$Unique_ID{BRK01176}
$Pretitle{Community and Social Problems}
$Title{How Many Years of College are Needed to be a Family Doctor?}
$Subject{doctor family education}
$Volume{Q-23}
$Log{}

Copyright (c) 1991   Tribune Media Services, Inc.


How Many Years of College are Needed to be a Family Doctor?


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QUESTION:  I am a thirteen year old girl, and have wanted to be a family
doctor ever since I was very young.  Could you tell me about how many years of
college I would need, internship and residency?

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ANSWER:  Gladly.  I was thirteen too, when after a serious attack of
pneumonia, I decided I wanted to be like the doctor who had cared for me, and
began to think about and prepare for my profession.  It is not too soon for
you to do the same thing.  Following high school, you must attend college.
Most pre-meds take a four year course, and develop majors in chemistry,
biology or sometimes physics.  But it is important to gain a broad education,
to better understand the way people live and act, so studies like sociology,
psychology, economics and even philosophy are important courses to elect.
From my personal perspective a good communications course or some theater can
also be helpful.  But don't neglect the general courses, particularly English
and history, for a family physician must be a well rounded individual
(educationally speaking, of course!) Then it is on to medical school, for four
very long and very hard years.  There is so much to learn, and never enough
time to study it all.  But you do get it done somehow.  The next choice is
post-graduate study.  Family Medicine is taught in approved residency programs
throughout our country and your course of study there will last three years.
During that period of time you will rotate through different "services" that
include Family Medicine, Internal Medicine, Pediatrics, Obstetrics, Surgery,
Psychiatry, as well as practicing your newly learned skills in an Ambulatory
Care Center, where you care for your own patients under the supervision of
your faculty.  After the three years are done, there is an examination given
by the American Board of Family Practice, which once passed, qualifies you as
a specialist in Family Medicine.  Now you are ready for practice, but your
studies are not done, for you must retake the examination every seven years,
to prove that you are keeping up with the latest developments in medical care.
At age thirteen, it may seem like a long trip, but there are few other
professions that offer you as wonderful an opportunity to serve others, and
the satisfactions that are yours when you do the job well.
ÿ
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The material contained here is "FOR INFORMATION ONLY" and should not replace 
the counsel and advice of your personal physician.  Promptly consulting your 
doctor is the best path to a quick and successful resolution of any medical 
problem.
