What is your opinion on the massive college tuition bills people have to pay for them to be able to dish out salaries anywhere near this? Teaching staff scale badly, sure some would be benefiting greatly from this professors expertise, but others would have little contact paying the same hefty tuition to support this kind of salary.
My opinion is that the compensation burden on the state is regularly offset by the distribution of grant funds.
Top talent attracts research funding that the state can't otherwise provide and guarantees future generations of doctors and scientists are trained using the most advanced technique and technology.
What? Your comment would seem to imply that it is normal and acceptable for a single med prof to earn $1.5m. Are you really that out of touch to think that this is sustainable?
Let me guess - you were one of those complaining about how the education bubble is just terrible a few months ago?
Where was it suggested those salaries were typical?
I'm saying in those cases where you see a seven figure salary for a department chair or chief of surgery position at a teaching and research hospital, it's because the state believes they have the very best talent available.
Teaching and research medicine improves patient outcomes and is ultimately for generations other than our own.