“With self-discipline most anything is possible.” Theodore Roosevelt
The main reason I write this publication is to motivate young people to be everything they were created to be. I want them to see all the opportunities and possibilities waiting for them to grab onto. I also want them to realize that regardless who they are, what background they have or what their present situation is like — there are no limitations on them to achieve their goal except the limitations they place on themselves. The world may try to impose certain limitations but that can’t happen unless a person allows it to.
My word today for young people is that “If You Can Dream It – You Can Achieve It!” Therefore, reach for the stars and show the world the talent and skills God has equipped you with.
For parents, you also have a role in this equation, as well, as it is your job to encourage your children and help them see the value of an education. Provide them with every opportunity possible for their development and growth. As they go through their elementary, middle school and high school years help them to see that what those experiences are providing to them is a foundation that will be essential in preparing them for the contributors and leaders they will become in the future.
Parents, please don’t encourage bad behavior in school. Support your child’s teacher by sending them to school with an attitude for learning. God has provided every child with skills and talents that can be developed over their formative years and used for the betterment of society. Help your child to develop their God-given talent.
With that said , I want to continue my series, in this publication, of profiling careers student may want to consider as they think about what they want to be in the future. So for this issue we are going to focus on the career of Medical Doctor/Physician. It is a career that is in the STEM category and also one that is projected, by the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), to have a high demand for future qualified workers.
I am going to go out on a limb and say that if you ask most young people what their career aspiration are, many would probably not say that they aspire to be a medical doctor/physician. You have to wonder WHY. Is it because most see this career option as being out of reach for them and not an attainable goal.
With the aging population in the United Sates there will be more demand placed on the health care system which will result in a need for individuals trained as medical doctors/physician. Hopefully, the information we include here will encourage more young people to see this career as a possibility for them.
So What Does It Means To Be A Medical Doctor?
A medical doctor, which is also referred to as a physician, medical practitioner, or simply a doctor is a professional who has been trained and is engaged in helping people to maintain their health by treating them for injuries and diseases. Using scientific processes, a medical doctor is also involved in the diagnosis of diseases and the development of treatment.
With such enormous responsibility for an individual’s health, the profession of a medical doctor is held in high esteem by the general public and is considered a prestigious occupation. In addition to the high respect doctors are given by the general public, they are also some of the highest paid professionals around.
How Do I Train To Become A Medical Doctor?
It takes approximately 11-14 years for one to become a medical doctor in the United States. This time would include 4 years of undergraduate school for your bachelor’s degree, 4 years of medical school, and 3 to 7 years of medical residency training (length of the residency will depend on the specialty of medicine a person is pursuing). For most individuals , the undergraduate degree study will most likely lay the foundation for entering medical school as your concentration of study will be centered around biology, chemistry, physics, human anatomy, etc. However, please note: students do not need a concentration in premed during under-graduate school to apply for admission to medical school. Their undergraduate degree can be in any subject, but just be mindful of the fact that a student will need a foundation in regards to science subjects (i.e. Biology, Chemistry, etc) upon entering medical school.
Once in medical school, the first two years will concentrate mainly on book study and laboratory work equipping you with the skills you need to diagnose various illnesses and develop treatment plans. During the last two years of medical school, students will combine classroom study with clinical experience in which they will work under the supervision of a licensed physician in a clinic or hospital. Following the 4 years of medical school, an individual enters their residency program where their entire focus will be that of working exclusively with patients in a medical environment (i.e. hospital) under the supervision of a licensed physician.
While doing their residency, an individual will also be paid for their services as they will be working as a doctor without being fully licensed.
While in medical school, during their residency and upon completion of the residency training , an individual will have to pass certain licensing exams as every state requires that a person be licensed in order to practice medicine.
What Can I do In Middle and High School To Prepare for Medical Study?
While in middle and high school, students should began to take advantage of as many science and math courses as possible. This would include regular and advance placement classes.
In addition, do well in all your classes.
How Much Does It Cost To Train As A Doctor?
I do not want to mislead anyone, so I do want to make students aware that the cost associated with becoming a medical doctor can be significant. As mentioned above, after completion of your 4-years of undergraduate study, students will then be required to complete another 4 years of medical school and that cost can be over $100,000. Tuition for medical school vary by state but in-state tuition can range from approximately 15,000/year up to over $55,000/year. Schools in Texas, tend to carry the lowest in-state tuition rates for their medical schools.
Make no mistake about it, to become a medical doctor will require hard work and years of study that will continue even after you become a licensed doctor.
Students should still remember that financial aid and scholarships are available options to help them pay for cost associated with medical school and, therefore, should not let the cost deter them from achieving their goal of becoming a medical doctor is that is what they desire.
So What Can I Do As A Medical Doctor?
