A pediatrician is a doctor who takes care of children from
birth to age 21.
Why should you become a pediatrician? Choosing a career is a personal decision. Most pediatricians will
say they love children and want to help children, adolescents, young
adults and their families.
Pediatricians usually like to:
Work with children, families, medical experts and community
members
Teach
Treat diseases
Learn about science
Work to improve their community
Help future generations
Pediatricians have careers that are flexible, varied and
rewarding.
How much schooling do pediatricians have to
have? A general pediatrician must finish high school and then does:
4 years of college
4 years of medical school (being a medical student)
3 years of general pediatric training in a hospitals and other
places (being an intern and resident)
A specialty pediatrician must finish high school and then
does:
4 years of college
4 years of medical school
3 years of general pediatric training in a hospitals
1 &endash;3 years (usually) of special pediatric training
(called a subspecialty)
There are currently 12 different subspecialties. There are
other special training programs for pediatricians, too.
Where do pediatricians work?
Pediatricians work in many places:
Private practice offices
Hospitals
Health maintenance organizations
Community health centers
Public health clinics
Schools
Military and government
Pediatricians do research to learn more about treating
diseases and improving our communities.
Pediatricians work with public policy makers to advocate for
children and their families.
They teach children and their families.
They also teach medical students and residents.
How many hours a week do you work?
Each pediatrician is different.
On average, pediatricians work about 50 hours per week.
But they also spend another 4 hours per week helping the
community through education, schools and government, professional
group activities or providing free medical care to the needy.
What tests do you have to take?
Pediatricians are licensed by the states they practice in.
Each state has different rules.
Most states make pediatricians pass 3 national tests for all
doctors in the United States (called the United States Medical
Licensing Examinations).
Most hospitals also make them pass the American Board of
Pediatrics Certifying Examination at the end of their 3 years of
general pediatric training. This is called "passing the boards." A
pediatrician who has passed is called "board-certified." To be
board-certified, a pediatrician must re-take the test every 7
years.
How are pediatricians different from family
medicine doctors?
Both provide care focused on the family and community.
Pediatricians care for children from birth to age 21.
Family medicine doctors care for people from birth to the
elderly, including children.
Family medicine doctors have their own training requirements.
Because they take care of more ages of people, their training for
children is much less than a pediatrician.
How much money does a pediatrician make?
Each pediatrician is different. Each works in different places
and has different types of jobs.
In the past, pediatricians have been paid less than other
doctors have. But as doctors, pediatricians are paid more than
many other workers in the United States.
Pediatricians like what they do. In surveys, they are very
happy with the work they do.
Are pediatricians advocates?
Pediatricians are people who care for children and families,
including the problems they face in society.
Pediatricians work with others in their communities to better
the welfare of children.
Some examples of pediatricians being advocates are:
Giving needed clothing and food to children in their
offices
Building safe playgrounds with schools
Starting reading programs with libraries
Teaching children and families to use seat belts and bike
helmets
Teaching lawmakers to write or change laws that improve
children's health:
Banning lead-based paint in homes
Requiring smoke detectors in apartment buildings
Quick Answers
A pediatrician is a doctor who takes care of children from
birth to age 21.
Most pediatricians will say they love children and want to
help children, adolescents, young adults and their families.
Pediatricians have careers that are flexible, varied and
rewarding.
Pediatricians must have at least 11 years of training after
high school.
Pediatricians work in private practice offices, hospital,
public health clinics, schools and many other places.
Pediatricians work about 50 hours per week.
Pediatricians are licensed by the states they practice in.
They must take many tests.
Pediatricians have been paid less than other doctors, but as
doctors they are paid more than many other workers.
Pediatricians are people who care for children and families,
including the problems they face in society.
References
American Academy of Pediatrics. Pediatrics 101. URL:
http://www.aap.org/profed/peds101.htm
Virtual Hospital. The Road to Becoming a Physician. 1999,
June. (cited 2003, January 15). URL:
http://www.vh.org/welcome/tour/road/index.html
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