A career in pediatrics from any of the medical schools for pediatrics is a good option to consider if you enjoy spending time with young patients.
Pediatrics plays an important role in society and are compensated with a sizeable quantity of money.
If you go into pediatrics as a career, you’ll have many satisfying perks. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) of the United States of America, pediatricians earned an average yearly salary of $184,410 in 2019.
The fact that this average wage is twice as high as the national average for Americans is the salient feature.
I have compiled a list of the top schools that provide the most reputable pediatrics degree programs in this article.
Therefore, if you choose to become a pediatrician, you will have the opportunity to enjoy a terrific job that is also laid back. Without any further ado, let us get into it!
What is Pediatrics?
Pediatrics is the area of medicine that deals with the health and medical care of children and adolescents, from birth to the age of eighteen.
Pediatric care involves a wide range of health services, from preventative health care to the diagnosis and treatment of acute and chronic disorders.
Children under the age of 21 are considered pediatric patients under the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (FD&C Act).
The subpopulations of children are further grouped as follows: Neonatal are infants who are during the first 28 days of life. Infants, from 29 days old to under 2 years old.
More so, because pediatricians are particularly interested in children, learning to sing lullabies is an excellent first step in pursuing a career in pediatrics. With patients, singing could be a part of your daily routine.
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Duties of Pediatricians:
Taking care of people:
Every day, you’ll be working with patients to help them return to their pre-injury health. However, their health issues don’t have to be complicated.
Fever treatments are sometimes all that’s required, but it could also be the result of measles or chickenpox.
As a medical assistant, you’ll be in charge of documenting patient complaints, prescribing medical tests, analyzing the results, and making treatment recommendations for your patients.
Patient and parent communication:
You, your patients, and their parents must always be in touch; this is because babies may not always communicate verbally.
You must grasp their nonverbal cues and know when to touch, play with, and feed them. Moreover, spending time with patients will help you understand how they react.
You must keep their parents informed about their treatment plans, test results, and health statuses. As a pediatrician, you must also answer parents’ health queries and keep them calm in emergencies.
Taking Care of Chronic Illness:
Helping your patients recover from diseases like diabetes is what you will do as a pediatrician.
There is no need to directly treat them, but you may have to monitor them to make sure they are taking their medication as prescribed until they are completely cured.
Additionally, you will be in charge of keeping your patients up to date on any changes to their health status as you help them get well again.
A pediatrician also recommends specialists when the need arises.
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Instructing people on how to stay healthy:
Pediatricians have a greater responsibility than just providing medical care. Additionally, you must provide health advice, such as diet plans, healthy habits, and nutrition.
In addition, your patients will look to you for guidance on a variety of health-related activities, such as immunizations, sports, nutrition, and so on.
Career as a Pediatrician in the United States:
Do you have an interest in pursuing a career in research or pediatric medicine?
The medical schools with the highest rankings for this subspecialty may also be affiliated with the best teaching hospitals for children.
In addition to this, you should look for teaching hospitals in your area that draw in highly trained allied health workers and provide excellent chances for research and residency programs.
The National Institutes of Health has designated 22 different child health research center programs across the country.
How to become a Pediatrician:
To become a pediatrician, you’ll need to put in a lot of time in the books and in the classroom. As a medical doctor, you should aim to become licensed and obtain a certification in pediatrics.
You must first complete an undergraduate degree in medical science, complete four years of from any of the medical schools for pediatrics, and then begin your residency or internship program.
During your first three academic years, you will gain a solid foundation in the medical sciences and be better prepared for your future career as a doctor.
However, you may be required to take one or more of the following courses: Biology, Chemistry, or Math as a second major. The only way to become a licensed physician is to enroll in a doctoral program at an accredited medical university.
A further three to four years of study are typically required to complete your degree at this point with enrollment in an internship program at a healthcare facility.
If you want to practice your skills in a real-world setting under the guidance of medical professionals, this is where you can do it.
The next step in your professional development is becoming a licensed medical practitioner.
To be eligible for this, you must take the licensing exam organized by your country of origin or the country in which you completed your education.
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Do you need a Professional Certificate for Pediatrics in the United States?
There are a lot of certifications that you can add to your cv. The truth is that certification validates your expertise in the field and increases your chances of landing the job of your dreams quickly.
This certification is widely accepted in the United States, and it is called the American Board of Pediatrics (ABP).
The most popular certification programs tend to be located in specific countries. A pediatrician’s certificate should only be issued by an institution widely accepted in the country where he or she plans to practice.
