3 answers
Desiree
Student
Yuma, Arizona
1
Question
Updated
333 views
What are the Pros and Cons of being a Pediatrician ?
Hello, I am an 8th grader at Crane Middle School and when I grow up I want to be a Pediatrician. I want to take place in this Position because it can be a big impact on a child life and I would want to be the one that made that impact and make children’s life better and healthier. I also want to be a Pediatrician because I can make kids feel that they’re not alone also Parents that don’t know what might be happening. This Career relates to my life somehow because there was a time at age 6 that I was sick and my parents didn’t know what was wrong and took me to a Pediatrician and they helped me feel better . I feel that I can have a good connection with them too.
So What are the Pros and Cons of being a Pediatrician ?
Login to comment
3 answers
James Hanson
Pediatric Intensive Care Physician; Consultant
266
Answers
Oakland, California
Updated
James’s Answer
Pediatrics is a wonderful profession, and it does feel very good to help babies, children, parents, and families be healthier.
The pros are in developing close, nurturing relationships with children and families. Although the pay is ultimately better than most professions, pediatrics does, unfortunately get paid less well than most other equally-trained medical specialties. For some, the cost of college and medical school feels too great to then choose a less lucrative career. But I think the joy of working with children offsets that.
Once one finishes a pediatrics residency, over half of these doctors go on to do fellowships to become pediatric sub-specialists. So, there are many choices, and many forks in the road that you get to choose as you learn what feels right to you.
I wish you much success.
The pros are in developing close, nurturing relationships with children and families. Although the pay is ultimately better than most professions, pediatrics does, unfortunately get paid less well than most other equally-trained medical specialties. For some, the cost of college and medical school feels too great to then choose a less lucrative career. But I think the joy of working with children offsets that.
Once one finishes a pediatrics residency, over half of these doctors go on to do fellowships to become pediatric sub-specialists. So, there are many choices, and many forks in the road that you get to choose as you learn what feels right to you.
I wish you much success.
Karin P.
Lecturer, Academic Advisor, Career Coach, Mentor
1220
Answers
Göttingen, Lower Saxony, Germany
Updated
Karin’s Answer
Hi Desiree,
Pediatrics is a wonderful specialty for a physician. You get to help babies and children and their families. Compared to some other specialties, you'll probably have more happy outcomes as children are resilient and the majority do get better. On the flip side, if you do lose a child, it's all the more tragic. The responsibility for a child's life and the worry and grief of families can weigh heavy on you. Depending on your sub-specialty within pediatrics this might be more or less of an issue. If you e.g. become a child oncologist, you'll have to deal with more tragedy than if you work as a general pediatrician. But, the successes when you can heal children with serious illnesses are all the more rewarding.
You need to be aware that becoming a pediatrician is a very long, competitive and expensive education to take on. During your education, you'll likely incur a scary amount of debt. But as a doctor you will be paid well at the end. Pediatrics is not the most well-paid specialty, but you'll do more than alright.
To become a pediatrician, you'll first get your bachelors degree in any major you enjoy (4 years). Many students major in biology, chemistry or biochemistry because these majors cover most of the pre-requisite courses that you need to pass before you apply to medical school. You also need to take the MCAT before you can apply to medical school. Next, you'll go to medical school to train to become a physician (4 years). You specialize in pediatrics during your residency (3 years) before you can take board exams. Many pediatricians do a fellowship after residency to further specialize.
I hope this helps! All the best to you!
KP
https://www.indeed.com/career-advice/finding-a-job/how-to-become-pediatrician
Pediatrics is a wonderful specialty for a physician. You get to help babies and children and their families. Compared to some other specialties, you'll probably have more happy outcomes as children are resilient and the majority do get better. On the flip side, if you do lose a child, it's all the more tragic. The responsibility for a child's life and the worry and grief of families can weigh heavy on you. Depending on your sub-specialty within pediatrics this might be more or less of an issue. If you e.g. become a child oncologist, you'll have to deal with more tragedy than if you work as a general pediatrician. But, the successes when you can heal children with serious illnesses are all the more rewarding.
You need to be aware that becoming a pediatrician is a very long, competitive and expensive education to take on. During your education, you'll likely incur a scary amount of debt. But as a doctor you will be paid well at the end. Pediatrics is not the most well-paid specialty, but you'll do more than alright.
To become a pediatrician, you'll first get your bachelors degree in any major you enjoy (4 years). Many students major in biology, chemistry or biochemistry because these majors cover most of the pre-requisite courses that you need to pass before you apply to medical school. You also need to take the MCAT before you can apply to medical school. Next, you'll go to medical school to train to become a physician (4 years). You specialize in pediatrics during your residency (3 years) before you can take board exams. Many pediatricians do a fellowship after residency to further specialize.
I hope this helps! All the best to you!
KP
Karin recommends the following next steps:
Alexander Verma
Physician - neurologist
13
Answers
Denver, Colorado
Updated
Alexander’s Answer
You've already received some great answers, especially from Dr. Hanson. I'll add my personal experiences from my limited time in pediatrics.
Working with children and their families can be very rewarding. You will, however, encounter those patients and families that are not easy to deal with, the ones that you dread when you see them on your schedule for the day. This is true of pretty much any job that works with people.
Also, keep in mind that you will see children at their sickest, you will see some of them suffering, and you may have children that die under your care. This can be very hard to experience and can lead to feelings of helplessness. Luckily, this is not true for most patients you will see, but it's something to be aware of.
You will also encounter situations that can be ethically challenging. When you have a strong disagreement with a parent about what is in their child's best interest, it can create a conflict that threatens the physician-patient relationship and drains your emotions.
With pediatrics, as with any medical specialty, you have to find the intrinsic reward in the work itself. The work is hard, the pay (while good) is not as much as the amount of work you put in, and it's a long, hard, and expensive road to get there. But if making a child feel better is worth all that to you, then it's worth looking into. Dr. Glaucomflecken, an MD who runs a humorous Tiktok channel, inadvertently put it best: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IJ99l7rXXOc
I'll also put in here that it's not uncommon for people to enter medical school wanting to pursue one specialty, only to find there's another that suits them better. Keep an open mind and try to find something new and interesting in every experience. You might want to shadow a pediatrician or volunteer at a peds hospital to get a first-hand idea of what the day to day life is like.
Working with children and their families can be very rewarding. You will, however, encounter those patients and families that are not easy to deal with, the ones that you dread when you see them on your schedule for the day. This is true of pretty much any job that works with people.
Also, keep in mind that you will see children at their sickest, you will see some of them suffering, and you may have children that die under your care. This can be very hard to experience and can lead to feelings of helplessness. Luckily, this is not true for most patients you will see, but it's something to be aware of.
You will also encounter situations that can be ethically challenging. When you have a strong disagreement with a parent about what is in their child's best interest, it can create a conflict that threatens the physician-patient relationship and drains your emotions.
With pediatrics, as with any medical specialty, you have to find the intrinsic reward in the work itself. The work is hard, the pay (while good) is not as much as the amount of work you put in, and it's a long, hard, and expensive road to get there. But if making a child feel better is worth all that to you, then it's worth looking into. Dr. Glaucomflecken, an MD who runs a humorous Tiktok channel, inadvertently put it best: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IJ99l7rXXOc
I'll also put in here that it's not uncommon for people to enter medical school wanting to pursue one specialty, only to find there's another that suits them better. Keep an open mind and try to find something new and interesting in every experience. You might want to shadow a pediatrician or volunteer at a peds hospital to get a first-hand idea of what the day to day life is like.