In this career summary, I will talk about the profession of a doctor, focusing on the necessary skills, on the key responsibilities and on the big impact that doctors have in the medical field. This summary will be useful to those who are considering a career in medicine as well as anyone interested by learning more about this job. I am motivated to write this career summary because I am passionate about everything related to the medical field.
Being a doctor is very challenging. You need a deep understanding of the human body to be able to take care of the patients. The job involves long hours of intensive work, and you also need to take critical decisions which involve a high level of responsibility. Even though the job is extremely stressful, it is very meaningful. Doctors have the chance to make a big difference in people's lives by improving their health or even by saving lives. This means you must have a dedication for helping others.
Their primary duties are to perform physical exams to identify medical conditions, they prescribe medications, and they monitor their patients to make sure that the treatments are effective. The tasks depend on the area the doctors are working in (surgery, pediatrics, or emergency medicine).
A doctor's typical day begins with reviewing patient files and attending morning meetings to discuss about ongoing cases. The day involves seeing a certain number of patients, diagnosing, conducting physical exams, treating illnesses, and prescribing treatments. Sometimes, doctors may have to perform surgeries and manage emergencies.
Doctors work in different places like hospitals and clinics. Working in a hospital includes long shifts and emergency cases while clinics offer a more regular schedule but focus on outpatient care. Working in hospitals allows access to more advanced equipment and specialists. All setting have its own advantages based lifestyle and career goal.
To become a doctor, the typical path includes completing a bachelor's degree in a science-related field, followed by attending medical school, which takes around four years. After medical school, you enter a residency program that lasts between two or three years. It provides hands-on experience in a hospital or clinic. After completing residency, you must pass an exam to practice.
Doctors' salaries can vary depending on their specialty and experience. On average, family doctors earn between $150,000 to $200,000 per year. Specialists, such as surgeons or cardiologists, can make significantly more, ranging from $250,000 to over $500,000.
Throughout their careers, doctors continue learning through additional training and professional development. This includes attending medical conferences and specialized courses. For example, they may attend conferences like the American Medical Association. To help doctors maintain their skills, there are additional training courses like Continuing Medical Education courses that cover new treatments, diagnostics, or technologies.
Being a doctor comes with several dangers. These include exposure to infectious diseases, such as viruses or bacteria, especially in hospitals or during surgeries. Doctors may also face physical risks that can affect their health like long hours of work, stress, and burn-out.
Doctors are unlikely to be fully replaced by robots. Robots can assist with tasks like surgeries , but the human sides of medical care, such as empathy, decision-making in complex cases, and patient interaction can never be replaced.
Doctors typically retire between the ages of 60 to 70. By the time they retire, doctors have gained deep experience in patient care. They will have impacted many lives. However, they may regret not improving their work-life balance.
In conclusion, I am at my third semester in health sciences at Cegep Ahuntsic which means I have one last semester before I enter university. My goal is to get the best Cote R possible to be able to enter a medical school. I will dedicate the next few years into succeeding in my studies and maybe gaining experience through volunteer work.
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