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Is becoming a pediatrician hard?
It takes a lot of time, effort, and money to become a pediatrician.
It’s not for everyone, but for those who are cut out for it, it can be a rewarding and lucrative career after enroling at the medical schools for pediatrics.
Pediatricians are dedicated to the well-being of children and adolescents on all levels: physical, mental, developmental, and social.
Outpatient clinics employ the majority of pediatricians, but some choose to specialize in a particular area of pediatrics and work in a ward or children’s hospital of a larger institution (such as the neonatal intensive care unit).
Pediatricians must complete an additional three years of training after their initial certification before they can become ABP-specialty certified.
Doctors, as opposed to mathematicians, must dedicate six years to their training, which includes a three-year residency as well as a three-year specialty training period.
Specialization is based on the type of work environment you desire and the expertise you possess. A hospital’s emergency room is vastly different from a rehabilitation center’s, and vice versa is also true.
If becoming a doctor isn’t for you, consider becoming a pediatric nurse. With the same benefits, the career path is less time-consuming.
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Job Outlook for Pediatricians in the United States:
When it comes to pediatricians, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts a 10% growth rate for employment.
As evidenced by this study, pediatricians are finding work at a faster rate than professionals in many other fields.
For pediatric specialists who passed through any of the medical schools for pediatrics, your work schedule will be flexible, you will be able to set your own appointment times, and you will be able to work in shifts.
Work-life balance is possible for the majority of Pediatricians.
How much is a Pediatrician’s Salary?
A Pediatrician’s annual salary in the United States begins at $98,474. Many experienced pediatricians, on the other hand, make up to $200,330 per year.
In Canada, the minimum salary for a Pediatrician is $61,776. Despite this, experts in the field can expect to make $350,000 a year. Pediatricians make an average annual salary of $234,100.
The average yearly salary for an entry-level pediatrician in the United Kingdom is around £80,000. However, as they mature and gain more experience, their salary rises to £160,000.
Pediatricians in the United Kingdom typically make around £105,000 per year.
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Top Medical Schools for Pediatrics in the United States:
1. The University of Cincinnati:
Ohio is home to the University of Cincinnati, a fantastic option that comes highly recommended.
This university is home to some of the most prestigious pediatric research facilities and other medical research centers.
This world-class institution is the one you should attend if you want to make a name for yourself in medical research. It is one of the best medical schools for pediatrics.
When it comes to the university’s campus, it has a first-rate gender distribution, exceptional diversity, and campus life that is a lot of fun to be a part of.
Your residency training could include rotations in outpatient care, care for newborns, inpatient care, intensive care, and acute care.
2. Stanford University:
The world-renowned Stanford University, a member of the prestigious Ivy League, is home to an outstanding academic program for its students. The school is one of the best medical schools for pediatrics.
The Department of Pediatrics residency program at Stanford Medicine thrives because it is in an area with many different kinds of people.
When it comes to conducting research in medicine, Stanford University offers the most advanced facilities.
Students looking to advance their education can enroll in master’s degree programs in various fields, including epidemiology and biomedical informatics, amongst others.
In addition, the atmosphere on campus is wonderful, which makes for a joyful college experience.
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3. Washington University:
An outstanding pediatrics department may be found at Washington University, which is regarded as one of the best universities in the country.
Also, this university’s medical school is ranked one of the best medical schools for pediatrics.
It is possible to pursue a specialty in pediatrics in conjunction with either psychiatric or general medicine or as a stand-alone option.
The University of Washington’s fellowship program includes more than 20 pediatric specialties considered to be the best in their field.Â
4. Baylor College of Medicine:
The academic medical institution provides conventional pediatric residency programs in addition to more than a dozen specialized residency and fellowship opportunities for pediatricians, such as pediatric endocrinology, pediatric nephrology, and pediatric sports medicine.
This presents the best opportunity to consider your alternatives if you have other plans in mind.
A few programs are offered at the Children’s Hospital in San Antonio, but most of them are only available at Baylor University’s main campus in Houston.
5. University of Colorado:
Denver, Colorado, is home to the prestigious University of Colorado. The School of Medicine is located on the Anschutz Medical Campus and serves as one of the best medical schools for pediatrics.
The Department of Pediatrics within the School of Medicine provides prospective physician assistants interested in pursuing a career with additional training in pediatrics through its rural, global, urban, or LEADS (lifespan) tracks.
It gained notoriety for being the location of the very first liver transplant on a child, which took place on the university’s medical campus.
