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What is the typical path to becoming a pediatric rheumatologist?

I would like to become a pediatric rheumatologist. I know I need an undergraduate degree and to take specific prerequisites. I also know I need to go to medical school and earn an MD. From there, I would go to residency. However, that is where I get more or less confused and start to not understand the entire path.

doctor medical-school pediatrics physician residency pediatric-rheumatologist pediatric-rheumatology rheumatologist rheumatology
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James’s Answer

Larissa:
It is wonderful to have young people such as you thinking about becoming a pediatric rheumatologist. Rheumatology is evolving quickly, with scientific breakthroughs leading to new therapies and better diagnostics.
All physicians must get through medical school. Then one completes a 3-year residency - in your case, that would be Pediatrics. During your residency you would probably elect to do a rotation in rheumatology. If you are still motivated to do that, you apply for a 3-year fellowship. All pediatric subspecialties require some research as part of your fellowship, so learning about research design, grant writing, statistics and such during college would be helpful.
Thank you comment icon Thank you so much for this advice! Larissa
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Rafael’s Answer

Hi Larissa! After medical school, you'd enter a pediatrics residency which typically takes three years, and that's where you build your foundation in treating kids across all conditions. Once you finish residency, the next step is a pediatric rheumatology fellowship, which is usually two to three years and focuses specifically on diagnosing and managing autoimmune and inflammatory conditions in children like juvenile arthritis and lupus. During fellowship you'll get specialized clinical training, and many programs also include a research component which can be a big deal if you're interested in academic medicine later. After completing fellowship, you'd become board certified in both pediatrics and pediatric rheumatology, and then you're ready to practice! The whole journey from undergrad to fully trained pediatric rheumatologist is long, roughly 13 to 15 years total, but the good news is this is a high-demand subspecialty with relatively few providers, so your job prospects should be excellent once you're done.
Thank you comment icon Thank you so much for explaining the residency and fellowship path in detail! Larissa
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Dimple’s Answer

1. Complete a 4-year undergraduate degree.
2. Attend medical school for 4 years.
3. Finish a 3-year pediatric residency.
4. Complete a 3-year pediatric rheumatology fellowship. Most pediatric specialties require 3 years, except for pediatric hospitalist, which is 2 years. Rita's answer was incorrect. Adult specialty fellowships usually take 2 years.

It takes 14 years in total if you graduate on time. Pediatric rheumatology is one of the lower-paid specialties, so consider this if you plan to take out loans. There are very few pediatric rheumatologists, so those in the field often work a lot for little pay.
Thank you comment icon Thank you for the information! I appreciate you letting me know the timeline and the pay outlook. Larissa
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Rita’s Answer

This is your path:
4 years high school
4 years college
4 years medical school
3 years Pediatric internship/residency
2 years Rheumatology fellowship
Thank you comment icon Thank you, Rita! Larissa
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Liuvis’s Answer

Hi there! You're doing great so far on your journey to medical school. After that, you'll need to apply for a medical residency in Pediatrics. Once you finish that, you can apply for a fellowship in Rheumatology. The pediatric rheumatology fellowship usually takes three years, and some programs might offer combined training in Internal Medicine and Pediatrics Rheumatology, depending on your situation. Keep in mind that each program might have different requirements. I hope this information is helpful!
Thank you comment icon Thank you so much, Liuvis! Larissa
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