M E A G A N H U F FH LT H 4 1 9 0

PEDIATRIC MEDICINE

OVERVIEW

• A pediatrician is a medical doctor concerned with the overall health of children• Most serve as primary care physicians, but

pediatricians can specialize in certain areas as well• Common daily tasks include: • Examining children to assess growth and

development• Treating minor illnesses and injuries• Prescribing treatments and medications• Compiling patients’ medical records

HISTORY OF PEDIATRIC MEDICINE

• The study of medicine dates back to the Egyptians around 2500 BC• Hippocrates is known as the Father of Western

Medicine for his contributions to clinical medicine• In the early 1800s, there was a movement in

French hospitals to separate children from adults to help prevent disease exposure• The first American children’s hospital was

opened in 1854 in Philadelphia• The American Board of Pediatrics was founded in

1933

QUALITIES OF A PEDIATRICIAN

• Excellent Communicator• Observant • Resourceful • Patient• Flexible• Energetic• Stress Tolerant • Dependable

O*NET PROFILE RESULTS

Meagan’s Results• Social: 33• Conventional: 22• Enterprising: 17• Investigative: 16• Artistic: 15• Realistic: 5

Typical Physician Results

• Investigative• Social• Realistic

MY QUALIFICATIONS

• Social: • I enjoy working with and helping people. As a camp counselor, I learned that I

especially enjoy working with kids • The communication and collaboration skills learned from this job will greatly benefit

me as a physician • Conventional:

• I use planning and organization skills in all aspects of my life (school, activities, etc.)• Physicians must be organized in order to correctly diagnose and treat their many

patients• Enterprising:

• I have gained leadership and managerial skills as vice president of my sorority and in other leadership positions

• Physicians are the leaders of healthcare teams, so although not included in the O*NET results, it is a valuable skill for pediatricians to have

• Investigative:• I had a relatively high score for this characteristic, even though it was ranked fourth• I enjoy observing, analyzing, and problem solving and have further developed these

skills through my Creative Inquiry• These qualities are the foundation of the study of medicine

THE ROAD TO BECOMING A PEDIATRICIAN

• 4 years of undergraduate education• 4 years of medical school• 3-4 years of internship/residency• 2-3 year fellowship for certain specialties• Not necessary to be a general pediatrician

ACADEMICS

• Sciences:• Biology• Chemistry• Organic Chemistry• Biochemistry• Physics• Anatomy and Physiology

• English and Other Humanities• Literature• Public Speaking• Ethics/Decision Making

• Social Sciences• Psychology• Sociology

These courses are prerequisites for most medical schools so that students are well prepared for the rigorous curriculum

MEDICAL SCHOOLS

• Emory University School of Medicine• Atlanta, GA• 560 medical students• Ranked 23rd for best research medical schools by U.S.

News and World Report

MEDICAL SCHOOLS

• MUSC College of Medicine• Charleston, SC• 725 medical students• Ranked 60th for best research medical schools by U.S.

News and World Report

MEDICAL SCHOOLS

• Medical College of Georgia• Main Campus: Augusta, GA• 920 medical students• 95% are Georgia residents• Ranked 76th for best research

medical schools by U.S. News and World Report

GROWTH POTENTIAL & SALARY RANGE

• Salary Range (2014): $93,120 to $187,199 per year• Median: $163, 350

• Employment: currently around 35,000 pediatricians in the U.S.• Growth Potential: expected to increase by 9-13%

by 2024• Growth rate is faster than average

CONCLUSION

• Although I did not score exactly the same as the O*Net profile for physicians, I do have the necessary skills and characteristics to be a successful pediatrician

• The road to becoming a physician is lengthy and challenging, but I am ready to embark on this journey!

REFERENCES“Admissions.” Medical University of South Carolina. N.p., n.d. Web. 18 January 2016. http://academicdepartments.musc.edu/com/admissions/.

“Best Healthcare Jobs: Pediatrician.” US News and World Report – Money. N.p., n.d. Web. 18 January 2016. http://money.usnews.com/careers/best-jobs/pediatrician.

“Best Medical Schools: Research.” US News and World Report – Education. N.p., n.d. Web. 18 January 2016.http://grad-schools.usnews.rankingsandreviews.com/best-graduate-schools/top-medical-schools/research-rankings.

“History of Pediatrics.” Pediatrics. N.p., n.d. Web. 18 January 2016. http://www.pediatrics.com/history-pediatrics.

“Medical College of Georgia Facts.” Medical College of Georgia. N.p., n.d. Web. 18 January 2016. http://www.gru.edu/mcg/facts.php.

“Occupational Employment and Wages: Pediatrician.” U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. N.p., 15 March 2015. Web. 18 January 2016. http://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes291065.htm#(5).

“Quick Facts.” Emory University School of Medicine. N.p., n.d. Web. 18 January 2016. http://med.emory.edu/about/quick_facts.html.

“Summary Report for: Pediatricians, General.” O*Net Online. N.p., n.d. Web. 18 January 2016. http://www.mynextmove.org/profile/ext/online/29-1065.00.