Finding a job in North Carolina

You know you’ve entered the south when your tea is automatically sweetened and grits are on the breakfast menu.  For many, Charlotte, North Carolina is one of the quintessential southern cities, ushering in thoughts of Scarlett O’Hara and wide-brimmed hats.  While this old city certainly boasts a fair amount of charm, Charlotte is much more than a historical, southern landmark; it’s a bustling, modern metropolis—a mecca for the financial services industry.  If you’re a doctor looking to practice in a southern city with a diverse patient population, consider moving to Charlotte, North Carolina.

Second only to New York City, Charlotte is a major banking headquarters in the United States; both Bank of America and Wachovia call this city home.  In fact, the Bank of America Corporate Center—a postmodern gothic tower—is the tallest skyscraper between Philadelphia and Atlanta.  Other headquarters found in Charlotte include Duke Energy, Family Dollar, Goodrich Corporation, Nucor, Sonic Automotive, and SPX Corporation.

Economic attractiveness continues to help Charlotte maintain a steady population growth, making it the 5th largest city on the east coast.  Nearby Raleigh is actually ranked as the 15th fastest growing city in the United States.  Raleigh also makes up one of the three cities housing Triangle Research Parkway, akin to California’s Silicon Valley.  Nearby Durham is another host city to the high-tech research and development park.  While not as large as Charlotte or Raleigh, Durham continues to garner attention as home to the prestigious Duke University.

A city’s economic stability is certainly something to consider when moving to a new city (after all, a growing population often equals a growing practice).  However, it’s also ideal to find a city with a certain amount of, well, flair—which can be found in abundance in this metro area.  Charlotte boasts many museums, including the Mint Museum and the Charlotte Museum of Art.  For the theatre savvy physician, a night at the Blumenthal Performing Arts Center, enjoying the latest stage production, is a great way to unwind.  For the shopper savvy doctor (or for the shopper savvy doctor’s spouse) there are several malls and shopping districts in the metro area, including Central Avenue.

While the kids might find shopping a tad dull after the 20th store, Charlotte is quite kid-friendly with a children’s theatre and several schooling options ranging from top-notch public schools to private schools, to the increasingly popular charter schools.  Charlotte is also extremely appealing to foreign medical doctors with family overseas or to any doctor who enjoys international travel.  Thanks to the Charlotte/Douglas International Airport, flights are available to several domestic destinations as well as Europe, Canada, the Caribbean, Mexico, and Central America.

So, if you’re looking for a big city, but would prefer something a bit more genteel and warmer than the Big Apple, consider the Charlotte Metropolitan Are as your next practice local.