About Paediatrics

A paediatrician is a doctor who looks after the physical and mental health of children as well as their behavioural development. They provide preventative care, like immunisations, as well as short- and long-term therapies for diseases and ailments including colds and asthma. Paediatricians can also specialise in areas including paediatric neurology, critical care, oncology, adolescent medicine and cardiology. If you are an aspiring paediatrician, it is recommended that you opt for science related courses during high-school and a science related bachelor’s degree. This will best prepare you for the rigorous curriculum of studying paediatrics in medical school. Some common course modules you can expect to study are nutrition, growth and development, common paediatric infections, neonatology, paediatric neurology, genetics, and paediatric cardiology.

　　

Is Paediatrics right for me? 

If you are someone that enjoys studying the intricacies of the human body, have excellent problem-solving skills, and are good in subjects like biology, chemistry and genetics, you probably have the aptitude to excel in paediatrics. Paediatricians spend large amounts of their time in clinical settings and interact with children on regular basis. If providing healthcare to children is intrinsically motivating to you, then you are recommended to pursue this field.

　　

Paediatrics study options and costs 

　　As mentioned above, biology, psychology, and other science-related disciplines are popular choices of subjects prior to pursuing an undergraduate degree in paediatrics. In the US, you will have to clear the MCAT To secure admission in a medical school.  

　　Medical school will typically be 4 years in duration followed by a residency in Paediatrics which typically lasts for 3 years. From here on, you can either choose to work as a general paediatrician or go for a fellowship in your chosen specialty.  

　　The first 2 years of medical school are spent studying subjects such as human biology, medical ethics, clinical practice, and even public health. This is then followed by 2 years of intensive practicums under the supervision of a senior physician.  

　　Medical school costs around $40,000 per year, so four years of education will cost around $160,000 in the US. Keep in mind, that depending on where you are from, you will also have to incur the cost of getting your licences to practice. In the US, this means sitting through a licensing exam followed by getting certified by the American Board of Paediatrics.  

　　

Future outlook 

The paediatrics market growth is likely to be fuelled by an increase in research and development for paediatric medicines followed by improved regulations. This combined with growing paediatric mortality rates across the world has triggered the need for more qualified professionals in this field. For example, in February 2022, Pfizer Inc. and BioNTech began a rolling submission to amend the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine's Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) to include children aged 6 months to 4 years (6 months to 5 years) in response to an urgent public health need in this population. This goes to show the increased interest of the public and big corporations in childcare and paediatric health.

　　

Career pathways for Paediatrics graduates

　　General Paediatrician

　　Infections, traumas, and many forms of organic illness and dysfunction are diagnosed and treated by general paediatrics. They seek to minimise newborn and child mortality, promote healthy lifestyles and make life easier for children living with chronic illnesses.

Neonatal-Perinatal Medicine

　　Neonatology is a paediatric discipline that focuses on the medical treatment of newborn infants, particularly those who are sick or preterm. It's a hospital-based specialty that's most commonly used in neonatal intensive care units.

Paediatric Emergency Doctor

　　A paediatric emergency physician is a doctor who specialises in treating children and teenagers who are sick or wounded suddenly. A paediatric emergency physician is trained to deal with a wide range of issues that need prompt medical attention.