Who's a Doctor?
We have all been to the doctor at least once in our lives, and the sight of a clinic or a hospital is not alien to us. Whether it’s a sore throat or broken bones, this person in the ‘white coat’ cures it all.
Although you might have a general idea of what a doctor does, the term ‘doctor’ itself is very broad. There are several fields or specialisations like gynaecology (Women’s health), orthopaedics (bone health), cardiology (heart health), etc. There are also different methods through which doctors practice, like surgery, oral medication, physiotherapy, radiology, etc.
What will you do?
Where will you work?
How do you get there?
What skills would you need?
Problem-solving Skills
Patients will be coming to you with different issues with fertility. You must be able to assess their problem, analyse the reason and work on coming up with a solution.
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Research
You need to perform research on the eggs, sperms and embryos you obtain from the patient. This will involve some long hours of research.
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Scientific Skills
A logical mind can reason well, and reasoning before reaching any conclusions is very important in any scientific field. You must, therefore, have a scientific bent of mind along with an interest in life sciences.
build this skill
Communication Skills
It’s harder than ever to get people’s attention, what with so much information being thrown at them. But, people cannot resist a good story. Every good marketing campaign has a story to tell their customers and relate to them on an emotional level. Marketers who tell great stories through their marketing campaigns are always in great demand.
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Social Skills
You will be working on a lot of cool projects and will be meeting a lot of potential clients and customers on the job. And so, a big part of your job will involve interacting with these people. You could be great at coming up with ideas, but that is only one part of your job. You will need to talk and meet people, build a rapport with them, to establish your credibility. Especially if you’re a freelancer, you will need to have certain social skills.
build this skill
Time Management
The best - and worst - part about marketing is that there is never a dull moment. But this also means that there is NEVER A DULL MOMENT. Be prepared to be working on several tasks at once. That means that there are times when you will have to put certain projects on the backburner. You will have to know how to prioritise so that you don’t lose out on any opportunities.
How do you make it to the top ranks?
Medical Intern
After you have completed your graduation, you can join a hospital or a clinic as a medical intern. This would be your first step as a doctor. You will work under the supervision of senior doctors and learn the basics.
Resident Medical Officer
You would be working as an employee at a hospital or a clinic. Your work would involve conducting basic check-ups and working closely with nurses as well as other departments. You would work under the guidance of senior doctors.
Physician
On the basis of your medical speciality, you will work as a physician offering diagnosis and treatment for minor and major medical problems. You will assist senior physicians in different settings – hospitals, clinics. You could also start your own private practice.
Senior Physician
At this stage, you will oversee the work of the physicians. Depending on your specialisation, your work will majorly include conducting complex surgeries, providing appropriate treatment and care to the patients.
Chief Physician/Head of the Department
You would head a department and be responsible for the day-to-day clinical operations. At this stage, your job would involve more administrative work than clinical. Your main concern will be to provide quality health care to patients.
Hospital Executive Officer
Here, you are captain of the ship. You will be responsible for the overall functioning of the hospital. And work on improving the hospital. You would work closely with the board of directors and plan the betterment of the hospital and its services. You will direct and supervise the governance of the hospital.
Pursuing your career locally VS abroad
If you plan to establish your practice here, pursue medicine in India. This is because studying in India would help you understand the need here and help you build a network. India boasts of well-known medical institutes that offer good practical as well as theoretical knowledge. You can study medicine at colleges such as AIIMS Delhi, KGMU Lucknow, MAMC Delhi, Sharda University, SRM University and others. To secure a seat in a government-run medical college, it is important for you to secure good marks in the NEET exam. Pursuing a career in medicine from a government-run medical college would cost you anywhere between INR 1,00,000 to 2,00,000. Whereas, studying medicine from a private institution would cost you INR 5,00,000 to INR 50,00,000. In India, pursuing medicine would also give you an opportunity to receive live practice sessions and deal with rushed patients. Studying medicine in India would take up to 4-5 years.
To study medicine overseas, it is important for you to clear the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET). This is a screening test that helps universities examine your capability to cope with medical education. Russia and China are the top destinations for Indian medical aspirants looking to study at a foreign university. Top foreign universities offering good MBBS courses are Saint Petersburg Medical University, Volgograd Medical University and Tver State Medical Academy. Pursuing medicine overseas would give you good exposure and help you build a strong international network. A medical degree from a foreign university would cost you anywhere between INR 25,00,000- INR 60,00,000 per year, depending on the university you opt for. The courses vary from 4-7 years. If you don’t intend to move abroad, then you can opt for an online medical certification course offered by various US and UK universities. If you plan to study abroad, then you can look for a job there. You can also pick up a specialisation and carve your own niche to attract better job opportunities. However, if you have an MBBS degree from a foreign university and are looking to work in India then you would have to appear for the Foreign Medical Graduates Examination (FMGE), a screening test held by the Indian Medical Council to determine whether you are qualified for practice and further study in the country.
How much would you get paid?
The exact number of your salary will depend on your skills, qualifications, work experience, and the organisation you’re working for. However, we can give you a general idea of what doctors make.
What are your career options?
Audiologist
An audiologist specialises in the diagnosis and treatment of hearing loss and balance disorders in adults and children. The primary job of an audiologist is to conduct hearing exams, adjust and maintain hearing aids. An audiologist possesses comprehensive knowledge of human auditory and vestibular systems. These doctors typically work in hospitals or have their own clinics.
Cardiologist
These doctors specialise in heart-related issues. A cardiologist focuses on the treatment of the heart and its blood vessels. While the primary job of a cardiologist is to treat heart patients, they also deal with patients showing symptoms that could affect the well-being and functions of the heart.
Dermatologist
A dermatologist especially focuses on the diagnosis of conditions associated with skin, hair and nails. This specialisation also involves conducting various procedures such as botox, and laser treatments.
Endocrinologist
This kind of specialisation involves the study of illnesses and issues related to the endocrine system and the glands. The endocrine system is responsible for secreting and regulating the hormone levels in the body. Further specialisation in Endocrinologist involves behavioural endocrinology and comparative endocrinology.
Gastroenterologist
A gastroenterologist focuses on diagnosis and treatment of diseases of the digestive tract. This includes the stomach, small intestine, large intestine and the pancreas. They perform various medical procedures such as colonoscopy, endoscopy, ERCP, liver biopsy and others.
Nephrologist
The study of Nephrology is related to the diagnosis and treatment of kidney diseases. A nephrologist is trained to conduct kidney biopsy, dialysis and offer treatment for chronic kidney diseases.
Ophthalmologist
Ophthalmologists deal with the study and treatment of diseases and disorders of the eyes. They specialise in treating conditions such as cataract, glaucoma and others. They recommend medications for eye diseases and also implement laser therapy and perform surgeries when required.
Neurologist
A neurologist deals with the study of the human brain and in determining the causes and treatment of conditions such as Alzheimers, Parkinsons, and Dementia. Neurologists also study the nervous system and are trained in the treatment of diseases related to it.
Radiologist
A radiologist is a physician trained in interpreting diagnostic tests. They specialise in conducting medical imaging that helps in diagnosing and treating diseases within the body. Their job mainly involves performing X-ray radiography, ultrasound, computed tomography (CT), nuclear medicine including positron emission tomography (PET), and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).
Otolaryngologists
More commonly known as ENT specialist. They deal with the diagnosis and treatment of ailments related to the ear, nose and throat. Otolaryngologists specialise in offering surgical and medical management of disorders related to ear, nose, throat, neck and head.
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