3 answers
Aheli
Student
Carmel, Indiana
2
Questions
Updated
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Why did you chose to become a pediatrician over medical specialities?
I am a middle schooler who is doing a career project and I need input from someone in the career I want to pursue.
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3 answers
Godfrey Magawe
Clinical officer nephrology
129
Answers
Nairobi, Nairobi County, Kenya
Updated
Godfrey’s Answer
Good question,many people chose medical specialities based on their interests.
Most pedestrian opted for it to avert the children suffering from most common childhood diseases, remember children contribute to more than 50% of outpatient cases.
Children too when they get healed they will be up and about immediately with no other issues unlike adults.
Pediatrics are also the future generations whose health should be a priority for every National that aspires to having a future healthy energetic population.
Pediatrics health also has a future opportunity for improvement in medical research with future innovation
Most pedestrian opted for it to avert the children suffering from most common childhood diseases, remember children contribute to more than 50% of outpatient cases.
Children too when they get healed they will be up and about immediately with no other issues unlike adults.
Pediatrics are also the future generations whose health should be a priority for every National that aspires to having a future healthy energetic population.
Pediatrics health also has a future opportunity for improvement in medical research with future innovation
Rita Chuang
Physician
259
Answers
Henderson, Nevada
Updated
Rita’s Answer
I am a family practice doctor. When I went into medical school, I was thinking about pediatrics but changed my mind.
These are my thoughts: Pediatricians are probably the lowest paid doctors but they are doing it not for the money but because they love their job and their patients. I had a patient who was a pediatrician and she said the things that come out of her patients' mouth brighten her day. They make her laugh. I had a medical student who went into family medicine but called me saying she believes she made a mistake and wanted to change to peds. She just loved kids. Pediatricians are dressing up for Halloween. They are like big kids. I feel they want to be around the innocence of kids and the chance to make a difference in their kids' lives. Honestly, kids are cute and they feel like they can help them. Sometimes, adults are difficult to change. How can I get this adult to quit smoking? I think there's a better chance to get a child to quit smoking vs an adult. There is a better chance to make a change in kids.
Also with peds, you see your patients grow. I think so many kids have fond memories of their teacher or pediatrician. I remember another one of my patients who was a pediatrician told me her patient was 19 yrs old and should be seeing a "regular doctor" but didn't want to leave her. That patient told her, "You have always been my doctor" and didn't want to leave. What a great feeling! How can you put a price on that?
These are my thoughts: Pediatricians are probably the lowest paid doctors but they are doing it not for the money but because they love their job and their patients. I had a patient who was a pediatrician and she said the things that come out of her patients' mouth brighten her day. They make her laugh. I had a medical student who went into family medicine but called me saying she believes she made a mistake and wanted to change to peds. She just loved kids. Pediatricians are dressing up for Halloween. They are like big kids. I feel they want to be around the innocence of kids and the chance to make a difference in their kids' lives. Honestly, kids are cute and they feel like they can help them. Sometimes, adults are difficult to change. How can I get this adult to quit smoking? I think there's a better chance to get a child to quit smoking vs an adult. There is a better chance to make a change in kids.
Also with peds, you see your patients grow. I think so many kids have fond memories of their teacher or pediatrician. I remember another one of my patients who was a pediatrician told me her patient was 19 yrs old and should be seeing a "regular doctor" but didn't want to leave her. That patient told her, "You have always been my doctor" and didn't want to leave. What a great feeling! How can you put a price on that?
James Hanson
Pediatric Intensive Care Physician; Consultant
160
Answers
Oakland, California
Updated
James’s Answer
I became a pediatrician because, as I studied medicine and went through all of my medical school rotations, I always found myself happiest working with children and infants. My patients are never to blame for their illnesses and injuries. I sometimes struggled with adult patients who continued unhealthy behaviors and did not comply with doctors' suggestions, yet kept coming in with conditions they could do something about if they were willing.
I think being a physician of any kind is wonderful, and that an interested young person should study and explore and find what most motivates them and brings them joy and satisfaction. Getting into, and through, medical school requires a lot of hard work, but I don't think any career provides one with as much constant learning and the knowledge you are helping others every day. I also love working with all the others who have chosen healthcare careers. They all are kind, thoughtful, diligent people who make up my "other family".
Some do like family medicine so they care for people of all ages. I am impressed by those who do a good job learning all they need to know to manage this broad spectrum of conditions.
Pediatric clinical care is one thing, but you could also be a researcher, academician/teacher, or subspecialist. I chose to go on to become a pediatric intensive care physician to care for the sickest and most challenging patients, but I admire those who get to see their patients throughout their early lives.
I think being a physician of any kind is wonderful, and that an interested young person should study and explore and find what most motivates them and brings them joy and satisfaction. Getting into, and through, medical school requires a lot of hard work, but I don't think any career provides one with as much constant learning and the knowledge you are helping others every day. I also love working with all the others who have chosen healthcare careers. They all are kind, thoughtful, diligent people who make up my "other family".
Some do like family medicine so they care for people of all ages. I am impressed by those who do a good job learning all they need to know to manage this broad spectrum of conditions.
Pediatric clinical care is one thing, but you could also be a researcher, academician/teacher, or subspecialist. I chose to go on to become a pediatric intensive care physician to care for the sickest and most challenging patients, but I admire those who get to see their patients throughout their early lives.