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According to a landmark Harvard University study, "a vital and productive society with a
prosperous and sustainable future is built on a foundation of healthy child development. Health
in the earliest years… lays the groundwork for a lifetime of well-being." Receiving proper
healthcare throughout one's life is essential, of course, but it's especially critical in the early
years. That's when we're most susceptible to germs and bacteria, and when conditions that
might otherwise develop into chronic lifelong handicaps are identified and treated. That's when
we develop the healthcare habits that will—or won't—sustain our health through adulthood.
Pediatricians provide care during this critical period of life. Pediatricians deal with all aspects of
children's health and well-being, including young people's:
Physical health
Mental health
Developmental health
Psychosocial health
Becoming a pediatrician requires many years of hard work and tons of smarts. For those with
the skills and determination to see it through, it can be a gratifying and lucrative profession. In
this article on how to become a pediatrician, we'll cover:
Helping children: Many people choose to enter the medical profession to help others.
Treating kids impacted by an illness, accident, or other diagnoses can be very satisfying.
Positively influencing the youth: Not all pediatric specializations require dealing with
critically ill kids. Some are geared towards fostering healthy habits, such as getting
immunizations, exercising, and improving diet. It's not all doom and gloom.
Inspirational patients: Kids can smile and laugh through all sorts of difficulties, and can
bounce back from hard times faster than many adults. It can be amazing to witness.
Prestige: A lot of people will respect the work you do—as they should.
Pay: On average, pediatricians earn $183,240 per year. Those working in outpatient
care centers earn closer to $200,000 annually, while those working in specialty hospitals
earn over $200,00 per year.
Watching children suffer: While empathetic doctors will have a hard time seeing any
kind of patient suffering, seeing kids in pain or dying can take an even greater emotional
toll. You'll need to be able to compartmentalize to endure in this profession.
Communication: Kids can't always express their needs or feelings. You must have an
excellent understanding of medicine and pediatric illnesses to diagnose a child
accurately. This is especially true with infants and toddlers who can't articulate how
they feel.
Dealing with parents: Interacting with parents/caregivers can be difficult since some will
understandably be stressed and upset. Pediatricians must have lots of patience to
navigate these situations.
Medical school: Becoming a doctor takes a long time and a lot of money. Training as a
pediatrician is an all-consuming (quite literally) process.
Medical school debt: Yes, you will earn a lot of money as a pediatrician, but you will also
owe a lot of money. On average, new doctors' education debt comes to $200,000.
Pediatricians not only treat diseases and illnesses but also work towards preventing them
through education and promotion. Some trained pediatricians also choose to work in medical
research, either primarily or exclusively.
The American Board of Pediatrics (ABP) administers examinations for the following 15
specialities:
Adolescent medicine
Cardiology
Child abuse pediatrics
Critical care medicine
Developmental-behavioral pediatrics
Emergency medicine
Endocrinology
Gastroenterology
Hematology-oncology
Hospital medicine
Infectious diseases
Neonatal-perinatal medicine
Nephrology
Pulmonology
Rheumatology
To be ABP-specialty certified, pediatricians must complete three years of extra training after
their initial certification. For those who want to be doctors and not mathematicians, that's a
three-year residency, plus three more years for specialization, which is six years in total. There
are some accelerated programs available. There is also the opportunity to undertake multiple
specialties, which, of course, adds more time to your pre-certification period.
How you specialize will depend on what kind of work environment you seek and your skillset.
The emergency room is a lot different from a rehabilitation center, and a surgeon doesn't
necessarily make an excellent psychiatrist or vice versa.
If becoming a doctor isn't the right path for you, pediatric nursing could be a good alternative.
The career path is generally less time-consuming, but with many of the same rewards.
Nobody just walks into medical school with a white coat and says, "I'm ready." Applicants
typically pursue a pre-med track, which involves completing a science major such as biology or
chemistry, at a four-year institution. It's not always necessary to have studied the sciences
during your bachelor's degree, since there are bridge programs available. However, if you want
to save time and money, making the decision early and sticking to it is your best bet.
After undergrad, you'll need to take the Medical College Admissions Test (MCAT). Applicants
sometimes take a few months to study for the test after graduation.
Passing the MCAT is essential for securing a place in med school (unless you go somewhere
that doesn't require it). Work experience in the medical field is also helpful.
Medical school typically takes four years, and involves both classroom and clinical experience.
In their last year, students pick a specialty and go off to complete a three- to seven-year
residency in that area. The residency is usually the most intense period of training and
experience for medical students.
If it's not clear from the itinerary above, repetition makes perfection.
With great time commitment comes great financial commitment. The average cost of one year
at a public medical school in 2017 was $34,592 and $58,668 for in and out-of-state students
respectively. At a private college, the number is consistently on the high side of $50,000. The
old adage "You have to spend money to make money" is apt here.
Unless you come from a very wealthy background, this is likely to put you deep in debt.
However, medical careers in the USA, including pediatrics, pay very well. It might take years
(over a decade sometimes) to pay off your med school loans, but you'll likely enjoy a
comfortable lifestyle while you do.
If you want to get out of debt quickly, there are several federal loan forgiveness options,
especially for those who are willing to work in high-risk areas.
Licensure and accreditation for becoming a pediatrician
To practice as a pediatrician in the US, you need to pass the United States Medical Licensing
Examination (USMLE), which allows you to apply for a license.
The exact criteria for licensing vary from state to state, since individual medical boards set
requirements.
Adolescent health
Allergy & immunology
Cardiology
Dermatology
Developmental/behavioral pediatrics
Emergency medicine
Endocrinology
Ophthalmology
Orthopedics
Otolaryngology
New pediatricians work alongside more experienced professionals at the start of their careers
to hone knowledge and skills. After several years' experience, some may want to establish their
own practice. This is an excellent way to become your own boss, and possibly to gain a better
work-life balance. Others choose to specialize or change settings, such as from a clinic to a
hospital.
Some pediatricians might have the opportunity to become a chief medical officer (CMO) or
medical adviser in a hospital. These administrators oversee the management of hospitals and
other medical centers and ensure that patients receive the best possible care, but that's getting
too far ahead. Right now, just focus on passing the MCAT.