what does it take to become a doctor?

[DaWhim]

just wondering...
4 years of undergrad
4 years of medical school
how many years of residency? do you get pay for that too?
anymore years of study?

 

[tcsenter]

Upon successful completion of medical, osteopathic, or PharmD school, one earns a Doctorate of Medicine, Osteopathy, or Pharmacy and is thus entitled to the status or title of "Doctor". No residency or licensure required.

To become a licensed medical (or pharm) doctor and to be eligible for medical board certification, one must submit to those pesky Graduate Medical Education requirements (residency). Typical residency durations for various specialties are (includes one year Transitional/Preliminary if applicable):

Three Years

- Emergency Medicine
- Family Practice
- Internal Medicine
- Pediatrics

Four Years

- Anesthesiology
- Dermatology
- Neurology
- Ophthalmology
- Physical Medicine
- Obstetrics-Gynecology
- Pathology
- Psychiatry

Five Years

- General Surgery
- Orthopaedic Surgery
- Otolaryngology
- Urology
- Plastic Surgery
- Diagnostic Radiology
- Radiation Oncology

Six Years

- Neurological Surgery
- Cardio/Vascular/Thoracic Surgery

In some cases, these may be minimum requirements. For example, some plastic surgery residency programs are three years in duration and require completion of a three-year general surgery residency to enter = 6 years total.

do you get pay for that too?

Residency programs pay a modest stipend, with or without housing provision.

anymore years of study?

Orthopaedic, neuro, cardiovascular, trauma, pediatric, and plastic surgeons often complete a post-GME fellowship of one to two years duration.

 

[Ryan]

An overnight visit to the Holiday Inn.

 

[TechnoKid]

If I wanted to make a lot of money, I'd be a plastic surgeon in So. Cal, Hollywood, or Bev Hills.

 

[petery83]

too much work

 

[LivinLaVivaPollo]

... geez. I think I'll stick to CE.

 

[iliopsoas]

Originally posted by: tcsenter

In some cases, these may be minimum requirements. For example, some plastic surgery residency programs are three years in duration and require completion of a three-year general surgery residency to enter = 6 years total.

do you get pay for that too?

Residency programs pay a modest stipend, with or without housing provision.

anymore years of study?

Orthopaedic, neuro, cardiovascular, trauma, pediatric, and plastic surgeons often complete a post-GME fellowship of one to two years duration.

Other specialties have fellowship options as well.
Internal medicine - 3 years. Fellowship options include Gastroenterology, Infectious Disease, Nephrology, Cardiology, etc. These fellowships last another 3 years. Cardiology has even more options for further subspecialization. Interventional cardiology (those guys who put in stents) require another 2-3 years so that would be (3 years internal medicine, 3 years cardiology, 2 yrs interventional cardiology = 8 yrs of graduate medical education).

Pediatrics have similar subspecialties to Internal Medicine.

Surgery - you've already mentioned.

Diagnostic radiology - 5 yrs residency + 1-3 yr options for subspecialty as well. (This is me!!!) :heart:


In summary, it can take a very freaking long awful time to become a doctor. Many long hours during residency.

 

[JammingJay]

Don't forget about the 150k debt you incurred in education costs. But hey, you're a Dr, you'll pay that off in no time 😀

 

[DaWhim]

Originally posted by: JammingJay
Don't forget about the 150k debt you incurred in education costs. But hey, you're a Dr, you'll pay that off in no time 😀

w00t.....that's ALOT of money. hope you can make it back