Learn About the World of Pediatric Medicine
For many patients, pediatricians are the first ambassadors to the world of medicine. Unless you have a physician in your family, oftentimes your first exposure to a physician is byway of the pediatrician who cared for you. Pediatrics is a delicate balance of knowledge, patience, and the ability to relate to children, adolescents and their parents.
If you're a medical school student considering this career path, there are a few things you should know first.
Pediatricians take care of infants, children and adolescents. Children are not merely small adults. Children's physiology responds to medications differently and has different rates of metabolism. Genetics and embryology play a significant role.
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Children are in a constant state of flux moving from one growth stage to another. When examining a child, the pediatrician must consider developmental milestones appropriate for the patient's age.
Children come to physicians' offices with parents, which means that pediatricians serve two constituencies -- parents and their children. Pediatricians educate parents on the child's developmental milestones, diseases processes, vaccines and fever control.
Informing parents and helping them grow health literacy affects the entire family both in the exam room and at home. In addition, pediatricians must allay the fears of parents, as they oftentimes feel helpless when their child is ill. This emotional response requires the pediatrician's patience and sympathy alongside stellar listening and communication skills.
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Pediatricians work in outpatient offices, emergency departments and hospitals. The number of visits can fluctuate with the seasons. For example, there are more sick visits during winter months, and physical exam visits predominate the summer months in preparation for students going back to school.
Outpatient pediatrics lends itself to long-term relationships with patients and their families. As the child ages, the pediatrician prepares the child and parent for the time when the parent will not be in the exam room. This requires the pediatrician to get the child accustomed to talking and answering questions unassisted by a parent. This process can start when the child is around seven years old.
Adolescent medicine is an area of pediatric specialization focusing care solely for teens. Adolescents are a unique subgroup and an age period fraught with change.
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Clinicians must be versed in communication techniques that build trust and provide a safe environment. The goal is to allow the teen to be open, honest, and comfortable talking about new experiences with self, friends and family, such as body image, relationships, sex and sexuality and alcohol or drugs.
Pediatric residency is three years and can be followed by subspecialty training. There are many pediatric specialties, such as cardiology, infectious disease, hematology-oncology and critical care.
If you are considering pediatrics as a specialty, seek experiences that provide interactions with pediatricians and sick children. For example, volunteer at a children's hospital or pediatric urgent care center, or inquire with the pediatrician that took care of you about opportunities to shadow during school breaks. Pay attention to all of the experiences that resonate with you, including possible mentors and potential people who can write letters of recommendation.
Pediatrics is a delicate balance of knowledge, patience and the ability to relate to children, adolescents and their parents.
Sylvia E. Morris received her M.D. from Georgetown University School of Medicine and Master's in Public Health from Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. A former assistant professor at Emory University School of Medicine, she is currently an independent health care consultant and medical director at CVS Minute Clinic as well as a community health advocate. Find her on Facebook and follow her on Twitter.