Most of us think about doctors in regard to the Primary Care Physician (family doctor) we may visit for our annual check-up or when we are ill with the flu or some other ailment. This type of doctor is generally referred to as a general practitioner as they are able to treat patients for different illnesses. However, training as a medical doctor gives an individual the opportunity to specialize in a number of treatment areas. Following are just some of the specialties one can practice in as a medical doctor. Depending on the specialty of medicine a student decide to concentrate in will affect the length of their residency training as well.
Specialties
Allergist: A doctor who works with patients suffering from conditions such as hay fever, asthma, and related diseases.
Anaesthesiologist: A doctor who deals with pain management by working with patients before and during surgery. These doctors are trained to administer anaesthesia to patients during surgery.
Andrologist: These are doctors who handle urological, sexual, and reproductive problems in male patients.
Cardiologist: A doctor who work with patients on issues dealing with the heart and blood vessels.
Dermatologist: A doctor that is concerned with problem related to a patient’s skin, hair, nails, etc.
Emergency Doctor: These are doctors who work in the emergency room of a hospital and handle immediate trauma and emergency health conditions.
Endocrinologist: Doctors that work with diseases related to the endocrine system, which is responsible for regulating the body’s hormone levels.
Epidemiologist: These doctors are involved with the study of new diseases that crop up which may affect large population of people. They study the effect of those diseases and also work in developing cures and method of prevention.
Family Practitioner: These are the family doctors or general practice doctors that treat illnesses of all type and usually handle non-emergency medical conditions in patients of all ages.
Gynecologist: Doctors who are usually referred to as OB/GYN and works with female patients on matters related to the reproductive system (pregnancy, childbirth, etc.)
Hepatologist: Doctors who diagnose and treat diseases related to the liver, gall bladder, biliary tree, and pancreas.
Internist: Doctors who are trained to manage and treat chronic adult diseases usually through non-surgical methods.
Neonatologist: Doctors who work with premature and critically ill newborns.
Neurologist: Doctors who specialize in the treatment of conditions that affect the nervous system, which can include the brain and spinal cord.
Oncologist: Doctors who specialize in the diagnoses and treatment of cancer patients.
Ophthalmologist: These are medical doctors who specialize in treating various conditions with the eye. They are also trained to perform eye surgery.
Orthopedic Surgeon: A doctor who specialize in the diagnosis and treatment of diseases related to the musculoskeletal system ( bones, muscles, ligament, tendons, joints and nerves).
Pediatrician: These doctors are involved in the management of health and treatment of illnesses in patients from infants up through adolescent.
Plastic Surgeon: Medical doctors who specialize in improving a person’s appearance either through cosmetic surgery that will enhance the outward appearance or through reconstructive surgery that helps to correct a dysfunctional area of the body.
Psychiatrist: Medical doctors who work with patients on issue related to their mental health. They are involved with the diagnoses, study and treatment of mental disorders.
Pulmonologist: Medical doctors who specialize in illnesses related to the respiratory tract (lungs).
Radiologist: Medical doctors who are trained to diagnose and treat various disease and injuries through the use of imaging procedures such as x-rays, ultrasound, MRI, CT Scans, etc.
Surgeon: Medical doctors who are trained in the procedure of cutting on a person’s body for the purpose of removing diseased tissues and organs, repairing body systems, or performing transplants.
Urologist: Medical doctors who specialize in the treatment of illnesses related to the female and male urinary tract system. They also treat conditions related to the male reproductive system.
The above list in no way outlines all the specialties available in the profession of a medical doctor. It is only meant to give students an idea of some of the specialties they can choose from if they decide to pursue this career path.
What Is the Salary of A Medical Doctor?
Following I want to just give an idea of the 2015 median salary, as reported by the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), of some of the specialties within the medical doctor profession:
- Anesthesiologist — $453,687
- General Surgeon — $409,665
- OB/GYN — $330,696
- Psychiatrist — $225,543
- Internist — $247,319
- Pediatrician — $231,637
- Family Practitioner — $230,456
***Please Note**** An individual will receive a yearly salary while doing their residency, which will be somewhere in the range of approximately $50,000.
Being a Medical Doctor is not for everyone. Your motivation for it should not be just for the prestige or money but you need to have a genuine desire to be of service to other. You will have the responsibility of other people’s health and lives in your hand and it is a responsibility that be reserved only those who are willing to take it seriously. My goal is to let young people know that if this is a goal for you then please do not let your circumstances hold you back. It does not matter whether your parents are currently doctor, or you come from a rich family. It also does not matter whether you are the first in your family to attend college…. if you desire it and work for it then you can have it. It takes hard work, perseverance, and dedication. Go For It and Let Nothing Hold You Back!
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