Facts About a Pediatrician

A pediatrician is a doctor who focuses solely on babies, toddlers, children, and teens. Your child will visit a pediatrician at birth, for shots, well visits, and for minor ailments and injuries. Specialists in pediatrics would attend to a child or youth with a serious illness, injury or disease.

History

Dr. Abraham Jacobi is considered to be the father of American pediatrics as he started the pediatrics chair in 1861 at the New York Medical College. He was also instrumental in starting many pediatric journals, societies, and pediatric branches in many hospitals. In 1855 the first hospital devoted solely to children was founded in Philadelphia, and the American Academy of Pediatrics began in 1930.

Salary

Pediatricians’ salaries range from $135,000 to $271,000 a year, depending on years of experience in the field and location. The average salary for a pediatrician is $142,585.

Schooling

A four-year degree in any area is acceptable, but most medical schools look for core premedical sciences such as chemistry and biology. Once accepted into a medical school, someone who wants to be a pediatrician will study for four more years. A year’s internship follows, and then a National Boards Certification test. Once the test is passed, a pediatrician would begin the two years of intensive Residency training at a hospital. Once done with Residency, a pediatrician is able to join a medical group, hospital or to start a private practice.

Care

Pediatricians focus on childhood diseases and ailments, administering immunizations, and diagnosing and treating ailments or diseases. Pediatricians also help parents to recognize healthy eating patterns and lifestyle choices. Pediatricians also screen for behavioral issues such as ADHD or Autism in young children and teens. Long hours and on-call duty is a normal expectation of every pediatrician.