Medical Field Careers

Medical Field Careers

Gabriella C. Resnick
South Lyon High School
April 25th, 2016

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Abstract
This papers main focus is to compare two careers in order to find the one
that best suits me. I will compare neurosurgery and pediatric oncology as
two career options. As a high school senior, I will be heading to college in the
fall. There I will be taking steps towards earning a degree for my future
career. This paper will help me look at my top career options from various
standpoints including education, salary, and job requirements. Ultimately I
will be determining which is the best career for me. When researching these
careers I focused on aspects that I felt were important in determining which
career was the best fit for me. I looked at the pros and cons according to
those who already have this career. I also researched the similarities and
differences between the too. Specifically I looked at key skills, career
requirements, job description, and job duties. After researching pediatric
oncology and neurosurgery as career options I feel that pediatric oncology is
the best fit for me. The job requirements fit my interest in science as well as
my passion for children and helping people. My research has pointed my in
the right direction when it comes to the career path I plan to follow. I know
that becoming a pediatric oncologist is the right option for me and I look
forward to having a career in such a rewarding field.
Word Count: 237

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Medical Field Careers
As a high school senior, the next step in my life will be pursuing a
college degree. This degree is ultimately my key into the working world. It
will determine what career I will spend the rest of my life in. After taking a
wide variety of classes in high school I knew a career in the medical field
would be the best fit for me. It is a promising field with a lot of room for
growth.
Few industries over the past century have seen the kind of consistent
increase in demand and job opportunities that healthcare has seen. Unlike
many industries that are losing workers, the health care field is growing
rapidly. The U.S. Department of Labor expects the employment for all
physicians and surgeons will grow 18 percent over the 2012-2022 decade,
this is faster than any other occupation (Becoming a Pediatric Oncologist,
n.d., p. 3).
A career in health leads to many opportunities. The range of skills and
experiences is limited only to your imagination. Every region of the United
States has a strong demand for healthcare professionals in a wide range of
fields. As a trained health worker, you can choose where you want to live and
the setting you want to work in.
One of the careers in the medical field I have been considering is
Pediatric Oncology. According to Aarti Rao, MD, This is a stimulating field

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with a multitude of research opportunities and discoveries happening every
day (Becoming a Pediatric Oncologist, n.d., p. 1). Pediatric Oncologist are
physicians who specialize in pediatrics and received further training in
oncology and hematology. These doctors diagnose and treat children who
suffer from various types of cancer. Pediatric oncologist treat leukemia,
lymphoma, embryonal tumors and genetic blood disorders, such as sicklecell anemia and hemophilia.

In order to become a pediatric oncologist, you must first earn an

undergraduate degree. Coursework in biology, chemistry, and physics give
students a good foundation of knowledge for medical school. The next step is
passing the MCAT. This is a multiple-choice test that measures students on
problem solving, critical thinking, scientific knowledge, and principles
necessary to succeed in a medical career; thus requiring inculate studying.
Scores for the MCAT are reported in three key areas: verbal reasoning,
physical sciences, and biological sciences. After passing the MCAT students
must apply to medical school. Students must complete the American Medical
College Application Service (AMCAS). This application includes letters of
recommendation, background check information, test scores, and
undergraduate grades. Medical schools must be accredited by the
Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education. Programs typically
take four years to complete and students can expect to take courses in

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biological, behavioral, social, and clinical sciences to earn either an MD or
DO.
In order to obtain a Medical Licensure MD graduates must take the
USMLE while DO graduates take the COMLEX-USA. Completing a Pediatric
Residency Program is the next step. This is typically a 3-year residency that
involves rotations in cardiology, oncology, hematology, and ambulatory care.
The final year of residency training allows trainees to participate in learning
opportunities related to their specific interest. After residency you must
become a board certified in pediatrics. Qualifications include graduation from
medical school, completion of 3-year residency in pediatrics, possession of
state medical license, and passed certifying exams. Participation in a
Pediatric Oncology Fellowship is required in order to earn board certification
in pediatric hematology-oncology. The fellowship includes training in clinical
services, bone marrow transplantation research, and outpatient care.
Pediatric oncologist are usually employed by medical schools,
hospitals, or in a private practice doctors office. In the hospital setting duties
include examining patients, ordering diagnostic tests, making diagnoses, and
prescribing treatments. Other skills that are important in this career include
being an excellent communicator, detail-oriented, empathetic, patient, wellorganized, and having good general computer skills (L. Benjamin, Personal
Communication, April 20, 2016). Often Pediatric Oncologist head a treatment
team consisting of other physicians and healthcare workers. They may

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counsel patients and their families on how to deal with their illnesses
(Pediatric Oncologist, n.d.). While this career is rewarding, there is also the
possibility of an emotional toll, as many of these cancers are refractory.
Figure 1.

