Training To Become A Doctor
Medical doctors are among the most distinguished professionals worldwide. Their ability to diagnose and treat disease is well-respected, and it’s generally rewarded with a substantial income. However, the decision to become a doctor should not be taken lightly. Doctors invest a good deal of time and money in their education, and their jobs require long hours and great responsibility. Becoming a doctor requires approximately eleven years of training: four years of undergraduate school, four years of medical school, and three years of residencies.
First, at the undergraduate level, pre-med is an obvious major, but it isn’t a necessity for admission to medical school. When admitting students, medical schools consider MCAT (Medical College Admission Test) scores, grade point averages, courses completed, and personal essays. These factors tend to be intertwined: to score well on the MCAT, students must hone their test-taking skills and be well-versed in the sciences, math, and English.
Once a person has been accepted to a four-year medical school, he or she spends two years in laboratories and classrooms. The next two years involve more hands-on training in clinics and hospitals.
After completing medical school, a prospective doctor must complete one or more residencies. A residency is a salaried training program that involves supervised medical practice. The duration of a residency varies with different medical specialties. It generally involves three to eight years of training.
What are the different types of medical doctors? Most doctors are general practitioners. They are generally the first people that a patient visits. General practitioners are trained to work with people of all ages, and in most cases they can treat a patient without referring him or her to a specialist.
Some examples of specialists in medicine include: internists, who focus on internal organs; paediatricians, who specialize in children’s health; and surgeons, who perform operations.
The decision to become a doctor should not be taken lightly. The position requires extensive initial training, lifelong education, and long work hours. However, if a person enjoys helping people and is a dedicated student and worker, then medicine might be an ideal field to pursue.