Deciding to become an anesthesiologist is a noble choice. While many would love to become a doctor, many take a second look when realizing the many years that one must invest in education before having permission to actually practice medicine. There are those, however, who carry on with determination and perseverance to follow their calling into the medical profession of anesthesia.
Becoming An anesthesiologist
An anesthesiologist is actually a medical doctor first and therefore, much education is necessary. Education for everyone begins in elementary and follows into high school. For those who might be interested in anesthesia at a young age, doing their very best in high school can help set the course for becoming a doctor as they further their education. Good scores in high school can help students get into better colleges, provide scholarships and give them a good start on becoming an anesthesiologist.
Once one graduates from high school, it’s on to four years of undergraduate studies at a reputable college. Here, interested medical students can major in studies such as science, biology, or math. Some colleges offer a pre-med course of study that can help prepare those who are interested in the medical profession.
While in college, it’s imperative that potential med students do their very best and get the highest scores possible. Grades in their undergraduate school can pave the way medical school, helping them get better grades on their pre-med school exam as well as increasing their chances of being accepted into a good medical school.
what's next?
After graduating with a bachelor’s degree, pre-med students then begin their education at medical college in order to become either a medical doctor (M.D.) or a doctor of osteopathic medicine (D.O.). It takes another four years of medical schools to complete the requirements for becoming a doctor. Medical school will take students through classroom work, lab work, laws about medicine, and pharmacology. Courses will include biochemistry, anatomy, psychology, microbiology, pathology and medical ethics.
Once graduation is complete from medical school, it’s time to begin working specifically towards being an anesthesiologist. Depending upon the requirements, school and program, this could mean four to five more years of schooling. In other words, it could take up to thirteen years of higher education in order to become an anesthesiologist. The good news, however, is that it’s been proven to be one of the most satisfying and rewarding jobs, while also providing excellent pay and job security.
Many anesthesiologists will attend a regional anesthesia conference in order to connect with others in their field as well as learning the most current information that is available. Through these types of conferences, anesthesiologists can broaden their horizons and find out the newest research and developments in the field of anesthesiology.
Knowing where to study anesthesia will depend greatly on your resources and abilities. Once you find a good program, with perseverance and hard work, you will attain your goal. This will lead to years of fulfilling your dreams of practicing medicine as an anesthesiologist.
Over 1,500 anesthesiologists, physicians, scientists and clinicians will gather for the 31st Annual ESRA Congress in Bordeaux, France. The event will take place on September 5-8,2012 and will feature a scientific program that will explore the latest clinical evidence and industry updates.
