How to Become a Paediatrician in India?

The kindness and respect of medical professionals are unparalleled. People have the chance to assist and look after others throughout their lives. When it comes to treating children, who occasionally aren’t even able to describe their health issues, the respect multiplies. The demand for pediatricians is expanding in the modern world, and you can take advantage of this professional route. According to the World Bank, the population of children is approximately 1.900 billion, which will increase the demand for pediatricians. Numerous child health programs will also guarantee that babies and children under the age of six are healthy. Pediatricians are experts in the medical care of newborns, adolescents, and children. As a pediatrician, you have played a variety of tasks, including reducing mortality and infection, encouraging a healthy lifestyle, screening, preventative medical treatment, diagnosing, and much more. This article will assist you in understanding if this is the right career for you based on your interests and abilities.

Who is a Paediatrician?

Paediatrics is a child specialty that manages the long-term care of children, adolescents, and adults from birth to the age of 21. They also provide preventative healthcare services and are accountable for the well-being, physical health, and mental health of children. The term pediatrics comes from Greek and means “healer of children and little ones.” These experts also make recommendations to the children and their parents regarding health care, diet, and hygiene. They serve as advisors, explaining test results to their guardians in a predetermined manner. A pediatrician’s primary role is to detect injuries and illnesses in infants and newborns and to treat them with a wide range of treatments.

Roles and Responsibilities

Pediatricians are responsible for a wide range of tasks. They handle everything from well-baby examinations to chronic medical issues. Pediatricians offer preventive care as well as diagnosis and treatment of infections, traumas, and diseases. Here are some more responsibilities that pediatricians complete:

• Maintain frequent health and wellness examinations (also called well-baby or well-child visits).
• Perform physical examinations.
• Keep track of your child’s physical, emotional, and social growth.
• Diagnose and treat illnesses, injuries, and other medical problems.
• Take care of Vaccines
• Prescribes Medication
• Listen to the worries of parents and respond to their questions.
• Provide parents with health tips.
• As needed, refer families to professionals.

Relevant Read: A Career in Alternative Medicine

How to Become a Pediatrician? (Step-by-Step Guide)

The following are the fundamental steps you must take to pursue a career as a pediatrician:

Get a Bachelor’s Degree

The first step towards becoming a doctor is to obtain a bachelor’s degree. Some colleges and institutions offer pre-med programs that help prepare you for the types of material you’ll encounter in medical school. A Bachelor’s Degree in Biology, Chemistry, Specialist Health Sciences, or Social Sciences may be of interest to you.

Regardless of your degree, you should finish coursework in organic and inorganic chemistry, physics, and biology to be prepared for medical school. At this period, you will also begin preparing for the Medical College Admission Test (MCAT), which is essential for admission to medical school if you want to study abroad. While for India, you give exams like NEET, AIAPGET, FMGE, or NEET MDS.

Finish Medical School

To become a pediatrician, you must first complete four years of medical school. You could become a medical doctor (M.D.) or a doctor of osteopathic medicine (D.O.). Both of these degrees will prepare you for a career as a doctor, while osteopathic programs will focus more on preventative medicine and the musculoskeletal system.

You will study anatomy, biochemistry, microbiology, pharmacology, pathology, and physiology in medical school. Throughout your final two years of study, you will participate in clinical rotations, obtaining hands-on experience diagnosing and treating patients alongside seasoned physicians. Your rotations will be focused on medical specialties such as psychiatry, family practice, obstetrics and gynecology, and pediatrics.

Get a Medical Licence

After graduating from medical school, you must receive a license to practice medicine. To receive a license, you must pass a licensure exam and fulfill any additional state-specific criteria, such as a background check.

Finish a Residency Programme as well as an Internship

After finishing school and receiving your medical license, you must then complete your pediatric residency program. A pediatric residency program provides aspiring doctors with the clinical experience they need to feel confident in their jobs and flourish.

Residents strengthen their communication skills and presentation skills, as well as their clinical skills, during their pediatrics residency. Aspiring pediatricians will also be prepared for work in a variety of different healthcare settings as a result of this training.

Consider Applying for a Fellowship

To become a pediatrician, no fellowship is required. Yet, many residents prefer to do so to specialize in pediatrics. Immunology, cardiology, nephrology, oncology, neonatology, rheumatology, and pulmonology are some of the conceivable specialties. A fellowship program typically lasts two to three years, depending on the specialty chosen by the pediatrician.

Consider Getting a Board Certification

While it is not needed, you may wish to think about obtaining board certification. Board certifications can demonstrate to patients and potential employers that you have the abilities and expertise to carry out the tasks of your profession and that you are dedicated to excelling in your industry. To keep their qualifications, board-certified pediatricians must participate in continuing education.

Relevant Read: MBBS Syllabus: Know It Inside Out!

Subspecialties in Pediatrics

There are numerous subspecialists in pediatrics. Your specialties are defined by your ability, abilities, and talent. To become a pediatric specialist, you can pursue one of the following paths:

• Paediatric Cardiologist– These doctors treat children’s heart diseases such as congenital heart disease and abnormal cardiac issues.
• Neonatologists should address difficult cases involving infants and newborns.
• Endocrinology Pediatricians should treat children’s hormonal concerns and disorders.
• Intensive Care Pediatrician or Pediatric Intensivist– These doctors provide diagnosis and treatment for neonates with serious conditions.
• Pediatric gastroenterologists should address major disorders such as inflammatory illness, liver disease, lactose intolerance, pancreatic disease, and others.
• Oncologists and Pediatric Hematologists– youngsters suffering from tumors and blood problems can consult with this professional.
• Neonatal pediatricians can treat newborns and infants who have suffered from injuries or illnesses.

