This article focuses on telling you how long it takes to become a pediatrician. Before I explain you, let me give you a quick introduction as a few of you may not be familiar with the term.
Who Is A Pediatrician?
Pediatricians are medical professionals, who are kid physicians providing, the below healthcare services:
- Health protection for healthy kids
- Health or medical care for kids, who’re chronically or acutely ill
A pediatrician manages the mental, emotional, and physical well-being of patients at every development stage. This includes both good health and illness.
What Does A Pediatrician Do?
Usually, a pediatrician focuses on babies, kids, adolescents & young adults right from age of birth – 21 years. They help in:
- Reducing infant & child mortality
- Controlling infectious diseases
- Fostering healthy lifestyle
- Easing the complexities of kids & adolescents with various chronic conditions
A pediatrician also diagnoses and treats:
- Injuries
- Infection
- Malignancies
- Genetic defects
- Dysfunctions
- Organic diseases
However, pediatricians also take care of other things apart from just physical wellness. They are also involved with early detection, prevention, and management of other problems, which can affect children & adolescents. These include:
- Developmental disorders
- Behavioral difficulties
- Social stress
- Functional problems
- Depression disorders
- Anxiety disorders
Overall, pediatrics is a collaborative specialty – a pediatrician works with different healthcare professionals and medical specialists to offer health as well as emotional requirements for children.
How Long Does It Take To Become A Pediatrician?
When it comes to this career, the most frequently asked question is how many years does it take to become a pediatrician. Well, it generally takes 8 to 11 years.
What Kind Of Environment Do Pediatricians Work In?
A pediatrician works in different environments and not just one. These usually include private clinics or private offices, hospitals, healthcare maintenance organizations, public healthcare clinics, community healthcare centers, military, government medical centers, and even schools. They’re fewer chances for a pediatrician to enter solo practice. They are more liable to work like salaried employees with a group of medical practices. In a typical setting, a pediatrician always enjoys a very pleasant work environment since they are usually assigned to examination rooms and offices most agreeable to kids. This literally means that rooms and offices will be lined with toys, kids’ books, and activities for occupying kids during those waiting periods & to distract them while undergoing some painful procedures. However, working with kids has its own drawbacks. Sometimes, kids can be very unruly patients, frequently restless, hysterical at times & scared by doctors as well as medical procedures. Therefore, one requires to be extremely patient while dealing with kids.
How To Become A Pediatrician?
The overall training of a pediatrician approximately takes 11 years right after completing high school. It can be less sometimes but this depends on the university, jurisdiction & specialization degree. These factors differ significantly across the globe.
In general, once high school is over, a student will require 4 years as an undergraduate in a university or college, majoring in science-related subjects like biology. There is a medical admission test, which every candidate requires passing with good school grades to qualify & be accepted at a reputed medical school.
4 additional years are required for an M.D. (Doctor of Medicine) or a D.O. (Doctor of Osteopathy) degree. On the other hand, few schools provide combined medical school and undergraduate programs, which lasts 6 years more than the customary 8 years. The initial 2 medical school years mainly consist of classroom & lab learning while the last 2 years include first-hand medical experience under the guidance and supervision of licensed experts. Once the medical school is completed, the next step is to complete a pediatric internship (1-year), which includes experience and training in baby healthcare.
After the internship, a student should take a residency program (2 years) to get further knowledge & experience. After this stage, they’re now absolutely prepared to take general pediatrics certification, which is compulsory for acquiring a license. Once licensed, they can work legally as a pediatrician.