A pediatrician is one of the doctors who play one of the most important roles in the health field. Pediatricians’ main focus is on the health of infants, children, adolescents, and young adults. Their work is prevention, detection, and managing physical and developmental issues that may affect children.
Some work in general practice, while others specialize in treating children with specific health conditions. A child should be given pediatric care from birth through its 21st birthday.
What Education Do You Need and How Long Does it Take to be a Pediatrician?
The training needed to become a pediatrician can take approximately 11 years after high school. This depends on the university and jurisdiction and the specialization required. After high school, one must major in biology and other science-related courses for four years in a medical college or university. The pre-medical courses required are biochemistry, biology, physics, chemistry, organic chemistry, and calculus.
After completing these four years, you will take another four years to work towards a Doctor of Osteopathy (D.O) or Doctor of Medicine (M.D) degree. After this degree, you spend three years in an accredited pediatric residency program. The main aim of this residency is to expand your knowledge of optimal medical care for infants, children, and adolescents.
The residency is generally in a hospital setting. The subspecialties that the pediatricians will experience will depend on the hospital. They will focus on these subspecialties in their second and third year. The certification of a pediatrician is obtained after completing this residency program. Then, you possess a medical license after passing the required exams.
What Are the Roles of a Pediatrician?
The main role of a pediatrician is to provide physical, emotional, and mental care for their patients. In addition, they perform diagnostic tests to obtain information about the patient’s medical condition.
After performing these tests, they administer treatments, medications, vaccinations, and therapies to treat disorders, injuries, and illnesses. They also treat children suffering from developmental concerns, acute and chronic health problems, minor injuries, and physiological and psychological growth.
Pediatricians also offer counsel and guide parents and their children concerning hygiene, diet, and disease prevention. In children’s health, pediatrics is a collaborative specialty in that pediatricians may refer patients to other medical specialists if the patients manifest symptoms of related medical conditions. This is done to address the issue efficiently.
A pediatrician can major in an area of specialization and train for a career in a pediatric subspecialty, and these include:
• Pediatric Allergist/Immunologist. Children can suffer from health issues associated with their immune system or allergies. A pediatric allergist/ immunologist offers relief to the child by pinpointing the things that cause the allergic symptoms and prescribing medication.
• Pediatric Cardiologist. They specialize in diagnosing and treating children with heart diseases and heart conditions.
• Neonatologist. They handle complicated and high-risk situations that are related to newborns. They mainly work in special care nurseries or intensive care units of hospitals.
• Pediatric Oncologist/ Hematologist. They treat children who are suffering from blood diseases and cancer.
• Pediatric Endocrinologist. They deal with disorders or problems related to children’s hormones and the glands that produce them. Hormones determine how the child grows, and if there is a problem, it can significantly affect the child’s physical and emotional well-being.
• Pediatric Nephrologist. They deal with bladder problems and kidney or urinary tract diseases.
• Pediatric Pulmonologist. They treat children who are suffering from lung and breathing diseases.
There are many other subspecialties that pediatricians can specialize in, depending on their interests and the residency in which they are based.
What is the Average Salary of a Pediatrician?
A pediatrician’s salary can go up to $300,000 in some states or cities, like New York. As another example, the average salary of full-time pediatric jobs in Florida is $202,279 as of July 26, 2022, but it typically ranges from $176,260 and $241,814 in a year.
However, the salary range varies depending on the city you are based in and other important factors such as certifications, additional skills, education, and years you have spent working as a pediatrician.