Other Specialists include:

• Pediatric Allergist
• Child Nephrologists
• Paediatric Anesthesiologists
• Pediatric Urologists
• Pediatric Dermatologists
• Pediatric Develop mentalist

Eligibility Requirements

• Applicants must have completed class 12 with a minimum of 50% in Physics, Chemistry, Biology, and English (all subjects combined) from a recognized board.
• Those seeking a career as a pediatrician must have an MBBS (Bachelor of Medicine/Bachelor of Surgery) degree recognized by the Medical Council of India.
• Following that, candidates must acquire a postgraduate degree, such as an M.D. in pediatrics; successful postgraduates can pursue further specialties in medical or surgical disciplines. Candidates must have an MBBS degree with a minimum of 55% from a recognized institute/university.
• Applicants may also seek a Ph.D. in pediatrics and enter the field of research. Candidates must hold a master’s degree or equivalent in a relevant subject with at least 50% aggregate marks.

Must Read: MD Pediatrics

Benefits of Becoming a Paediatrician

There are various reasons why you should consider becoming a doctor, including

• Assisting Children- Paediatricians generally opt to work with children because they find it rewarding to help children who have been affected by an accident, disease, or other diagnoses.
• Having a positive impact on youth- Many pediatricians have the chance to assist children to develop good habits at an early age by encouraging them to consume a nutritious diet, exercise regularly, and get vaccines.
• Excellent earning potential- Besides personal fulfillment, another reason you might want to explore becoming a pediatrician is the great earning potential.
• Long-term patient relationships- Many pediatricians appreciate the fact that they get to see their patients grow up while treating them for years. Pediatricians have the potential to develop long-term, meaningful relationships with their patients.
• Young patients frequently recover- Little children have incredible healing abilities and recover faster than adults, making pediatricians’ jobs more fulfilling.

Top Institutes for Pediatrics in India

Here is a list of the top institutes in India where you can study pediatrics courses:

1. All India Institute of Medical Science, (AIIMS) – New Delhi
2. Kasturba Medical College – Manipal, UDUPI
3. Aligarh Muslim University – Aligarh
4. Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose Medical College – Jabalpur, Madhya Pradesh
5. Indira Gandhi Medical College – Shimla, Himachal Pradesh
6. Banglore Medical College and Research Institute – Banglore, Karnataka
7. Christian Medical College – Vellore, Tamil Naidu

Relevant Read: Best Health and Allied Sciences Colleges in India

Books and Study Material on Pediatrics

The following books can help you get started on your path to becoming a pediatrician:

Book	Author
Pediatric Oral pathology	Kavita Kohli
Peadiapeadia: an imaging encyclopedia of pediatric disease	Micheal P.D’Alessandro
Child injury prevention	David c. Schewbel
Becoming a paediatrician	Daniel Schumacher
Autism Spectrum Disorder	Micheal Fitsgerald
Babies A to Z	Warwick Carter
Nelson Textbook of Pediatrics	Robert.M. Kliegman, Hal B.Genson, Richard E.Behrman

How Lengthy is the Paediatrician Training Process?

A pediatrician’s training normally lasts between 11 and 15 years. A bachelor’s degree typically takes four years to finish, followed by four years of medical school and another three to seven years of residency and maybe fellowship.

Salary Range

The average income varies according to country and company. You can work in India or overseas and achieve results that exceed your expectations. According to the report, the starting compensation for a pediatrician is between 6 lakhs and 10 lakhs per year. If you are an expert, you will be paid 15 lacks each year. It is close to $160,000 per year for overseas packages.

Job Opportunities

You might find amazing and lucrative work prospects in the field of pediatrics. This is sometimes referred to as a rewarding career. After completing the course, you will be able to work in private hospitals or clinics. You can also work as an entrepreneur at another research facility. Here are some of the top departments and industries that hire a pediatrician.

• Hospitals, Clinics, and health departments
• Schools and Institutes
• Nursing Homes
• Clinics and Health Departments
• Industrial Houses and Factories
• Orphanages and Old Age Homes
• Military
• Government Departments
• Training Institutes as Educators
• Railways and Public Sector Medical Departments

Top Recruiters

Here are the top places where you can work as a pediatrician:

1. AIIMS, Delhi
2. Max Healthcare
3. Fortis
4. Apollo Children Hospital
5. Lotus Children hospital
6. Christian Medical College and Hospital, Vellore
7. Sir Ganga Ram Hospital, New Delhi
8. Rainbow Hospital for Women and Children
9. Indraprastha Apollo Hospital
10. Institute of Child Health Columbia Asia Hospital
11. Kokilaben Dhirubhai Ambani Hospital
12. Christian Medical Hospital
13. Hinduja hospital

Being a pediatrician is a difficult job. It begins with the choice of your stream in 11th grade and never ends. You are always acquiring experience as you treat patients and learn new things. The quality of education and experience is critical to becoming a good pediatrician. Going with a reputable institute while choosing an institution can ensure superior education.

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