4 answers
Shreeya
Student
Cumming, Georgia
1
Question
Asked
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What doctor should I become?
I want to try and become a doctor, most likely a pediatrician, but I'm not sure if I want to be in school for over 10 years. What should I do?
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4 answers
Hwal Lee
DMSc, PA-C
227
Answers
Albany, New York
Updated
Hwal’s Answer
Shreeya,
I remember having a similar question several years ago when I thought that going to medical school was the only way to practice medicine. Then, when I moved to the U.S. from Australia, I discovered the PA profession and am now in my fourth year of primary care practice. One of the reasons I ultimately decided to become a PA instead of a physician, was the intense but condensed medical education taught at PA schools without compromising on the breath and depth of entry-level training. In the end, it's taken me just over 7 years of schooling for my bachelor's, master's, and doctorate studies totaling over 260 credit hours, and I feel comfortable with my decision. Just as importantly, I was able to start practicing that much sooner, which was another related appeal about PA training.
So, if you're confident that you want to practice paediatric medicine, you have more than one option. It seems like you're already familiar with how to become a pediatrician, so let me share the steps to become a PA, published on the AAPA (American Academy of PAs) website:
https://www.aapa.org/career-central/become-a-pa/
And here's the websites for the Society for PAs in Pediatrics):
https://thespap.wildapricot.org/
Let me know if you have any specific questions I can help with.
Good luck!
Hwal
I remember having a similar question several years ago when I thought that going to medical school was the only way to practice medicine. Then, when I moved to the U.S. from Australia, I discovered the PA profession and am now in my fourth year of primary care practice. One of the reasons I ultimately decided to become a PA instead of a physician, was the intense but condensed medical education taught at PA schools without compromising on the breath and depth of entry-level training. In the end, it's taken me just over 7 years of schooling for my bachelor's, master's, and doctorate studies totaling over 260 credit hours, and I feel comfortable with my decision. Just as importantly, I was able to start practicing that much sooner, which was another related appeal about PA training.
So, if you're confident that you want to practice paediatric medicine, you have more than one option. It seems like you're already familiar with how to become a pediatrician, so let me share the steps to become a PA, published on the AAPA (American Academy of PAs) website:
https://www.aapa.org/career-central/become-a-pa/
And here's the websites for the Society for PAs in Pediatrics):
https://thespap.wildapricot.org/
Let me know if you have any specific questions I can help with.
Good luck!
Hwal
Rita Chuang
Physician
189
Answers
Henderson, Nevada
Updated
Rita’s Answer
Unfortunately, the timing for medical school is not under your control. I also did not like to be in school so long. I would work as a medical scribe so you can get a taste of what medicine is like. You get paid, you see first hand what doctors do and you can ask the doctor questions. You can maybe work as a pediatric scribe.
david kirk
Retired Computing Manager
478
Answers
Syracuse, New York
Updated
david’s Answer
If your desire is to be a medical doctor, then you must spend the necessary time. There are no shortcuts. If you still want to be a medical professional, then you might investigate studying to become a nurse practitioner or a physician's assistant; both of these require advanced degrees, but the study can be completed in fewer years than becoming an MD. I wish you well.
James Constantine Frangos
Consultant Dietitian & Software Developer since 1972 => Nutrition Education => Health & Longevity => Self-Actualization.
6187
Answers
Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia
Updated
James Constantine’s Answer
Hello Shreeya,
If you're thinking about a career in medicine, but the long educational journey gives you pause, it's worth investigating various medical specialties, such as pediatrics. This could help you find a path that aligns with your career aspirations and personal interests.
Let's start by breaking down the general steps to becoming a medical doctor (M.D.) in the United States:
1. Earn a bachelor's degree: There's no mandatory major, but it's beneficial to focus on biology, chemistry, physics, and mathematics to build a solid scientific foundation. Also, work on honing your communication, problem-solving, and critical thinking skills.
2. Take the Medical College Admission Test (MCAT): This standard test measures your grasp of scientific ideas and critical thinking skills.
3. Apply to medical schools: Most schools require a good MCAT score, a high GPA, recommendation letters, and involvement in extracurricular activities.
4. Finish medical school: This usually takes four years, with the first two years dedicated to classroom and lab work, and the last two years to clinical rotations.
5. Pick a specialty: After medical school, doctors undertake a residency program in their chosen specialty, which can last between three to seven years.
