A Career Choice: Benefits and Drawbacks of the General Pediatrician Profession

Ever since I was a little girl I knew that I wanted to be a Pediatrician. I loved going to my Pediatrician, and I always knew that my career one day would be similar to hers because of my passion for caring for children. In grade school, I always ended up being the classroom assistant fetching the Band-Aids for my fellow classmates when they managed to get a papercut. As a camp counselor, I was the runner that was called to grab ice packs or bring the first aid kit. The same day I taught my first daycare class of four year olds was also my first experience treating a minor scrape on a little boys head. Along with my experiences caring for children, shadowing, working at a hospital (as a transporter), and studying biology for my undergraduate degree; I feel that I have been called into the field of healthcare to not only care for children but to also educate parents and children on the benefits of healthy lifestyles. Being a pediatrician is way more complicated than putting a Band-Aids on cuts and treating minor injuries, but after considering my dedication to learning biology and my passion for helping others, I decided to look deeper into the career of Pediatricians.

General Pediatrics are "physicians that diagnose, treat, and help prevent children’s diseases and injuries" (Bureau of Labor Statistics). Pediatricians will work with "patients whose ages range from birth to 21 years old," and Pediatricians provide explanations of patients "behavioral issues to their parents" and explain to parents pertinent information about "the next phase of their child’s growth" (What is the Employment outlook for Pediatricians?). Pediatricians are also responsible for "attending to minor injuries, ordering immunizations, and treating common childhood infectious diseases" (What is the Employment outlook for Pediatricians?).

Specialty and location are main factors that cause a Pediatrician’s salary to vary, yet the national median annual wages is "$168,990" (Bureau of Labor Statistics). Depending on the industry a pediatrician is working in, the salary varies, for example pediatricians in the industry of Individual and Family Services have an average median annual wage of $127,560 and Specialty Pediatricians have an annual mean wage of $229,180 (Bureau of Labor Statistics). For general pediatricians in Louisiana the annual mean wage for Pediatricians ranges between $187,790-$208,980 (Bureau of Labor and Statistics). Pediatric medicine is not a new career as "throughout history, dating back to ancient Greek times, doctors have provided medical care to people of all ages" (Smith). Numerous technology advancements and changes in the subspecialties of Pediatric Medicine has altered the overall care of patients.

Patients of all ages have been treated by traditional medical doctors in early medicine and "the first pediatric hospital in the Western world is generally accept to be the Hôpital des Enfants Malades," and opened in Paris in 1802 for "patients only up to the age of 15 years" (Smith). Also, "Dr. Abraham Jacobi is considered to be the father of pediatrics in America" as he traveled to New York in 1853 and formed pediatric healthcare societies and developed children’s departments in New York hospitals (Smith). In the 1930’s, the "American Pediatric Society and American Academy of Pediatrics" was created, and even today Pediatricians are "certified and regulated by" these societies (Smith). Also, specialization in pediatric practice and numerous advancements in technology have advanced the quality of patient care. Improvements include diagnostic and therapeutic technologies, improved electronic medical records, information-sharing platforms to improve transitions within and between hospital systems and telemedicine also will contribute to the practice of pediatrics in hospitals" (Quinonez).

Ricardo A. Quinonez, M.D., FAAP addresses in his article the importance of advancing technology and the possibility of a new career specialty, Pediatric Hospital Medicine, which allows the providers to dedicate their careers to the "patient experience and outcomes of hospitalized children" (Quinonez). Along with the progress in the practice of pediatric medicine, the job market "outlook for physicians and surgeons in general is expected to be good from 2012-2022" (What is the Employment outlook for Pediatricians?). "Employment is projected to increase by 10% between 2014 and 2024 due to expanding healthcare needs" and "expects good job opportunities in rural areas since it is more difficult to find physicians to work in these places" (What is the Employment outlook for Pediatricians?). The advancements of technology has enhanced the way Pediatric Medicine is practiced, and physicians in general have an improving predicted job outlook; however, the process to becoming a Pediatrician requires many hours of study and clinical experience prior to practicing alone.

