What is a Pediatrician?Derived from the Greek words pais, meaning child, and iatros, which means doctor or healer, a pediatrician is a medical professional who specializes in providing medical care to children. Show
Although there are surviving manuscripts devoted to pediatrics from earlier times, it was not until the middle of the 19th century that it was recognized and developed as a new medical specialty. Known for his many contributions to the field, Abraham Jacobi is considered as the father of pediatrics. He was born in Germany where he received his medical training, but later went to the United States to practice. It was there that he opened the first children's clinic in New York. What does a Pediatrician do?Providing physical, mental and emotional care for their patients, pediatricians are concerned with the health of infants, children, and teenagers. Pediatricians perform diagnostic tests to obtain information of a patient's medical condition and administer treatments, therapies, medications, and vaccinations to treat illness, disorders, or injuries. They also treat children who are suffering from minor injuries, acute and chronic health problems, and physiological and psychological growth and developmental concerns. Pediatricians counsel and guide children and their parents or guardians concerning diet, hygiene, and disease prevention. The field of pediatrics is a collaborative specialty — primary care pediatricians may refer patients to a medical specialist if they manifest symptoms of a serious medical condition, in order to efficiently address the issue. Among the most common issues facing pediatricians today are:
Pediatrics is an exciting and challenging field to be in. It is also an incredibly broad field and can provide many options for doctors to choose from. After finishing a three-year pediatric residency program, about a third of pediatricians decide to train for an additional three years in a fellowship program. This enables a pediatrician to train for a career in a pediatric subspecialty, which can include: Adolescent Health Specialist Today's adolescents face many social and academic pressures, and can be treated for a variety of problems and conditions, such as: growth and development issues; school, learning, and attention problems; drug, alcohol, and tobacco use; nutrition, obesity, and eating disorders; acne and skin conditions; physical exams required for driver’s permits; orthopedic problems such as scoliosis; acute or chronic illnesses, from strep throat to asthma, diabetes, or cerebral palsy; headaches; chest pain; depression; stress; anxiety; self-esteem; sleep problems; and gynecologic and reproductive health/sexuality issues. Pediatric Allergist/Immunologist A pediatric allergist/immunologist's primary goal is to offer relief to the child. This is done by using specialized testing for diagnosing the condition and then deciding on the appropriate treatment. Treatment may involve pinpointing and avoiding things that cause the allergic symptom(s), administering allergy shots (immunotherapy), or prescribing medication. Pediatric Cardiologist Pediatric cardiologists are able to work with patients before they are even born, throughout their childhood, and into adulthood. There are a variety of conditions that can be treated, such as: arrhythmia (irregular heartbeat); congenital heart disease; circulatory disturbances; chest pain or fainting; cardiac transplantation; supraventricular tachycardia; inherited long QT syndrome; heart murmurs; cardiovascular collapse; cardiac failure; cardiovascular abnormalities in neonatal intensive care; fetal cardiac abnormalities; transposition of the great arteries; and the management of critically ill children with cardiac problems. Pediatric
Emergency Physician Pediatric emergency physicians usually treat the following types of emergencies: high or persistent fever; severe infections; difficulty breathing; severe pain; dehydration; seizures; severe allergic reactions; fractures; head injuries; burns, poisoning; overdoses; asthma; diabetes; sickle cell disease; and animal bites. These types of medical emergencies often require special procedures, equipment, and techniques that pediatric emergency physicians are educated in using. Pediatric emergency physicians work in emergency departments of children’s hospitals, teaching hospitals, community hospitals, and pediatric urgent care centres. Pediatric Endocrinologist Hormones determine how a child will grow and mature, therefore problems seen by pediatric endocrinologists are quite different from those seen by endocrinologists who care for adults. Issues related to growth and development can cause issues for a child's sexual development, which can then have significant effects on their physical and emotional well-being. Examples of hormonal disorders that pediatric endocrinologists can treat: low blood sugar (hypoglycemia); enlarged thyroid gland (goiter); ovarian and testicular dysfunction; obesity; diabetes; early or delayed puberty; underactive or overactive thyroid gland; rickets; hypocalcemia; pituitary gland hypo/hyper function; growth problems; and adrenal gland hypo/hyper function. Neonatologist Premature babies are babies that are born before their bodies are ready to leave the mother's womb. Critical organs such as the lungs, heart, stomach, and skin may not be mature enough to function without help. Neonatologists have specialized training and are able to evaluate and treat a newborn's medical problems, using equipment that is designed specifically for the tiniest of patients. Neonatologists can handle conditions such as birth defects, breathing disorders, and infections, and help to coordinate care and management of premature newborns, newborns with critical illnesses, or newborns in need of surgery. They consult with pediatricians, obstetricians, and family physicians regarding conditions affecting newborns, and in some cases, may even provide short-term follow-up care on an outpatient basis. Other sub-specialties:
