5/30/2017 CareerCruisingPediatrician

Pediatrician

AtaGlance

Pediatriciansaremedicaldoctorswhocareforyoungpeople,fromnewbornstoteenagers.

MichiganCareerPathways

HealthSciences

Earnings
EarningsRange:100K250K

LevelofEducation
4YearCollegeorUniversity

CoreTasks
Conductphysicalexamsandorderteststodiagnosediseasesandinjuries
Recommendtreatment,suchasmedication,surgery,orrehabilitation
Helppatientsthroughdifficulttimes,suchaspubertyorfamilyproblems
Oftencommunicatewithsocialworkers,familymembers,andotherhealthcareworkers

Attributes&Abilities
Compassionate
Patient
Aloveofchildren
Communicationskills
Willingtocontinuallyupgradeknowledgeandskills

Workplace
Workforhospitals,healthclinics,governmentagencies,andcolleges
Manyareselfemployed
Oftenwork45to60hoursaweek
Mayworkeveningsandweekends

JobDescription

Pediatriciansaredoctorswhospecializeinthecareofyoungpeople,frombirthtoadolescence.Theyare
involvedindiagnosingandtreatinginjuries,infections,anddiseasesforyoungpatients,aswellascounseling
themthroughdifficulttimesandsituations,suchaspubertyandfamilyproblems.

Likeotherdoctors,apediatriciansfirstresponsibilityistodiagnoseillnesses.Pediatriciansdothisby
combiningphysicalexamswiththeinformationinpatientsmedicalhistories,andbyorderingspecialtests,
suchasxraysandbloodtests.Becausetheydealwithchildrenandteenagers,pediatricianscommonly
encounterdiseasesandproblemssuchasasthma,leadpoisoning,allergies,acne,anddrugabuse.

Next,pediatriciansrecommendtreatmentprograms.Theseprogramscaninvolvemedication,surgery,
rehabilitation,oradviceaboutexerciseandnutrition.

Pediatriciansmaycommunicatewithsocialworkers,familymembers,andotherhealthcareprofessionals
(suchasnursesandspecialists)inordertocompletethediagnosisanddecideupontreatment.

Forexample,apediatricianmaynoticeseveralsignsinayoungpatientthatsuggestAttentionDeficitDisorder.
Thepatientmightbeirritableandunabletoconcentrate,andhisorherparentsmightbeconcernedabout

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schoolperformance.Inthissituation,thepediatricianmaydecidetosendthepatienttoapsychiatristfor
treatment.

Theroleofpediatriciansisbecomingincreasinglyimportantaspsychologicalandsocialconditionsworsenfor
manychildrenandadolescents.Thesedoctorsmaybethefirstandbestchanceforyoungpeoplefacedwith
familyviolence,homelessness,andsubstanceabuse.

Manypediatriciansworkwithinthecommunityaschildrensadvocates,educatingthepublicaboutissuessuch
ascarsafetyforinfantsorthebenefitsofschoolbreakfastprograms.

WorkingConditions

Pediatriciansworkforhospitals,healthclinics,andgovernmentagencies.Manyareselfemployed,opening
theirownprivatepracticeofficesorbecomingpartnerswithotherdoctorsinclinics.Somealsoworkincolleges
asprofessors.

Administrativeworkcantakeupalargepartofapediatriciansday.Theymayalsogetinvolvedinteachingand
research,orbecomeactiveinthecommunitytopromotechildrensinterests(forexample,through
organizationscombatingchildabuse).

Likeotherdoctors,pediatriciansoftenworkverylonghours,especiallyatthebeginningoftheircareers.Most
averagebetween9and12hoursaday,or45to60hoursaweek.

Theymayalsohaveveryirregularworkschedules,asitmightbenecessarytoworkeveningsandSaturdaysto
accommodatepatients.Itcanbedifficulttobalanceacareerasadoctorwithafamilylifeorpersonaltime.

Earnings

Earningsforpediatriciansvarydependingonanumberoffactors,includingtheirlocationandwhetherornot
theypracticeasubspecialty.Thosewhohavetraininginasubspecialty,suchaspediatriccardiology,usually
earnmorethanthosewhosetrainingisingeneralpediatrics.

Theirincomeisalsoaffectedbythenumberofhourstheyworkandthenumberofpatientsseen.Otherfactors
affectingincomeincludeexperienceandreputation.Ingeneral,earningsforpediatricianscanrangeanywhere
fromlessthan$100,000toupwardsof$250,000ayear.

