How to Become a Pediatrician

A career as a doctor is a long and sometimes grueling path. But it can also be quite challenging and a heck of a lot of fun if you take the right approach. As a recent medical school graduate, I'm still close enough to the process of becoming a doctor to appreciate the effort and focus it takes to be given the responsibility of caring for people as a doctor. Although I'm not a pediatrician, the path to become one is almost identical to what I choose to do as a doctor.

Becoming a doctor is not a short or quick journey. You can expect to spend years of your life studying, working, and struggling to get that "MD" added to the end of your name. There will be days and weeks that not fun and exciting. There will be nights when you question your ability. There will be many days when you question your sanity. But in the end, if it's truly what you want to do, it's all worth it.

The path starts in High School, and even sooner in some cases. You absolutely must learn good study habits. This doesn't mean that you have to study all the time, rather it means that you must learn to be disciplined and efficient with the time you do have to learn. Becoming a doctor is a marathon, not a sprint. A proper balance of learning from books and learning about life is essential. Take time off when you need to, but when it's time to memorize the Kreb's Cycle or the major genetic lysosomal storage disorders, well, hop on it!

Good grades are essential. You aren't going to become a pediatrician, you absolutely must get good grades. No one is going to trust the care of their children to you if you are failing classes. Period. Now, this doesn't mean that you have to get an "A" in every course you take throughout your academic career, but on average, you should be working hard and scoring solid grades.

In High School, you should focus on a broad education. Do NOT just focus on science classes. Doctors of all types need to be well rounded. You are going to treat a wide range of people over your career and it never hurts to be able to relate to all types of people and backgrounds. Learn to write well. That is more important for a doctor than most people realize.