Pediatricians Are in High Demand

Hope | future pediatrician

I am interested in being a pediatrician because I'm great with kids, and am very intelligent in the math/science area. I also like to help people and care for them, and maybe I can even relate to their childhood problems (like asthma, for example)!

I did some research and found that on average it takes about eleven years in college to become a pediatrician. I know that is a long time, but I don't think that will be a factor in deciding what I want to major in when it's time. While I was researching, I found that pediatricians are in very high demand. Actually, some graphs show the demand for pediatricians is increasing every year! By the time I'm ready to start my career, I should have no difficulty finding a job in this field of medicine.

I interviewed my pediatrician and asked him some questions. He told me that good pediatricians need to be family and kid oriented, kind, considerate, patient, lifelong learners, and good communicators and listeners. I also asked him about the training needed to be a pediatrician. He told me eleven years of training and college is necessary. It consists of a bachelor's degree, then four years in medical school; followed by three years of residency. During my residency, I would work in hospitals and clinics, patient care (general pediatrics and sub-specialties like cardiology and oncology), learn how to do medical histories and physical examinations, learning what tests to order and how to interpret the results, and learn techniques like suturing lacerations, starting IV's, lumbar punctures, etc. My pediatrician gave me more detailed information than the research I conducted on my own.

After learning more about this career, I believe I have what it takes to become a pediatrician.