5 answers
Valentina
Student
Moonachie, New Jersey
1
Question
Updated
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What are major requirements for becoming a pediatrician
What requirements are needed?
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5 answers
Madison Buchman
doctor
160
Answers
West Hartford
Updated
Madison’s Answer
In general, a pediatrician (at least in the united states) is a type of physician. This can be an MD or a DO. This is done by attending medical school. The general timeline includes: Pre-med/college requirements, medical school (4 years), pediatrics residency. You can also choose to do a fellowship after residency as well. There are also many non-physician related jobs within healthcare that involve pediatrics or jobs even not necessarily medical that you can work with children at. There are great jobs within pediatric dentistry, child life specialists, pediatric physical or occupational therapy, pediatric nursing or physician assistants. Pediatric healthcare advocacy. There are also many physician/nursing/PA subspecialties within pediatrics as well that you can choose from after residency/schooling. Definitely important to consider if you truly want to be a doctor and go through medical school/residency etc. or if you want to just work with children and if you maybe would be happier in a different job that involves children in a non-clinical way.
Hope this helps!
Madison
Hope this helps!
Madison
Elyse Crotty
Certified Surgical Technologist
42
Answers
Jacksonville, Florida
Updated
Elyse’s Answer
You can major in pre-med and get your Bachelor's degree. Then apply to medical school. Apply to Residency. Graduate and become an attending MD or DO.
Florian Trautwein
Sales Manager - Online Marketing
8
Answers
Munich, Bavaria, Germany
Updated
Florian’s Answer
Not sure about the US but here in Germany the first thing is need to complete a medical degree.
Then you take it from here and you can further specialize in an additional training that takes almost the same time than the basic study.
More importantly that the pure studies and skills you can learn, you should be really empathetic with kids and also mentally stable. A good friend of mine is working a s such for years and it can be both, very full filling and also super stressful and demotivating if you can't help or struggle a lot with regulations and bureaucracy. I would try to get in contact with someone from your neighbourhood who has already taken this path to discuss it. Might also open up opportunities quite early to have such connections.
Then you take it from here and you can further specialize in an additional training that takes almost the same time than the basic study.
More importantly that the pure studies and skills you can learn, you should be really empathetic with kids and also mentally stable. A good friend of mine is working a s such for years and it can be both, very full filling and also super stressful and demotivating if you can't help or struggle a lot with regulations and bureaucracy. I would try to get in contact with someone from your neighbourhood who has already taken this path to discuss it. Might also open up opportunities quite early to have such connections.
GLORY CHIBUIKE
Clinical Dietitian
7
Answers
Lagos, Nigeria
Updated
GLORY’s Answer
To become a pediatrician, you need:
A medical degree.
Licensing exam to practice medicine.
Residency training in pediatrics (3–4 years).
(Optional) Subspecialty fellowship.
Board certification + continuous professional development.
A medical degree.
Licensing exam to practice medicine.
Residency training in pediatrics (3–4 years).
(Optional) Subspecialty fellowship.
Board certification + continuous professional development.
James Hanson
Pediatric Intensive Care Physician; Consultant
158
Answers
Oakland, California
Updated
James’s Answer
All physicians start with the same obligations:
Do well enough in college to get into medical school (MD or DO). Successfully complete the 4 years of medical school. Complete a 3-year residency training program in pediatrics.
Many of us pediatricians then add on some number of years of fellowship training to become specialists and sub-specialists.
Start slow - develop excellent habits to be both a good student and a happy, well-rounded person. It is very hard to be a good physician without having some breadth of experience in music, art, theater, gardening, sports, ... that help you relate to others in a more complete, personal way. Indeed, medical schools are looking for such well-rounded applicants beyond just strong grades and MCAT scores.
Besides, one should enjoy the many years of the journey before the proud moment of receiving your degrees and treating your first patient without supervision.
Do well enough in college to get into medical school (MD or DO). Successfully complete the 4 years of medical school. Complete a 3-year residency training program in pediatrics.
Many of us pediatricians then add on some number of years of fellowship training to become specialists and sub-specialists.
Start slow - develop excellent habits to be both a good student and a happy, well-rounded person. It is very hard to be a good physician without having some breadth of experience in music, art, theater, gardening, sports, ... that help you relate to others in a more complete, personal way. Indeed, medical schools are looking for such well-rounded applicants beyond just strong grades and MCAT scores.
Besides, one should enjoy the many years of the journey before the proud moment of receiving your degrees and treating your first patient without supervision.