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What are the steps needed to become a neonatal doctor?

I’m a high school student wanting to be prepared for med school and my future career. #child-psychology #doctorate-degree #doctor

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Thank you comment icon Child and Adolescent Psychologist earn a Doctor of Psychology (PsyD), Neonatal Doctors earn a Doctor of Medicine (M.D.) Doc Frick
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Doc’s Answer

Jasmine In the U.S., neonatal doctors, also called neonatologists, are required to go through medical school and then complete a 3-year residency program and a 3-year fellowship to practice this occupation. As a result, becoming a neonatal doctor takes around 14-years of education and clinical training. Before attending medical school, you'll need to complete a 4-year undergraduate program with a pre-med focus. For your undergraduate program, you'll need to take science-based courses like biology, chemistry, physics, anatomy, and physiology. Once you get your bachelor's degree, you'll be able to apply for medical school. Medical school takes 4-years to complete and it is divided into two portions: 2-years of classroom classes and 2-years of clinical rotations. Upon graduation from medical school, students earn a medical degree that enables them to undergo a 3-year residency program residency program with a focus on pediatrics. After completing your residency, you'll need to attend a 3-year fellowship in neonatology.

High school is not too early to start thinking about pre-med. You can prepare academically, explore various careers in medicine and attend a medical or science summer camp program. Not only will these preparations help you decide if a career in medicine is for you, but they will look great on your high school resume and translate into positive responses from the colleges where you apply. Also check with your local hospital, medical facility, or ambulance company in your community to see if they accept high school volunteers. Volunteering gives you the opportunity for patient contact and helps you decide whether or not medicine is something you want to pursue. Medical schools look for students who have shown an interest in medicine during high school.

Jasmine to prepare for a pre-med major, you must take the right courses in high school. These include the sciences, such as physics and chemistry; math, including calculus and statistics; and even English. Pursue a rigorous combination of AP, Honors or IB courses and strive for the highest grades possible. Not only will these college level course look better on your pre-med admissions application, but it will also prepare you for the MCAT (Medical College Admissions Test) and medical school classes.

Hope this is helpful Jasmine

Doc recommends the following next steps:

AVOID DISTRACTIONS. As hard as it may seem, don’t text, go on Facebook or take phone calls while studying. These are unnecessary uses of your time, and you may spend more time doing these things than intended. You’ll be surprised how much time you can pick up by eliminating these distractions.
DON'T CRAM. When you cram, you leave yourself little time to look over notes and textbook pages. This makes it highly unlikely that you will cover all the content required. It also isn’t guaranteed that you will be able to remember all that you read. Give yourself at least one week to study, spreading out your studying every day for a few hours.
CREATE ACRONYMS. If you’re trying to remember a list of items, create an acronym to help you remember it. Start with a phrase that is easy to remember, then turn it into an acronym. You do it already: BFN - Bye for now; GTG - Got to go; IDK - I don’t know; LOL - Laugh out loud; OMG - Oh my God; TMI - Too much information; IKR - I know, right; YW - You’re welcome.
Thank you comment icon Thank you for the valuable information! Do you have any studying tips? Jasmine
Thank you comment icon 3Rs – Read, Recall, Review Doc Frick
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Valerie’s Answer

Hi Jasmine!
My name is Valerie and I am a current medical student. To become a neonatologist ( a doctor that cares for newborn babies in the hospital) you will first need to graduate from high school. Then, you will go to college for 4 years. After college, you will go to medical school for 4 years and will become a doctor. Then you will enter into residency, where you will train for 4-6 years to specialize in neonatology. If you can, I would try to shadow a neonatologist doctor and make sure you like the medical field and that specialty. Also, continue to get good grades and keep doing the things you love to do!
Best of luck
Thank you comment icon Thank you! Any tips on how to balance “normal” life and being a medical student? Jasmine
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Valerie’s Answer

It is difficult, but doable. You want to focus on your studies, but it is important to take breaks and during these breaks you can see your friends, watch a TV show, exercise or meditate. Whatever makes you feel good. After big exams, medical students all go out together and socialize then as well. The first two years are the hardest, and it will slowly get easier to have a social life.
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Waleed’s Answer

The first step in becoming a neonatologist is to earn a bachelor's degree and a degree from medical school. Complete a residency and fellowship: After graduation, an aspiring neonatologist must complete a pediatric residency and neonatal fellowship. Become certified and licensed.
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