Harmony Shaw

Writing 0900
Essay 2
Becoming a Pediatrician
Most kids get coloring books and picture books as a 2 year old. On the other hand, I got
to read and look at my moms medical books while she was in college. I have always had an
interest in the medical field. I find the human body phenomenal, it can repair itself and how it
fights off infections and also attack itself. I always knew I was going to go into medicine. Thats
when I decided about a couple years ago I wanted to become a pediatrician because you mainly
work with kids, the kind of the salary they make annually, and the endless amount of education
and degree you can get.
Pediatricians diagnose, treat and help prevent childrens diseases and injuries.
Pediatricians treat fetal life all the way up to 21 years of age states the Journal of Pediatric Health
Care. The most common age for patients to stop seeing pediatricians are 16 years old, according
to Age Limit of Pediatrics article. After 18 is probably the best age to start going to see a
physician but if you have gone to the same pediatrician your whole life, you should stay with
them as long as you can because they know your background and history. Pediatricians can
work in physician offices, General and Surgical Hospitals, Outpatient Care Centers, Colleges,
Universities, Professional Schools, and finally, speciality offices. Depending where they work
depends on how much they make as well.
Pediatricians are doctors, for kids mainly, so of course they get paid like doctors do. The
National estimation wages for this career is $73.19 and the annual wage at $152,240.00. It also
does fluctuate depending where you work. For example, in a physicians office, you can annually
make $163.630. Vs. a College, University or Special School that makes an annual of
$111,500.00. Thats still quite a lot if you think about it, though. It takes 11 years to actually
become a pediatrician; it includes four years of college, four years of medical school, one year of
Pediatric internship, and one year of Pediatric residency. ...during your internship and residency
years, you are not really in school and getting paid for your work. Says Vincent Iannelli, M.D.
Iannelli also claims an alternative you can apply for an accelerated or medical school and get
down in seven to eight years rather than 11-12 years.
In Degrees to Become a Pediatrician by Skip Davis, he states that students get their
undergraduate and medical degrees. You must get a baccalaureate degree, and you can choose
from a Bachelor of Science (B.S) or Bachelor of Arts. (B.A). Preferred degree majors by medical
students are pre-medicine, biology, and biochemistry. Students must also complete 120 credit
hours of classes. For Pre-Med school you must complete and pass the Medical College
Admissions Test (MCAT). This test can be retaken as many times as possible until it is passed,
from there on students can proceed. The first two years of college 20-21 credit class hours must
attended each semester. The studies students can take are biochemistry and physics. The third
semester you must work 80 - 100 hours a week in all the medical practices including surgery and
pediatrics. You must also complete and pass the written and oral tests. Davis mentions in the
M.D. paragraph, that the fourth year you must complete the written National Board of Medicine
in order to receive your M.D. diploma.
In conclusion, I have learned that a pediatrician can diagnose a patient up to 21 years old,
that they make a great salary, and that it requires 11 years of going to school to become one.
Those 11 years of life are going to pass regardless so might as well spend it getting an education
and not only get a job but a career. Pediatricians can make an impact on someones life, like my
pediatrician has.