Likeotherdoctors,pediatriciansbegintheircareersasresidents.Duringthisperiodtheirsalariestypically
rangefromabout$45,000to$55,000ayear,thoughsomeresidencyprogramspaymore.

Earningsincreaseaftertheresidencyperiod.AccordingtoarecentsurveyconductedbytheAmericanMedical
GroupAssociation(AMGA),themedianincomeforpediatriciansisaround$221,000ayear.

Salarieddoctorswhoworkforhospitalsandothermedicalorganizationsreceivebenefitsinadditiontotheir
salaries.Benefitsmayincludehealthandlifeinsurance,pensionplans,andpaidvacationandsickdays.
Doctorswhoworkforthemselvesmustsupplytheirownbenefits.

MichiganWages
Occupation:Pediatricians,General

LevelofExperience Hourly Annual

EntryWage $62.94 $130,910

MedianWage $84.69 $176,150

ExperiencedWage $N/A $N/A

Source:U.S.DepartmentofLabor,BureauofLaborStatisticshttp://www.bls.gov

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MichiganOutlook
Occupation:Pediatricians,General

Employment

2014 830

2024 860

Change

Number 30

Percentage 3.6

AnnualAverageOpenings

Total Growth Replacement

30

Source:ProjectionsCentralhttp://www.projectionscentral.com

Education

TobecomeapediatricianyouwillneedtoattendmedicalschoolandearnaDoctorofMedicinedegree(MD).
Applicantstomedicalschoolneedtocompletea4yearbachelorsdegree,includingseveralkeyscience
courses.Theadmissionprocessishighlycompetitive,sosomestudentsalsoearnamastersdegreebefore
applying.

MostmedicalschoolsalsorequireapplicantstowritetheMedicalCollegeAdmissionTest(MCAT).Applicants
scoresonthisstandardizedtestaretakenintoaccount,alongwiththeircollegegradesandlettersofreference.
Mostschoolsalsoconsiderthingslikeleadershipqualitiesandextracurricularactivities.Admissions
requirementsvaryfromschooltoschool,soitisagoodideatocontacttheschoolsyouareinterestedintofind
outtheirexactrequirements.

Medicalschooltakesabout4yearsandprovidesageneralmedicaleducation.Attheendoftheprogram,you
willbeanMD.Tobecomeapediatrician,youmustthencompletearesidency,whichisaperiodofpractical,
onthejobtrainingthattakesplaceinhospitalsorothermedicalsettings.Residenciesingeneralpediatrics
usuallylast3years.Ifyouwanttospecializeinaspecificarea,suchaspediatriccardiology,youwillneedto
completeadditionaltraining.

AttheendofyourresidencyyouareeligibleforcertificationthroughtheAmericanBoardofPediatrics(ABP).In
addition,youllneedtoobtainalicensefromthestatewhereyoullbeworking.

RelatedCollegePrograms
Medicine
PreMedicine/PreMedicalStudies
Biology/BiologicalSciences,General
Biochemistry
Chemistry,General

OtherSuggestedQualifications

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Ifyouareinterestedinthiscareer,itisagoodideatogetsomeexperienceworkingwithchildren.Experience
asacampcounselororbabysitterisvaluablebecauseitletsyouseeifworkingwithkidssuitsyou.Similarly,a
volunteerpositioninahospitalormedicalcliniccanhelpyoudetermineifyouwouldenjoyacareerinhealth
care.Compassion,patience,andaloveofchildrenareessentialforpediatricians.Itsalsoimportanttohave
excellentcommunicationskills.Evenaftersomanyyearsincollege,doctorsneverstoplearning.Therapid
changesoccurringinthemedicalfieldmeanpediatriciansareconstantlyupdatingtheirknowledgeandskills
byreadingmedicaljournalsandattendingcoursesandconferences.Businessandadministrationcoursesare
helpful,bothfordoctorswhoruntheirownpracticesandforthosewhotakepartinthemanagementof
departmentsinhospitals.

SuggestedHighSchoolSubjects

Grade9 Grade10

English
English
Mathematics
Mathematics
PhysicalSciences
PhysicalSciences
Biology
Biology
SocialStudiesGeography
SocialStudiesHistory
Health&PhysicalEducation
Computers
Computers

Grade11 Grade12

English English
Mathematics Algebra
Probability&Statistics Calculus
Biology Anatomy&Physiology
Chemistry Biology
Physics Chemistry
Economics Physics
Law&Government SocialStudies
Computers Computers

Important

Checkwithyouradvisortomakesurethatyourcourseselectionssatisfyyourgraduationrequirements.
Coursesavailablemayvaryfromschooltoschool.