You will get the opportunity to complete internships in prestigious medical and healthcare facilities.
In addition, medical students interested in pediatrics have the option of participating in either a clerkship or a sub-internship.
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6. University of North Carolina:
The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill is an excellent choice for those interested in pediatrician training programs.
If you decide to attend this particular university, they will provide you with a wide variety of opportunities to investigate under this general heading.
The Department of Pediatrics at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill is home to 11 different specialized divisions.
Students will have access to pediatric clerkships and residency programs that are accredited for pediatric specialties when they go through the Department of Pediatrics.
They offer great internships for people who want to learn about pediatrics.
7. Duke University:
The fact that Duke University is affiliated with several different medical hospitals is, without a doubt, the most significant benefit of completing your pediatrician training there.
The Duke School of Medicine is affiliated with the Duke Children’s Hospital and Health Center, which is recognized as one of the best hospitals for children in the United States.
This affiliation provides medical students with convenient access to clinical training in pediatrics.
Students have various options, both as part of their required coursework and extracurricular activities, to gain experience working in pediatrics.
Every student is expected to complete a clerkship in pediatrics that lasts for six weeks.
As one of the best medical schools for pediatrics, you can also find a wonderful community at Duke through an organization known as the Pediatric Interest Group, organized by students and supported by the university.
8. The University of Pennsylvania Perelman School:
The pediatrician and pediatrics programs at the University of Pennsylvania’s Perelman School are among the best in the country.
This program offers a whopping 288 active faculty members to learn from due to its partnership with the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia.
The Pediatrics Department at the University of Pennsylvania is expanding rapidly, and there are several chances to work in the profession all around the New York and Pennsylvania tri-state area.
They have great research programs and many fellowships for each student.Â
9. University of California, San Francisco, School of Medicine:
The Department of Pediatrics in the School of Medicine at UC San Francisco is the most prestigious on the west coast. The school is one of the best medical schools for pediatrics.
If you decide to go to this university, you will have a lot of opportunities to work in some of the best hospitals in the University of California system.
Because there are so many different chances for fellowships, UC San Francisco could be an excellent alternative for those interested in specializing in pediatrics.
From nephrology and cardiology to medical genetics and everything in between, there are a lot of specialties.Â
10. Medical School at Harvard University:
You will have a fantastic opportunity to explore the medical field thanks to the amazing facilities at Harvard University Medical School.
The access that Harvard has to some of the finest hospitals in the world is one of the many advantages that the university possesses in pediatrics.
The only reason it is lower on the list is that the program is insanely expensive.
Harvard Medical School students are lucky because they work with Brigham and Women’s Hospital, often thought of as the best children’s hospital in the United States.
Hidden benefits of being a pediatrician:
It’s possible to land a job as a pediatrician after completing nearly ten years of schooling (any of the best medical schools for pediatrics), a three-year residency, and the necessary certifications and licenses.
There is a 0.5 percent unemployment rate. The world keeps producing more children, and most of them (sadly, not all of them) are referred to doctors.
As new pediatricians begin their careers, they work with more experienced colleagues to improve their knowledge and skills.
For some, the desire to run their own business comes after a few years of experience in the field.
Being your own boss and being able to achieve a better work-life balance are two excellent reasons to go this route. Still, others decide to specialize or move from a medical clinic to a medical facility of some sort.
If you’re a pediatrician, you may be eligible for a position as a hospital chief or medical advisor.
They are in charge of making sure hospitals and other medical facilities are run efficiently and effectively for the benefit of their patients.
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Frequently Asked Questions on Medical Schools for Pediatrics:
University of Pennsylvania (Perelman)
Harvard University.
The University of Cincinnati.
Johns Hopkins University.
University of California–San Francisco
40% of pediatricians have a degree in medicine as their primary field of study. The study of nursing or biology is another common undergraduate major for aspiring pediatricians.
Pediatrician Degree
It is their specialty to diagnose and treat birth defects as well as prenatal abnormalities that may require surgery. Newborn surgery, cancer surgery, and trauma surgery are all common reasons for children to see a pediatric surgeon.
Between 11 and 15 years is the typical length of time it takes to become a pediatrician. A bachelor’s degree takes an average of four years, followed by four years of medical school, three to seven years of residency, and possibly a fellowship.
Conclusion:
The path to becoming a physician is a long and difficult one littered with many challenges along the way. Patience and hard work are key factors in getting you through any of the medical schools for pediatrics.
Awesome one; I hope this article answered your question.
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