By: Nivrithi Kuttuva
Pediatricians have always played a vital role in medicine, as they address medical and health needs for children starting from their birth until the age of 21. They are equipped to prevent, diagnose and treat conditions and diseases that are present in children, while ensuring that they establish their health from a young age. There are many different types of pediatricians, all of which require slightly different educational pathways, however they are all equally necessary and crucial to the health of those in their youth.
One of the qualities that pediatricians need to have would be keen listening and communication skills especially because they will be listening to children and their parents as well as clearly explaining a diagnosis or concerns. Additionally, they should be extremely patient, compassionate, and very accessible. This is crucial because children need to be able to trust their doctor and express their concerns while feeling like they are being heard. Most children often don’t enjoy going to the doctor so radiating empathy and kindness is very important for a pediatrician by making the visits as welcoming as they can be for the child and their family.
The journey to becoming a pediatrician is very long;however, the knowledge and experience gained during it is extremely significant in order to become a successful, trustworthy physician. The first step towards becoming a pediatrician is to earn a bachelor’s degree that fulfills all of the prerequisites for medical school. Some classes that are crucial for the pre med pathway are biology, chemistry, physics, and calculus. Furthermore, if one plans on pursuing pediatrics, they may choose to major in child psychology to provide them with more experience with regards to working with children. Around the third year of undergraduate studies, students usually take the Medical College Admissions Test (MCAT), which will be sent to medical schools as part of the application process. After earning a bachelor’s degree, the next step would be to attend medical school, which usually takes around four years to complete. Some of the highest-ranked medical schools for pediatrics are The University of California in San Francisco, The University of Cincinnati, and Baylor College of Medicine.
Following medical school, completing a three-year-residency in pediatrics is necessary. This is the period wherein doctors undergo formal training under the supervision of experienced pediatricians. Next, if a pediatrician chooses to specialize in a more specific sub-field of pediatrics, they typically pursue a fellowship in the specific specialty, and this may last for two to three years. In order to become a practicing pediatrician, one must obtain a license, and then they can be hired and begin seeing their own patients. A pediatrician may also choose to become board-certified by taking and passing an exam.
A few pediatric sub-specialties include neonatology, cardiology, and oncology, however there are a multitude of sub-fields. Neonatologists specialize in caring for infants—they save the lives of infants born prematurely or with any birth defects or complications. Neonatologists most commonly work in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit of hospitals. Pediatric cardiologists treat children from when they are infants to when they are young adults for various heart conditions, such as heart defects present at birth or rheumatic heart disease. Additionally, their contributions can help to prevent cardiac diseases that are often linked to childhood obesity. Pediatric oncologists specialize in treating children with cancer, while saving and improving their lives. They usually form strong bonds with their patients because cancer treatment is generally a long-term process.
If you desire to become a pediatrician, there are many ways that you can start gaining experience in the medical field before college. You can shadow a pediatrician, explore summer research internships, or volunteer at a local hospital or health clinic. Taking challenging AP math and science classes in high school can also be very beneficial because they can better prepare you for rigorous college classes that are expected in the pre-med track, and also because they can show colleges that you are willing to challenge yourself. Becoming a pediatrician takes a lot of time and hard work, but it can all be highly rewarding in the end if you have a passion for treating children and helping people.
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