Distribution of Pediatric Hospitals Stays & Pediatric Cancer Stays.

This image compares the amount of Pediatric Cancer stays and
Pediatric Hospital stays. It shows that is not uncommon for children to be in
hospitals due to cancer. This is field that still needs doctors in order to help
these children.
Neurosurgery is another option I looked at when choosing my career.
Although they have some of the highest salaries of all medical professionals,
their job is physically and intellectually demanding. Neurosurgeons examine,
diagnose, and surgically treat disorders of the nervous system. They perform
surgery on the brain, spinal cord, and peripheral nerves. They may treat
wounds for vascular disorders and diseases including Parkinsons and

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Epilepsy. Neurosurgeons relieve hydrocephalus which is the abnormal
buildup of cerebrospinal fluid and focus on the correction of deformities and
treatment of diseases of the spinal cord including degenerative spine
disorders and scoliosis. In this field there are opportunities to sub-specialize
in areas such as pediatric neurosurgery and radiosurgery.
The education requirements are similar to that of a Pediatric
Oncologist. Students must complete four years of undergraduate school
along with four years of medical school. After completing medical school
students must take six to seven years of neurosurgical residency training.
The first year is commonly called Post Graduate Year One or the Internship
year. During this time residents undergo training in basic clinical skills in
areas such as trauma and clinical care; followed by three to six months of
training in clinical neurology (Shmoop Editorial Team, 2008).
Over the next six years, residents complete a total of at least 42
months training in core clinical neurosurgery. Residents often spend a year
doing research to fulfill program requirements. In their last year, residents
typically take on senior or chief resident responsibility. To become a boardlicensed neurosurgeon, qualified graduates of accredited neurosurgery
programs must complete written and oral exams administered by the ABNS
and submit practice data for review (Brain Surgeon, n.d.).
When you are a brain surgeon your movements during surgery are
expected to be precise and mechanical. While performing surgery you are

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always within a hairs breath of killing someone (Brain Surgeon, n.d.). There
are impossibly high stakes and pressure involved. In 2015 the median salary
was $540,029, but the risks involved lead to relatively medical malpractice
insurance cost (Shmoop Editorial Team, 2008, para. 3). Brain surgeons are
paid by insurance companies, but often run into problems. Insurance
companies may delay or deny payments for legitimate claims and they
amount varies based on the insurance company.
Duties of a brain surgeon include performing procedures, overseeing
and coordinating the efforts of large teams of surgeons and nurses in the
operating theater, interpreting results of diagnostics tests such as MRI, CT
scans, and PET scans to diagnose patients. While working in this field you will
be working with other specialist such as neuroradiologist, neurologist,
ophthalmologist, orthopedic surgeons, electrophysiologist, and rehabilitation
physicians.
During a typical year a brain surgeon will perform 40 to 50 surgeries
and 160 to 180 spine surgeries. Its not unusual to perform 15 brain
surgeries in a week while working 60 plus hours in a 7 day span (Shmoop
Editorial Team, 2008, para. 9). Surgeons working in a hospital go from
operating room to operating during the day. There are a lot of stresses that
come along with being a brain surgeon. For instance, you only get four weeks
off a year, while working over 60 hours a week. This is a very specialized
field of medicine that requires long hours at the hospital, events in the

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operating room, publishing academic papers, dealing with insurance
companies, handling lawsuits, maintaining a life outside the office, and
staying relevant in the world of neurosurgery (Brain Surgeon, n.d.). But as I
see it the glories of this job outweigh the stresses. You are constantly given
the opportunity to save lives, and watch those whom you have saved grow.
Before during further research I was ambivalent when it came to what
career I would ultimately choose. Although both of these careers are very
rewarding, I feel that Pediatric Oncology is the right fit for me. I want to give
some of these despondent children hope again. The little warriors who are
fighting cancer have become my zeal, even today as I continually volunteer
and fundraise for Motts Childrens Hospital.

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References
Become a Pediatric Oncologist: Education and Career Roadmap. (n.d.).
Retrieved March 30,
2016
Brain Surgeon: Job Description, Salary, Duties and Requirements. (n.d.).
Retrieved March 30,
2016
Interview with a Neurosurgeon. (n.d.). Retrieved March 30, 2016
Pediatric Oncologist: Job Description, Duties, and Outlook. (n.d.). Retrieved
March 30, 2016
Pediatric Hospital Stays [Digital image]. (2007, September). Retrieved April
22, 2016, from
http://www.hcup-us.ahrq.gov/reports/statbriefs/sb37fig2.gif
Rao, A., MD. (2009, March 11). A Day In the Life of a Pediatric Oncologist.
Retrieved March 30,
2016
Shmoop Editorial Team. (2008). Brain Surgeon: Typical Day. Retrieved March
30, 2016