Re: "Want to Get Rich? Here's How!"

March 5, 2021

On February 26, David Brooks penned an uncharacteristically caustic column on page A21 of the New York Times. Grayson & Co. CEO Christopher Sheeron offered his thoughts in response. 

David Brooks – as options traders would say – is out of the money. His unusually ugly analysis of choosing a career is particularly egregious when he income-shames doctors. Of the $3.8 trillion spent on American healthcare in 2019, doctors’ salaries represented a mere 8%. If one really wants to get rich, don’t take Mr. Brooks' advice. Instead, follow where the actual treasure is. Becoming a health insurance executive, a hospital administrator, or a pharmacy benefit leader is a far better choice.

Also, at a time when doctors are risking their lives caring for Covid-19 patients and experiencing record rates of burnout, this indignity is shocking. Thankfully, the “Fauci effect” is driving a surge in medical school applications, which are up 18% nationwide. We need more doctors; insinuating they are greedy and clubby doesn’t help anyone.

That said, the next time Mr. Brooks falls ill, I doubt he will seek the care of a “lower cost” nurse practitioner or hygienist over his doctor.