Interested in pursuing a career as a Pediatrician? As a Medical university, we commonly receive questions about how to become a Pediatrician and the career of Pediatrics in general. We are very familiar with these topics as we currently have students in Pediatric clerkships, alumni that are in pediatric residency programs, and alumni that are practicing Pediatricians in the United States. Want to learn more? At the end of this article, there are profiles of three UMHS grads that have careers as Pediatricians. Click here to view them. Show By spending fifteen minutes with us reading this article, you will gain insight into the 14 steps to becoming a Pediatrician. This may help to decide if Pediatrics is a good career for you to consider. There are financial and academic aspects of the career that you may find surprising. Additionally, we will provide answers to the 8 most common questions that our admissions specialists get asked about Pediatricians including: A pediatrician is a physician that has graduated from an Allopathic (MD degree) or Osteopathic (DO degree) Medical school. They are responsible for the physical, emotional, and behavioral health of children from birth to the age of eighteen. A pediatrician is educated to identify and treat a wide range of health disorders in children, from mild ailments to life-threatening diseases. Learn why 83% of doctors would choose the same specialty again. Starting at birth and continuing to the age of 2, a pediatric doctor will examine children regularly every few months. From age 2 to age 5, visits will start to be more spaced out. At the age of 5 if not before, yearly “well-child visits” will take place. In addition to well visits, the pediatrician should be the first point of contact when a child is sick to ensure proper medical treatment. A pediatrician’s role in providing healthcare to children includes:
What are the 14 major steps involved in becoming a Pediatrician?After learning what a Pediatrician is and what they do, the next commonly asked question our medical school gets asked when people are inquiring about how to become a Pediatrician is "what are the required step to becoming a Pediatrician?" Assuming that an interested individual has completed high school or equivalent education, here are the steps. Step 1: Apply and be accepted into an undergraduate college or university.Acceptance into college usually requires completing required courses in Science, Mathematics, English, History or Social Sciences, and foreign language. Another common requirement is completing one of the standard aptitude tests such as the ACT or SAT. Step 2: Complete prerequisite courses for admittance into medical school.
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Other FAQs about Pediatrics as a Medical Specialty
How long does it take to become a pediatrician?
The path to becoming a pediatrician takes eleven to fifteen years. This includes completing all pre-requisite courses for medical school (usually four years in an undergraduate college program), followed by medical school for four years, and then three years in a pediatric residency program approved by the American Academy of Pediatrics. Top medical professionals that complete residency may choose to continue their education by furthering their education by applying to fellowship programs.
Is pediatrician a good career?
Pediatrics is considered a wonderful career choice. Physicians in pediatrics have an excellent wage, are well respected, and because they are not a surgeon or a neurosurgeon that are constantly on call, have a favorable lifestyle. Additionally, according to careerexplorer.com, the job of a pediatrician is expected to grow by 15 percent by 2026. This means the job outlook for future pediatricians is excellent!
Do pediatricians get paid well?
There are several online sources that quote wages for Pediatricians, the two most common of which are Medscape and the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). The BLS quotes the average wage of a Pediatrician as $184,570 per year However, according to Medscape, Pediatricians earn about $232,000 per year. Although both of these companies quote a significant difference in annual wages, it is important to note that Pediatricians often rank as one of the lower-paid Physician specialties.
What is the difference between a doctor and a pediatrician?
All Pediatricians are doctors, however, not all doctors are pediatricians. All physicians are trained to perform routine medical evaluations, assess medical problems, make an accurate diagnosis, and prescribe medication. Internal medicine doctors and family medicine doctors commonly work with patients of every age. However, Pediatricians specialize in providing medical care exclusively to children of all ages including infants, adolescents, and teenagers up to age 18.
Do pediatricians deliver babies?
No, a Pediatrician does not deliver babies. An Obstetrician is the medical specialist that is the expert in child delivery. Along with labor and delivery nurses, Obstetricians are qualified and skilled in delivering babies and are the important specialists that together work as a "delivery team". A pediatrician can care for your baby once it's delivered, but they usually won't deliver it.
You may be eager to get started on your career in medicine and plan your path to become a Pediatrician now that you understand the steps needed. Ultimately, the first step is to get your MD degree by getting accepted into an accredited medical school like UMHS. Click on the underlined link to get an overview of our top rated Medical school in the Caribbean
Would you like to learn more about Pediatrics? Check out these recent interviews with UMHS graduates who took the time to tell why they chose to become Pediatricians and how UMHS helped them prepare for a meaningful health career caring for pediatric patients.