What is a pediatrician?
A pediatrician is a medical doctor who manages the physical, behavioral, and mental health of children from birth to the age of 21. Pediatricians are trained to diagnose and treat a broad range of childhood illnesses from minor health problems to serious diseases. They specialize in children and their diseases. There are 17 different specialties to being a pediatrician. They are; Adolescent and Young Adult Medicine, Allergy Immunology and BMT, Cardiology, Craniofacial Anomalies, Critical Care, Developmental Medicine, Emergency Medicine, Endocrinology, Gasteroenterology, Hepatology, Nutrition, General Pediatrics, Hematology/Oncology, Hospital Medicine, Infectious diseases and Global Health, Medical Genetics, Neonatology, Nephrology, Neurology, Pulmonary Medicine, Rehabilitaion, or Rheumatology.
what jobs do pediatricians do?
They handle the more ordinary daily routine of vaccinations, coughs, sore throats, and even the removal of a marble from a 4-year old boy's nose. When pediatricians are working in a room with a certain child and parent or guardian, they will have to go through a checklist that guides them thorugh what to ask the child. They have to do physical exams, give the child recommended immunizations, make sure the child is meeting developmental milestones in growth, behavior, and skills, diagnose and treat the child's illnesses, infections, injuries, and other health problems, give the parent or guardian information about the child's safety, nutrition, and fitness needs, answer questions about the child's growth and development, and refer to and collabrorate with specialists should the child need care beyond the pediatrician's expertise.
What education do pediatricians need?
After high school, you will need 4 years of undergrad courses at a college or university (which will get you a bachelor's degree). After completing college, you will need to attend 4 years of medical school (which will get you an MD or DO degree). After this you are a "general" doctor. Then, normally pediatricians go on to a specialty, which is where you have a training residency of 3 years. 4 years college + 4 years of medical school + 3 years of residency = 11 years (after high school).