it was in Time or Newsweek-not exactly quality journalism, but I liked the title. What it described was true, for once. It discussed the fact that the most competitive specialties in medicine were the ones with the best lifestyle, the highest reimbursement rates, and the lowest malpractice costs-not the fields that require the most intelligence or the most impressive dexterity.
Translation? Dermatology is the most competitive field in medicine to get into today (at least in America). You cannot even get an interview for a dermatology residency in most places without being a straight A honors student. I find that sad because, as you pointed out, it really doesn't take brains to do it. But it does take brains to get into it when you're looking to have a life.
Do not mistake me. I don't blame those folks, though. They are only human. Sure, I have some romantic notion of pursuing the most intellectually stimulating and "honorable" (whatever my interpretation of that may be) field, but whatever intrinsic gains are made by doing so are quickly off-set by the extrinsic losses.
I blame our stupid healthcare system and, frankly some of society's priorities. I don't understand why 15 min with a dermatologist or a plastic surgeon costs 3-4 times what 45 to 60min would cost with your internist. Freezing a wart versus making sure that all of your preventive health screenings are taken care of, answering all of your questions about any new meds that you might be on, fielding any new issues that may have arisen since your last visit, and dealing with questions that you might have because of the g*dd&mn direct-to-consumer advertising there is on TV and in the lay press seems like a pretty pathetic comparison. I find it sad that we don't appreciate our primary care docs more. They are the backbone of the healthcare system (and no, I'm not one, if that's what you're thinking).
Ask yourself. Is your dermatologist or your PCP worth more? I can say that, facing older age (OK not that soon but I think about it), who the hell is going to take care of me? Why would they? Being a PCP is thankless, draining, and financially insane. Anyone who does go into primary care should either be celebrated as incredibly generous or delusional.
Do I sound cynical or what?
Ahem, do I digress?
