Gastroenterologists

Employers

The American Gastroenterological Association has more than 16,000 members. Most gastroenterologists practice in urban areas near hospitals and universities. Gastroenterologists can find employment in a wide variety of settings, including hospitals, managed-care offices, prisons, schools and universities, research laboratories, trauma centers, clinics, and public health centers. Some are self-employed in their own or group practices. In the past, many physicians went into business for themselves, either by starting their own practice or by becoming a partner in an existing one. Few physicians—about 8 percent—are choosing to follow this path today. There are a number of reasons for this shift. Often, the costs of starting a practice or buying into an existing practice are too high. Most are choosing to take salaried positions with hospitals or groups of physicians.