Becoming a doctor is the pinnacle of decades of education for millions of people. Doctors work with patients for all types of issues ranging from the common cold to terminal cancer. Just how does one become a doctor? These general requirements for becoming a doctor give a basic overview of the education, personality and other factors that go into making someone a doctor.
Education
Becoming a doctor requires a medical degree from an accredited medical school within the United States. There are some provisions for students who attend schools outside the United States. In general, medical programs last three years. The first two years are spent mainly in the classroom learning about body systems and diseases. The final year of medical school is spent working as an intern learning about patient care. After being an intern, students will become residents, where they will train with established doctors. The length of residency depends on the specialty a doctor chooses.
Personality
Though "House, M.D." has popularized the notion of angry, mean doctors, most doctors need a good bedside manner. Doctors should understand they are dealing with patients often in very emotional times such as when a baby is born or when someone is dying. Part of being an excellent doctor is learning navigate these social situations to make patients feel comfortable. Doctors also need to develop an ability to listen to patients and their families and to speak in language everyone can understand.
Environment
Doctors work in all types of situations from one-person practices to large community hospitals. A doctor will need to learn to work with patients in various settings as the doctor's residency or career plans may lead him to interesting settings. Working in a walk-in clinic for the uninsured is very different from working in a world-class hospital, so doctors should try out a variety of these settings to determine which will best suit their personalities.
Insurability
All doctors must be insurable. Malpractice insurance can be up to 25 percent of a doctor's salary, though the exact amount depends on specialty, location and past claims. To become a doctor, one must be able to obtain medical malpractice insurance. Doctors with a history of risky behavior or lawsuits against him may have trouble meeting this requirement of becoming a doctor.
Misconceptions
Many students mistakenly believe that "pre-med" is a major. In fact, being pre-med is a track you can be on in college, but it is not a major in itself. Students who are interested in becoming a doctor can major in anything they want, but most students choose to major in the fields most closely related to medicine: biology, chemistry and biomedical engineering. Students who are on a pre-med track typically take their major courses and other courses the university recommends for pre-med students. Some schools also have pre-med organizations that hold seminars and lectures for interested students.
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