How do I become a pulmonologist?

[zephyr_nh]

Hello,

Can someone please help me by explaining on how to become a pulmonologist? I'm graduating from high school soon and I really need to know what path should I follow.
I'm interested in medicine and would like to be specialised in pulmonology. What are the requirements, how many years of study, trainings and so on?

How about being a pediatric pulmonologist?
Can someone please explain to me?

Thank you.

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[skypilot]

Hello,

Can someone please help me by explaining on how to become a pulmonologist? I'm graduating from high school soon and I really need to know what path should I follow.
I'm interested in medicine and would like to be specialised in pulmonology. What are the requirements, how many years of study, trainings and so on?

How about being a pediatric pulmonologist?
Can someone please explain to me?

Thank you.

You are in the right place! Go to college, get a whole mess of As. Go to med school for four years. Apply for a three year residency in either internal medicine or pediatrics. Residency is a paid apprenticeship. Apply from internal medicine or pediatrics for a fellowship in pulmonology. Voila, you are a pulmonologist. Good luck!

By the way you don't need to make the decision about pulmonology or internal medicine until after you have finished med school.


Here is a good website with medical specialties.
http://www.aamc.org/students/cim/specialties.htm

 

[zephyr_nh]

You are in the right place! Go to college, get a whole mess of As. Go to med school for four years. Apply for a three year residency in either internal medicine or pediatrics. Residency is a paid apprenticeship. Apply from internal medicine or pediatrics for a fellowship in pulmonology. Voila, you are a pulmonologist. Good luck!

By the way you don't need to make the decision about pulmonology or internal medicine until after you have finished med school.


Here is a good website with medical specialties.
http://www.aamc.org/students/cim/specialties.htm

Thanks for your answer! Anyway, I would like to ask more. What exactly are residency and fellowship? Which one takes more years of study - internal medicine or pediatrics? If I go to college, what course should I take?

Oh yeah, in your opinion, which one is better - pulmonologist or pediatric pulmonologist?

Sorry if these questions sound dumb, but I really need to decide what I want to be when I grow up.

Thanks again!

 

[skypilot]

Thanks for your answer! Anyway, I would like to ask more. What exactly are residency and fellowship? Which one takes more years of study - internal medicine or pediatrics? If I go to college, what course should I take?

Oh yeah, in your opinion, which one is better - pulmonologist or pediatric pulmonologist?

Sorry if these questions sound dumb, but I really need to decide what I want to be when I grow up.

Thanks again!

So first get into college. In college take biology, chemistry and physics. It doesn't matter what you major in as long as you do well. In fact some people say it is better to major in the humanities not the sciences. Take your time taking those courses don't try to take them all at once and try to get As in them.

The main decision you need to make is whether you want to be a physician. You can do this by shadowing doctors and nurses and reading about what it means to work as a physician. You don't need to decide on a specialty. Nobody finalizes their choice of specialty until they are already in med school.

Pediatric pulmonologist versus pulmonologist? They are exactly the same, The only difference is one treats children and one treats adults. You won't figure out which you prefer to work with until you are in Medical School.

Residency and fellowship are both paid apprenticeships where you work in a teaching hospital and get paid and are a doctor. The difference is that you are closely supervised by experienced doctors called "Attending Physicians." This is a training period when you learn your craft.

Pediatrics and Internal Medicine are both 3 years.

Good luck