Career as a Medical Doctor
The body is as complex as the universe – only put into a smaller package. An amazing feature of the body is the immune system which is a sophisticated network of cells and organs that band together to keep the bad guys – known as germs – out of the system. This is no small task because germs are already in our bodies, and when they try to break into a system, it is up to the immune system to either keep them out or find and destroy them.
So how can you tell when the germs have breached the immune system? You can tell when you get an external or internal reaction that is not the norm, such as a body rash, itchy eyes, constant sneezing and/or coughing, sinus inflammation, or asthma. A reaction can come from some type of food or beverage; the great outdoors including pollen, trees, and plants; the great indoors including mold, paint and dust; clothing materials including wool, cotton, linen and synthetics; drugs, and pharmacologic agents; pets and many other causes. These causes are known as allergens and the reactions are allergies.
Identifying and treating these reactions are the medical professionals known as allergists/immunologists. They are medical doctors who specialize in the diagnosis and treatment of allergic diseases, asthma and diseases of the immune system. Internal medicine allergists/immunologists can spend up to 12 years following high school graduation, in college, medical school and residency training, before passing a difficult examination to become board certified in allergy/immunology, while pediatric allergists/immunologists can add an additional two or three years of training. These doctors can provide the expert medical advice and treatment in the evaluation and management of these conditions.
Clinical research in these diseases is ongoing as researchers and clinical immunologists study the immune system and develop new tests and treatments for these disorders. The science of clinical immunology is a fast-growing area of medicine and highlights the importance of the immunologist both as a researcher in the laboratory and as a doctor caring for patients.
If you want to become an allergist then you have another two to three years of training in either internal medicine or pediatrics. You will finish your education in a fellowship training program in allergy and immunology. Then you must take and pass a required certification examination as either a pediatrician or doctor of internal medicine in order to practice as an allergist/immunologist.
Choosing your career path is one of the most important decisions you will make in your lifetime. It should be done with care, consultations with others and above all, knowledge of the field you aspire to and how your talents and interests measure up. Your current grades, study habits, educational strengths and weaknesses can be a good indication of where you can go with your career.
A profession, such as medicine, can be a very noble and rewarding career, but it will require years of education and training that is costly and will probably leave you paying for the education and training well into your career. Will it be worth it? You will not know the answer until you are in a practice for some time. That is why you should learn everything possible about a career before you make your choice.
The allergist is a respected member of the medical community and a necessary part of the healthcare system. Job opportunities are excellent and found across the country. The bottom line is that if you choose the path to become an allergist/immunologist, the possibilities are many.
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