6. Get licensed: All states mandate doctors to be licensed before they can practice. This usually involves graduating from an accredited medical school, completing a residency program, and passing exams.
7. Optional board certification: While not mandatory, many doctors opt for board certification in their specialty to showcase their expertise and dedication to high-quality patient care.
Now, let's delve deeper into pediatrics as a potential specialty:
Pediatricians are doctors who specialize in comprehensive healthcare for children, from infancy through adolescence. They diagnose and treat various health conditions, promote healthy lifestyles, and guide growth and development. Pediatricians can further specialize in areas like adolescent medicine, cardiology, critical care, emergency medicine, gastroenterology, or neonatology.
To become a pediatrician in the United States:
1. Complete your undergraduate studies focusing on science courses.
2. Earn a competitive MCAT score and GPA.
3. Graduate from an accredited medical school with an M.D. or D.O. degree (Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine).
4. Complete a three-year pediatrics residency program after medical school to gain practical experience in treating children with various health conditions. During this time, you'll work directly with patients under the guidance of seasoned pediatricians.
5. Obtain licensure in your state by passing the necessary exams and meeting any additional state-specific requirements to practice medicine as a pediatrician.
6. Consider getting board certification through the American Board of Pediatrics (ABP) to showcase your expertise and dedication to high-quality patient care in this field. Board certification typically involves passing written and oral exams after completing your residency program.
While the journey to becoming a pediatrician is long and requires extensive education and training, it can be incredibly fulfilling if you love working with children and want to make a positive difference in their lives. Consider volunteering or shadowing pediatricians to get a real-world feel for this profession before you fully commit to this career path.
GOD BLESS!
James Constantine.
If you're thinking about a career in medicine, but the long educational journey gives you pause, it's worth investigating various medical specialties, such as pediatrics. This could help you find a path that aligns with your career aspirations and personal interests.
Let's start by breaking down the general steps to becoming a medical doctor (M.D.) in the United States:
1. Earn a bachelor's degree: There's no mandatory major, but it's beneficial to focus on biology, chemistry, physics, and mathematics to build a solid scientific foundation. Also, work on honing your communication, problem-solving, and critical thinking skills.
2. Take the Medical College Admission Test (MCAT): This standard test measures your grasp of scientific ideas and critical thinking skills.
3. Apply to medical schools: Most schools require a good MCAT score, a high GPA, recommendation letters, and involvement in extracurricular activities.
4. Finish medical school: This usually takes four years, with the first two years dedicated to classroom and lab work, and the last two years to clinical rotations.
5. Pick a specialty: After medical school, doctors undertake a residency program in their chosen specialty, which can last between three to seven years.
6. Get licensed: All states mandate doctors to be licensed before they can practice. This usually involves graduating from an accredited medical school, completing a residency program, and passing exams.
7. Optional board certification: While not mandatory, many doctors opt for board certification in their specialty to showcase their expertise and dedication to high-quality patient care.
Now, let's delve deeper into pediatrics as a potential specialty:
Pediatricians are doctors who specialize in comprehensive healthcare for children, from infancy through adolescence. They diagnose and treat various health conditions, promote healthy lifestyles, and guide growth and development. Pediatricians can further specialize in areas like adolescent medicine, cardiology, critical care, emergency medicine, gastroenterology, or neonatology.
To become a pediatrician in the United States:
1. Complete your undergraduate studies focusing on science courses.
2. Earn a competitive MCAT score and GPA.
3. Graduate from an accredited medical school with an M.D. or D.O. degree (Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine).
4. Complete a three-year pediatrics residency program after medical school to gain practical experience in treating children with various health conditions. During this time, you'll work directly with patients under the guidance of seasoned pediatricians.
5. Obtain licensure in your state by passing the necessary exams and meeting any additional state-specific requirements to practice medicine as a pediatrician.
6. Consider getting board certification through the American Board of Pediatrics (ABP) to showcase your expertise and dedication to high-quality patient care in this field. Board certification typically involves passing written and oral exams after completing your residency program.
While the journey to becoming a pediatrician is long and requires extensive education and training, it can be incredibly fulfilling if you love working with children and want to make a positive difference in their lives. Consider volunteering or shadowing pediatricians to get a real-world feel for this profession before you fully commit to this career path.
GOD BLESS!
James Constantine.