Physician, train thyself

Before they can practice, doctors must study long and hard

January 18, 2005|by CHRIS COPLEY

(Page 2 of 2)

"Younger people are finding jobs in IT and business, which requires fewer years of training," he said. "You can make excellent money after just four years of college. I think you find less people going into medicine. Medical school is five times or 10 times as hard as college. As far as the amount of stuff you are taking in, medical school dwarfs college education."

Still, Kothari likes being a doctor. Doctors are treated with respect, they help people in time of a health crisis, and they make a good living. Working as a medical physician is fulfilling. But an easy path to a high salary? No.

"You have to go into this field because you want to," he said, "not because you want to get rich."

What it takes to become a doctor

It's a long road to pursue a career in medicine. Here are some steps:

· Four years of high school - No shortcuts here; take advanced math and science courses and get good grades. Also, look for internships or volunteer positions with doctors' offices, hospitals, nursing homes or other health-care facilities.

· Four years of college - You don't need to pursue a premedical major, but you still have to excel at advanced math and science classes. Bolster your real-life experience and your portfolio by continuing to find work - paid or volunteer - in health care. In your junior or senior year, you'll take the Medical College Admission Test (MCAT). You've got to do well.

· Four years of medical school - Very expensive, very competitive, academically demanding. Take still more advanced science courses, then rotate through different aspects of medical health care in order to select a specialty. Upon graduation, you are a medical doctor. Pass your state boards, and you can practice.

· Additional training for a year or more as needed in your selected specialty. Pass an additional certifying test, and you are licensed in your specialty.

· Even after being certified, the learning never stops. Doctors must take classes and earn continuing education credits or risk losing their licenses.

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