What is Pediatric Medicine?
Medical professionals who practice pediatrics are known as pediatricians, and they help to take care of the emotional, physical, and behavioral health of primarily children or young adults. There are various types of divisions of pediatrician professions such as critical care pediatricians or pediatric oncologists that specialize in managing different types of cancer.
What exactly do Pediatricians do?
Pediatricians perform a wide range of services or screenings that include but are not limited to physical examination, vaccinations, evaluation of development, prescribing medications, and giving advice to patients. Many of the treatments and procedures that a pediatrician might carry out will require additional education and experience in order to properly diagnose/treat complex conditions.
How does one become a Pediatrician?
Similarly to other medical professions, college and medical school education (8 years) is required to become a pediatrician. Additionally, however, students have to complete a 3-year pediatric residency program after medical school and likely enter fellowship programs to receive more training before going into a specific practice. A state license is also required, and a board certification will help a pediatrician to continue professional development and education.
For further information about pediatric medicine, take a look at Thina Nguyen’s wonderful presentation on pediatric medicine: Pediatric Medicine - Thina Nguyen - Google Slides
Reference:
Eske, Jamie. “What Is a Pediatrician? Everything You Need to Know.” Edited by Karen Gill, Medical News Today, MediLexicon International, 3 Feb. 2020, www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/what-is-a-pediatrician#types.