subject: Gastroenterology Alive And Well In America [print this page] Nonetheless, gastroenterology is alive and well in United States, as is demonstrated by the number of gastro jobs available across the country. Like so many other occupations in the medical field, the federal government anticipates job growth in gastroenterology to continue unabated into 2020 and beyond; perhaps as much as 22 percent or more. Gastro jobs are available in hospitals, private practices, public health clinics and research facilities.
Gastroenterology Defined
A gastroenterologist is a medical doctor specializing in disorders of the stomach and digestive tract. They are the specialists you would see if you were dealing with conditions like irritable bowel syndrome, lactose intolerance, gluten intolerance and so on. They would also be involved in the diagnosis and treatment of more serious conditions like colon cancer, cirrhosis, hepatitis, jaundice, appendicitis and chronic ulcers. Essentially, anything having to do with the stomach, intestines, and digestive tract is the domain of the gastroenterologist.
In order to become a gastroenterologist, individuals are required to complete a four-year Bachelor of Science degree program, a four year masters program and an additional three years of residency in which the student would study internal medicine. That means a minimum of 11 years of education in order to practice in this field. Though it's not the easiest field to get into in all medical programs, the financial compensation makes it well worth it for many people. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the average annual pay for a gastroenterologist is in the neighborhood of $320,000.
The Driving Force Behind Gastro Jobs
The fact that gastro jobs are projected to increase at a rate of about 22 percent over the next eight years is pretty astounding when compared to most other careers. Even among medical careers, 22 percent is still fairly significant.
So what's driving this incredible job growth? By all accounts, it's the aging U.S. population and the onset of retirement for baby boomers.
Modern medicine has been a benefit to American society in that it has increased the life expectancy of the average citizen significantly. Yet if there is one downside, it is the fact that an aging population is putting greater stresses on the healthcare system with every passing year. Gastroenterology is growing in demand because older Americans are living longer and developing more digestive tract illnesses with age. As long as this trend increases, they will likely be plenty of gastro jobs available for some time to come.