The education requirements for medical doctors include first completing a Bachelor’s degree prior to applying for medical school, then a four year medical degree, and then a three year residency (possibly fellowship following residency to subspecialty). Some undergraduate degrees prior to entering medical schools that are looked highly upon are health sciences, health studies, and biological sciences (MCAT testing is also required to apply to medical schools in the United States). The first two years of medical school in the United States involves "basic and clinical science courses," and the third and fourth year include "clinical clerkship/rotations" and residency (Vioreanu). There are three medical schools in Louisiana: Tulane University School of Medicine, Louisiana State University School of Medicine in New Orleans, and Louisiana State University School of Medicine in Shreveport. The top ranking schools for Medical degrees in the United States "include: Harvard University, Stanford University, Johns Hopkins University, University of California, University of Pennsylvania" (Vioreanu). Along with the education to prepare someone who is entering this field, a professional board certification through the American Board of Pediatrics is required to practice in the United States. The education requirement and the training process to become a Pediatrician is extensive, yet there are numerous pros and cons that need to be considered before perusing this career path.

Some benefits of becoming a General Pediatrician include: they have a "relatively normal work hours," they have the ability work with the same patients long term, and they have a "relatively low stress job" (considering they have a typically normal schedule compared to other medical doctor positions) (Gray). Unlike typical overnight emergency room and surgical doctors, General Pediatricians have the ability to work "9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday" (Gray). Also, General Pediatricians have the ability to care for the same patients "from the time they’re babies to when they are 21 years old," so there is the ability to "bond with patients and their families" longer than other medical doctors (Gray). Working with children tends to be pediatricians favorite aspect of their career as they are able to witness the growth of children from infancy to adulthood, which can be very rewarding; however, this aspect of the career can also be negative (Gray).

Although there are many promising benefits of the career choice, there are some considerable negative consequences. Some cons that aspiring General Pediatricians need to consider is that the educational experience is extensive, the cost of medical education, the cost of living while in school, and that General Pediatricians typically "earning less money than any other type of doctor" (Gray). Prior to attaining the job, the difficulty of getting into medical school is concerning as "over 40,000 students apply for just around 20,000 available places in classes at medical schools in the U.S. each year," so being able to stand out from multiple applicants is important in trying to get in (Vioreanu).

After getting into college, people aspiring to attain this career need to consider the cost of a long educational career, and medical school at Louisiana State University in New Orleans cost above "$14,290" a semester (Also, consider how will funds be obtained to live where I am studying and support myself through my schooling) (Which Schools Offer Medical Degree Programs in Louisiana?). Once the job is attained, the thought of "earning less money than any other type of doctor" is concerning as the same amount or more education and training is involved to qualify for the career (Gray). Again, working with children can be rewarding, yet "sometimes kids will be too sick to save, which can be depressing," (so the mental states of the practicing physician needs to be stable and the ability to stay strong for parents and coworkers is important) (Gray). Although there are many negative aspects of the cost of the career choice, the ability to go through the extensive education just to be certified to care for children and being able to promote the welfare of our future generation is inspiring.

After researching my intended career, I have fallen more in love with the different aspects of the career path and hope that my determination and passion will be enough to allow me to achieve my goal that I have so long desired. I know the journey will not be easy or cheap, but I am determined to reach my goals. Although I am striving to become a medical doctor for the children of the future generations, I have decided to partake in Louisiana State University’s Geaux Teach Program where I will be certified to teach in Louisiana after I complete my biology degree (Double major in a way). I believe that my decision to partake in the Geaux Teach Program will not only enhance my communication skills, but also better connect and educate children and their parents if I do become a Pediatrician. Only time can tell my future career and hopefully whatever career I peruse will bring me a life of happiness.