subject: Career Choices for Doctors [print this page] Career Choices for Doctors Career Choices for Doctors
For any kind of health issue, we need to consult a doctor or physician. The problem might be a simple stomach upset or a complex surgical procedure, but we cannot turn to anybody except a qualified doctor. Doctors not only treat maladies but also offer preventive care.
There are various kinds of doctors like general physicians, surgeons, cardiologists, dentists, neurologists, gastroenterologists, endocrinologists, nephrologists, pulmonologists, psychiatrists, gynecologists and pediatricians. All of them specialize in a particular field and treat patients in different ways.
Primary care doctors, found in hospitals or running their own practice, are the ones whom we consult first, no matter what kind of problem we have. They are qualified to treat patients of all ages and with any kind of problem, but may refer them to specialists if they feel that patients need specialized treatment.
Again there are emergency doctors who see all kinds of patients at any hour of the day. As the name suggests, they are consulted in case of an emergency which may come at any time and you cannot wait for an appointment.
Surgeons are those doctors who perform surgeries. Among surgeons also you have plastic surgeons, orthopedic surgeons, neurosurgeons, pediatric surgeons and cardiac surgeons. They specialize in performing various kinds of surgeries.
For those who want to take up a career in medicine, there are many other career choices also, like obstetricians, who are associated with women's health. Dermatologists treat skin, hair and nail problems. Ophthalmologists are qualified to treat eye diseases and perform eye surgeries. Oncologists are those doctors who treat cancer patients.
There are also some doctors whose job is to support other doctors. Radiologists specialize in taking sophisticated diagnostic tests and detect internal problems of patients so that other doctors can treat them accordingly. Pathologists conduct complex examinations of blood samples in laboratories.
If you have decided about taking up a career in medicine, you will need to first complete a basic four year course and then go for a specialization. On the job training and exposure to various medical practices during the first four years is generally useful in deciding the field of your choice for specialization.
