What should I study in order to become a Pediatrician in the future?

Question

I am currently in High School, ninth grade, and I really want to be a pediatrician when I grow up. I've had great experiences with pediatricians, one has helped me and been there for me when I had a grave problem.

Now, how does it work to become a pediatrician? What classes should I take in high school? What happens after I graduate from high school? What medical school is the best and would reflect good on me?

I am a smart kid, I just procrastinate too much. I am currently overcoming that.

Anyways, when you study to become a pediatrician do you just become one automatically and have the choice of starting your own office?

Any help would be great.

Answer 1

According to the US Dept of Labor, here's the required Training:

Formal education and training requirements for physicians are among the most demanding of any occupation—4 years of undergraduate school, 4 years of medical school, and 3 to 8 years of internship and residency, depending on the specialty selected. A few medical schools offer combined undergraduate and medical school programs that last 6 rather than the customary 8 years.

Premedical students must complete undergraduate work in physics, biology, mathematics, English, and inorganic and organic chemistry. Students also take courses in the humanities and the social sciences. Some students volunteer at local hospitals or clinics to gain practical experience in the health professions.

The minimum educational requirement for entry into a medical school is 3 years of college; most applicants, however, have at least a bachelor’s degree, and many have advanced degrees. There are 146 medical schools in the United States—126 teach allopathic medicine and award a Doctor of Medicine (M.D.) degree; 20 teach osteopathic medicine and award the Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine (D.O.) degree. Acceptance to medical school is highly competitive. Applicants must submit transcripts, scores from the Medical College Admission Test, and letters of recommendation. Schools also consider an applicant’s character, personality, leadership qualities, and participation in extracurricular activities. Most schools require an interview with members of the admissions committee.

Students spend most of the first 2 years of medical school in laboratories and classrooms, taking courses such as anatomy, biochemistry, physiology, pharmacology, psychology, microbiology, pathology, medical ethics, and laws governing medicine. They also learn to take medical histories, examine patients, and diagnose illnesses. During their last 2 years, students work with patients under the supervision of experienced physicians in hospitals and clinics, learning acute, chronic, preventive, and rehabilitative care. Through rotations in internal medicine, family practice, obstetrics and gynecology, pediatrics, psychiatry, and surgery, they gain experience in the diagnosis and treatment of illness.

Following medical school, almost all M.D.s enter a residency—graduate medical education in a specialty that takes the form of paid on-the-job training, usually in a hospital. Most D.O.s serve a 12-month rotating internship after graduation and before entering a residency, which may last 2 to 6 years.

All States, the District of Columbia, and U.S. territories license physicians. To be licensed, physicians must graduate from an accredited medical school, pass a licensing examination, and complete 1 to 7 years of graduate medical education. Although physicians licensed in one State usually can get a license to practice in another without further examination, some States limit reciprocity. Graduates of foreign medical schools generally can qualify for licensure after passing an examination and completing a U.S. residency.

M.D.s and D.O.s seeking board certification in a specialty may spend up to 7 years in residency training, depending on the specialty. A final examination immediately after residency or after 1 or 2 years of practice also is necessary for certification by a member board of the American Board of Medical Specialists (ABMS) or the American Osteopathic Association (AOA). The ABMS represents 24 specialty boards, ranging from allergy and immunology to urology. The AOA has approved 18 specialty boards, ranging from anesthesiology to surgery. For certification in a subspecialty, physicians usually need another 1 to 2 years of residency.

A physician’s training is costly. According to the Association of American Medical Colleges, in 2004 more than 80 percent of medical school graduates were in debt for educational expenses.

People who wish to become physicians must have a desire to serve patients, be self-motivated, and be able to survive the pressures and long hours of medical education and practice. Physicians also must have a good bedside manner, emotional stability, and the ability to make decisions in emergencies. Prospective physicians must be willing to study throughout their career in order to keep up with medical advances.

For more info:
American Academy of Pediatrics, 141 Northwest Point Blvd., Elk Grove Village, IL 60007-1098. Internet: http://www.aap.org

Answer 2

This Site Might Help You.

RE:
What should I study in order to become a Pediatrician in the future?
I am currently in High School, ninth grade, and I really want to be a pediatrician when I grow up. I've had great experiences with pediatricians, one has helped me and been there for me when I had a grave problem.

Now, how does it work to become a pediatrician? What classes should I take in...

Answer 3

A pediatrician is simply another type of doctor that specializes in children. The first step is a four-year college, probably specializing in biology or something similar. After that, it's four years of medical school. From there, you would need to do residency (think of it as an internship) in pediatrics for a few years. Then, there's board exams for certifications and then, you're done.

If you really are serious about it, it is quite a long process. Good luck to you.

Answer 4

Don't wait for him to propose - talk about it all tonight or as soon as possible. A proposal and acceptance should be a beautiful thing, not an ultimatum. As for your question of "do you think I am being reasonable here or a little too hard on him?" - you are expressing your beliefs and opinions to him in order to discover if he is a good lifetime match and father to your future children. Nothing is unreasonable when making that decision. Your life will be much happier and fulfilling if you are with a man who shares your basic beliefs.