The Road To Becoming An Anesthesiologist

There will always be a demand for medical professionals, and a career as an anesthesiologist can be very fulfilling while also paying an excellent salary. However, the road to becoming an anesthesiologist is long and requires incredible dedication and hard work. If you have always dreamed of becoming a doctor and think that anesthesiology may be the specialty for you, use the following tips to prepare:

High School

Maintaining a high grade point average in high school is important if you want to be accepted to a prestigious university with a good pre-med program. While in high school, focus on taking science classes such as chemistry, biology, and physics. If possible, try to enroll in advanced placement classes for more challenging curriculum as well as the chance to earn college credits while still in high school. Volunteering in a hospital can be a very useful experience, and you will learn a lot about the medical field and patient care.

University

When attending college for your undergraduate degree, speak with your academic adviser to choose classes that meet the pre-requisites for medical school. Common courses that you need to take will include biology, physics, organic chemistry, calculus, and general chemistry. Many students who plan to apply to med school major in biology, chemistry, or another science. Work hard to maintain the highest grade point average possible, as your GPA is one of the main factors that medical schools look at when accepting students. After earning your bachelors degree, you will need to take the Medical College Admissions Test (MCAT) and score well before applying to medical schools.

Medical School

Medical school involves 4 years of advanced studies in order to earn a degree in medicine (M.D.) or a degree in osteopathy (D.O.). During medical school you will learn about all types of medicine, from internal medicine and cardiology to pediatrics and obstetrics. Upon graduation from medical school, you will require additional training and education to become an anesthesiologist.

Residency

To be eligible to practice as an anesthesiologist, you will have to do a 4 year residency in anesthesiology at an accredited hospital. During your residency you will work in a clinical setting where you will gain hands on experience and training in anesthesiology. When you complete your residency, you may opt to do a fellowship in a specialty of anesthesiology, such as obstetric anesthesiology, neuro-anesthesiology, pediatric anesthesiology, pain management, or cardiac anesthesiology. After finishing your residency, you will be eligible to take the American Board of Anesthesiology exam; if you pass you will become a board certified anesthesiologist. 

Contact a school like ASA College for more details.

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