Why Choose A Career in
Pediatrics?
Prof. Fahad Al Zamil
Professor and Consultant
Pediatric Infectious Diseases
Head of Infectious Diseases Unit
King Saud University
Question:
How many of you are planning to
become pediatricians in the future?
Questions?
UK
Job Satisfaction
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96% of graduating pediatric residents who are
in the job market for a general pediatric job
state that they would choose Pediatrics again if
they had to do it all over.
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2003 AAP Survey Data
Job Satisfaction
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Pediatricians rated higher satisfaction than
internists in job, career, and specialty
satisfaction
General pediatricians more satisfied than all
other physicians regarding their relationship
with patients and personal time
More likely to recommend their specialty to
students seeking advice
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Shugerman, et. al. 2001, Leigh et. al. 2002
Job Opportunities
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80% of residents seeking a general practice
position report obtaining their most desired
position
Workforce shortages in a variety of pediatric
subspecialties mean more job opportunities for
graduates
Job Flexibility
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26% of pediatricians (as opposed to 14% of all
other specialties) have worked part time at
some point in their career
Multiple types of jobs offered ranging from
part-time to more demanding hours
Pediatrics Training
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3 year training (203 programs avail.)
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Inpatient
Outpatient clinic
General and subspecialty exposure
NICU, PICU
ER
Combined Peds/Adult Residency
Training
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Pediatrics/Internal Medicine (4 yrs)
Pediatrics/Derm (5 yrs)
Pediatrics/ER (5 yrs)
Pediatrics/Genetics (5 yrs)
Pediatrics/PM&R (5 yrs)
Pediatrics/Adult Psych/Peds Psych (5 yrs)
What are the options?
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General Pediatrics
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Clinic Based
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Community
Academic
Hospital Based
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Community
Academic
General Pediatrics - background
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Focus on the physical, mental, social health of
children from birth to 21 years.
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Prevention, detection, and management of these
issues
Major advocates for children (i.e. health/safety
policies, education)
Subspecialty Pediatrics
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Most require 2-3 years of post-residency
fellowships
Some require training in another discipline
before becoming more focused on pediatrics
such as: surgery, pathology, radiology
Pediatric neurology and psychiatry can be
done with 2 years of general pediatric training
followed by 2 years of fellowship
Subspecialty Pediatrics
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Adolescent Medicine
Allergy/Immunology
Cardiology
Clinical Genetics
Critical Care Medicine
Dermatology
Developmental
Emergency Medicine
Endocrinology
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Gastroenterology
Hematology/Oncology
Infectious Disease
Medical Toxicology
Neonatology
Nephrology
Pulmonology
Rheumatology
Sports Medicine
Question:
How many of you are planning to
become pediatricians in the future?