Advertisement
Advertisement
|
Home :: Career Center
:: Healthcare Career Profiles :: Physician Career Profiles
Obstetrics and Gynecology Physician - Career Profile |
Career OverviewSecond only to specializing in neurology, specializing obstetrics and gynecology requires one of the longest study periods in the specialist fields of medicine. After completing a residency in this field, candidates are required to take submit to a written exam and, two years later, to an oral examination overseen by six professors.
OB/GYNs, as they are called in the United States, cannot be fully certified in the field until at least two years after completing their residency and the field itself promises to the typical practitioners, a career of long and irregular hours.
Having said this, OB/GYNs are specialists in demand. Gynecology literally means the science of women and gynecologists usually, although not always, practiced "the science of women" with obstetrics, which comes from the Latin for "to stand by". Whilst gynecology is the science of women and in modern medicine is the field dealing with every disease and medical condition that affects the female reproductive system, obstetrics is the specialization in overseeing and assisting in the birthing process.
Most gynecologists are trained as obstetricians as well, and vice versa. The vast majority practice in either a hospital OB/GYN department, or in a private practice. A small number of OB/GYNs do go on to specialize in a specific area of one or other of the fields: gynecologic oncology, for example, maternal fetal medicine, or reproductive endocrinology. Training for any subspecialty in either gynecology or obstetrics requires an additional two to four years of training before the specialty can be practiced.
The most common conditions diagnosed and treated by gynecologists are cancers of the cervix, urinary incontinence, absent periods (amenorrhoea), painful periods (dysmenorrhoea), heavy periods (menorrhagia), infertility, and prolapse. The most common methods for diagnosis of these and other common gynecological conditions are abdominal ultrasounds, vaginal ultrasounds, blood tests, hysteroscopies, and laparoscopies.
Following a positive diagnosis of any one of a number of conditions, gynecologists may prescribe certain medications, such as clomiphene to stimulate ovulation, or they may perform any one of a number of surgical procedures for which they are specially trained, as conditions require.
Although there is some controversy as to whether gynecologists are surgeons, they are trained to perform several types of surgeries: abortions to terminate pregnancies; dilation and curettage, to remove uterine contents; hysterectomies; removal of the ovaries; tubal ligations; exploratory laparoscopies and laparotomies; colposuspensions; and LLETZ procedures, which involve the removal of the surface of a cervix containing pre-cancerous cells.
The work of an obstetrician is specifically to care of pregnant women, on the other hand. They typically oversee prenatal visits, perform basic diagnostic tests to assess the mother's and the baby's health, and make assessments of high risk pregnancies. Obstetricians are also trained to deliver babies, although many low-risk pregnancies are delivered with the assistance of midwives only.
Overseeing a pregnancy, obstetricians are required to perform a number of diagnostic procedures as standard. In the first trimester, they review a complete blood count from the mother, they assess the blood type, a general antibody screen to detect Rh D negative antenatal patients, rapid plasma reagent to screen for syphilis, a rubella antibody screen, a hepatitis B screen, gonorrhea and Chlamydia cultures, tests for tuberculosis, PAP smears, urinalysis, HIV and Group B Streptococcus screens.
During the second trimester they oversee ultrasounds and may request amniocentesis for older patients or Maternal Serum Alpha-Fetoprotein screens to test for Down's Syndrome and other similar defects in the fetus.
In the third trimester, the iron and glucose level of the mother is tested for abnormal levels and appropriate treatments are administered under the guidance of the obstetrician as required.
Whilst the obstetricians role in overseeing these important tests is sometimes secondary to that of a midwife, in the case of many births, obstetricians are the primary caretaker of both mother and baby during labor, and, most crucially, during delivery.
Some obstetricians argue that there is no such thing as a low-risk pregnancy. Any number of things can happen during delivery of an otherwise healthy baby to an otherwise healthy mother. Obstetricians need to be alert and ready for the unexpected.
All this said, a career as an obstetrician and gynecologist, is extremely rewarding, both professionally and personally.
|
Career RequirementsAn OB/GYN must fulfil the education and experience requirements established by federal and state government to practice medicine. For entry into any education program to become a specialist in obstetrics and gynecology, a doctor of medicine degree is required from an approved school of medicine. It is often mandatory that candidates complete at least five year of graduate medical education in obstetrics and gynecology before practicing independently.
To work as an OB/GYN, an individual must complete four years of medical school, a one-year internship, and four years of residency. Opportunities for additional fellowship training exist in gynecologic oncology, maternal-fetal medicine, and reproductive endocrinology to name a few.
Due to the vastness and diversity of the practical knowledge required to perform as either an obstetrician, a gynaecologist, or both, extensive training is required in the field.
|
Advertisement
|
Job OutlookMany health care insurance plan providers are under considerable pressure from customers and physicians to increase patient access to specialists.
This said, the job outlook for OB/GYNs is extremely promising: the field is a diverse one. It offers qualified medical doctors the opportunity to deal directly with patients, act as policy makers, consultants, and researchers in the fields of gynecology and obstetrician.
The field looks set to remain particularly lucrative, dynamic, and open to qualified and enthusiastic graduates of medical schools.
|
Career TrackThe job prospects for qualified physicians and surgeons is expected to be better than average at least until the year 2014. The case for obstetricians and gynecologists is no exception.
Most of the opportunities in this specialist field are concentrated in the realm of general practice. General practicing OB/GYNs find employment in both hospitals and private practices.
There are, however, plenty of teaching opportunities, research opportunities, and consulting positions available to those who have sufficient experience. As the field is considered amongst the most specialized in medicine, the requirements to hold a teaching, research, or consulting position may be more stringent than in most other fields. The rewards of a career track in obstetrician and gynecology are, however, extremely rewarding.
|
CompensationThe average reported salary for a typical OB/GYN in the United States is approximately $250,000 per year. Depending upon their qualifications and experience, most OB/GYNs in the United States earn between $200,000 and $300,000.
|
|