SampleCareerPath

Peopletakedifferentpathwaysthroughtheircareers,butnoonestartsatthetop.Thisisanexampleofhowthe
earnings,educationandexperiencerequirements,andresponsibilitiesmightprogressforsomeoneinthis
occupation.

Level1

SampleTitle ResidentinPediatrics

Earnings $45,000to$55,000ayear

DoctorofMedicinedegree(MD)
Requirements
Acceptedintoaresidencyprogram

Diagnosingandtreatingpatientswithminorailmentsunderthesupervisionof
Responsibilities
licenseddoctors.

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Level2

SampleTitle Pediatrician

Earnings $100,000to$150,000ayear

Completionofresidency
Requirements PossiblycertifiedbytheAmericanBoardofPediatrics
Licensedbyyourstate

Diagnosingandtreatingpatientsprovidingeducationandcounselingtopatientsand
Responsibilities
theirparentsperformingadministrativeduties.

Level3

SampleTitle EstablishedPediatrician

Earnings $150,000to$250,000ayearormore

Manyyearsofexperience
Requirements Asolidreputation
Anestablishedgroupofpatients

Diagnosingandtreatingpatientsprovidingeducationandcounselingtopatientsand
Responsibilities theirparentsadvocatingchildrensissueswithinthecommunityperforming
administrativedutiespossiblyundertakingresearchactivities.

RelatedCareers

Herearesomeotheroccupationsthatyoumightbeinterestedin.Clickonanoccupationnametolearnmore.

AdoptionCounselor
Allergist
Cardiologist
ChildandYouthWorker
Dentist
Dermatologist
Doctor
Epidemiologist
FamilyPhysician
GeneticCounselor
Geneticist
Midwife
Naturopath
NursePractitioner
ObstetricianGynecologist
Ophthalmologist
Optometrist
OrthopedicSurgeon
OsteopathicPhysician
PhysicianAssistant
PlasticSurgeon
Psychiatrist
Psychologist

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SocialWorker
Surgeon

NationalEmploymentbyIndustry

Industry %Employed

HealthCareandSocialAssistance 77

SelfEmployed 12

Source:O*NetOnline,BrowsebyIndustry,USDepartmentofLabor
http://online.onetcenter.org/find/industry

OtherResources

AmericanAcademyofPediatrics(AAP)
ThisprofessionalassociationisthevoiceoftheAmericanpediatriccommunity.ScrolloverProfessional
ResourcesandclickonPediatricCareerstolearnmoreaboutthisfield.
http://www.aap.org

YourPediatrician.Com
Thiswebsiteaimstohelpprovideinformationtofuturepediatriciansandparents.Besuretoreadthrough
thearticlesundertheForFuturePediatricians!heading.
http://www.yourpediatrician.com

About.ComInterviewwithaPediatrician
Hereyoucanfindgreatinformationandcareeradvice.
http://www.pediatrics.about.com/cs/pediatriccareers/a/pedi_interview.htm

AmericanMedicalAssociation(AMA)
AMArepresentsphysiciansfromacrossthecountry.ScrolloverEducationandclickonBecomingA
Physiciantogetinformationaboutrequirements,specialties,andmore.
http://www.amaassn.org

StudentDoctorNetwork(SDN)
Thisnetworkofstudentsandhealthprofessionalsaimstohelphealthstudentssuccessfullypursuea
careerinthisindustry.IntheArticlessection,youcanfindlotsofhelpfulinformation.
http://www.studentdoctor.net

NationalPremedConsultingTheTopFiveQualitiesofSuccessfulDoctors
Findoutwhichqualitiesyouwillneedtobesuccessfulinthisfield.
http://www.nationalpremedconsulting.com/articles/thetopfivequalitiesofsuccessfuldoctors.php

HowStuffWorksHowBecomingaDoctorWorks
ThisindepthguidefromHowStuffWorksoffersgreatinformationaboutbecomingadoctor.
http://www.howstuffworks.com/becomingadoctor.htm

AssociationofAmericanMedicalCollegesMedicalCollegeAdmissionTest
TheofficialwebsiteoftheMCATexam,whichismandatorytoapplytomedicalschools.ClickonAboutThe
MCATExamtolearnmoreabouttheexaminationprocess.
http://www.aamc.org/students/applying/mcat

OccupationalOutlookHandbookPhysiciansandSurgeons
CareerinformationfromtheUSDepartmentofLabor.
http://www.bls.gov/ooh/healthcare/physiciansandsurgeons.htm

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