Are you suited to be a pediatrician?Pediatricians have distinct personalities. They tend to be investigative individuals, which means they’re intellectual, introspective, and inquisitive. They are curious, methodical, rational, analytical, and logical. Some of them are also social, meaning they’re kind, generous, cooperative, patient, caring, helpful, empathetic, tactful, and friendly. Does this sound like you? Take our free career test to find out if pediatrician is one of your top career matches. Take the free test now Learn more about the career test What is the workplace of a Pediatrician like?Pediatricians can work in a number of environments, such as hospitals, private practice offices, health maintenance organizations, community health centers, public health clinics, schools, or the military and government. They are less likely to enter solo practice and more likely to work as salaried employees of group medical practices. In a typical setting, pediatricians enjoy a pleasant working environment as they are generally assigned to offices and examination rooms most amenable to children. Offices and rooms are equipped with children's books, toys and activities to occupy children during waiting periods and distract them when undergoing painful procedures. Working with children has its drawbacks, however. They can be unruly patients, often restless and sometimes hysterical and frightened by doctors and medical procedures. The utmost patience must be exercised when dealing with children, which is where pediatrics training is invaluable. Frequently Asked QuestionsWhat is the difference between adult and pediatric medicine?A common adage in the medical field is that ‘children are not simply little adults.’ In other words, there are significant differences between treating adults and children. The smaller body size and less mature internal organs of an infant or child are physiologically substantially different. These variances can present congenital deficiencies or defects and developmental issues very specific to young patients. A pediatrician’s interpretation of symptoms, diagnosis, and prescribing of medications and other treatments are all influenced by the age of the patient. The fact that the pediatrician’s patients often cannot independently advocate or make decisions adds another aspect to pediatric practice: that of communicating with parents and family; and considering the concerns of potentially many people, not only the patient. This part of the pediatrician’s work can be particularly demanding in the face of a painful procedure or poor prognosis. Continue reading Can a Pediatrician treat adults?Pediatric training is composed of four years of medical school and a minimum of three years of residency in pediatrics. The discipline is a very specialized one and its practitioners are specially qualified to treat babies, toddlers, children, and adolescents up to the age of eighteen, perhaps as old as twenty-one. Unless they are trained in both pediatrics and adult medicine, it is rare for pediatricians to step outside of their specialty to treat adults. Continue reading Does a Pediatrician require a specially trained Pediatric Nurse?While a pediatrician is a licensed physician who is specifically trained in pediatrics or children’s medicine, nurses receive a bachelor’s degree to become a registered nurse or RN. Only by doing most of their work and gaining extensive practical experience in the pediatric field do they become labeled as ‘pediatric’ nurses. This experience includes administering immunizations, keeping developmental records, and often being patients’ first point of contact before they see a pediatrician. As they gain experience in the field, pediatric nurses may choose to specialize in a particular sub-discipline, such as anesthetics, oncology, or neurology. Continue reading Where and in which specialties are Pediatricians most needed?In both the United States and Canada, and in fact worldwide, there is a shortage of pediatricians serving rural and less populated areas. Also in the U.S., while the total number of primary care doctors for children across urban areas is appropriate, there is an uneven distribution of these doctors throughout the fifty states. Continue reading How long does it take to become a Pediatrician?The training for a pediatrician takes approximately 11 years after completing high school, depending on the university and jurisdiction and the degree of specialization required, as they vary considerably across the world. Typically, after high school, students will need four years of undergraduate courses in a college or university, majoring in biology or another science-related major. The course major need not necessarily be science-related, so long as the pre-med course requirements such as calculus, organic chemistry, biochemistry, biology, chemistry and physics are completed. There is also a medical college admission test to pass along with a certain level of school grades to be attained in order to qualify and get accepted by a medical school. Four more years will be required working towards a Doctor of Medicine (M.D.) or Doctor of Osteopathy (D.O.) degree. However, a few schools offer combined undergraduate and medical school programs that last six rather than the customary eight years. The first two years of medical school mainly consist of classroom and laboratory learning, while the last two years involve first-hand clinical experience under the supervision and guidance of licensed professionals. After medical school, the next step would be to complete a one-year pediatric internship, which includes hands-on training and experience in baby care. After a successful internship, students are required to take a two-year residency program to obtain further knowledge and experience in the field. Once this phase is completed, they are now ready to take the general pediatrics certification program which is necessary for obtaining a license. After getting board certified, they can commence their work as a licensed pediatrician. Most pediatricians at this stage choose to continue their education in pediatric sub-specialties such as adolescent medicine, developmental disorders, gastroenterology, infectious disease, nephrology, oncology, cardiology, endocrinology, etc. Are Pediatricians happy?Working with children can be rewarding, challenging, exciting, and mentally stimulating. The clinical aspect is fascinating and one needs to be competent at dealing with severe life threatening emergencies as well as chronic lifelong conditions. It is a speciality that demands excellent interpersonal and communication skills. Pediatricians are teachers first and foremost. They teach kids how to live healthy lives and help parents learn the latest ways to get their kids to succeed and live well. Pediatricians get to be professional and serious when discussing things with parents, but can also flip into child-friendly play mode when examining and getting to know a child. It is important to have work-life balance as this career can be mentally and physically draining. Like any speciality in medicine, pediatrics has it's ups and downs, however for most pediatricians the ups definitely outweigh the downs. Should I become a Pediatrician?If you're interested in practicing medicine and you love being around kids, a pediatrician career may be the perfect choice for you. Ultimately, the best way to decide if a pediatrician career is right for you is to find a pediatrician who'll allow you to follow him or her around at their practice or as they do their hospital rounds to get a true idea of what a typical day is like. Here are some pros and cons to consider while you're mulling over the idea of becoming a pediatrician: PROS Helping Children Making a Comfortable Salary Flexibility Choices in the Field Job Prospects Advancement Opportunities CONS Length of Education & Costs Work Schedule Pressure of the Job Pediatricians are also known as: |