Pediatricians

The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that babies be exclusively breastfed for the first six months of life. A baby's digestive system is immature, and giving solids before a baby is ready can be harmful. Some signs that a baby is ready to start solids include: good head control and the ability to sit up with support; the ability to move food from the front of the mouth to the back; and following the spoon or fork with his or her eyes when you eat.

Until they are six months old, babies should be fed breast milk or formula. Adding cereal to a bottle is unsafe and could throw off the balance of a baby's digestive system, causing fussiness and other issues. After four months, if a baby shows signs that he or she is ready to eat solids, talk to your pediatrician about introducing food.

A baby's first food may consist of baby cereal, such as rice or oat cereal, or a pureed mild fruit or vegetable, such as banana or avocado. The food should be blended with plenty of liquid so it is thin and easy to swallow. Begin by feeding your baby a few teaspoons, and gradually increase the amount given as your baby gets older. Never force your baby to eat, and stop feeding your baby when he or she shows signs of being full. You can continue to add new foods every five to seven days as long as your baby does not show signs of an adverse reaction. You can add texture and finger foods as your baby gets used to eating and begins to develop a pincer grasp, but keep food pieces smaller than a pea. Most pediatricians recommend that you refrain from giving your baby highly allergenic foods like seafood and peanuts until after he or she is a year old.

After children are 12 months old, they can eat most of the same food that you eat. Do not give a child younger than three popcorn, raw carrots, whole grapes or nuts, because these foods may pose a choking hazard. Be creative and let your child sample foods from your plate. Introduce a variety of flavors, colors and textures, and remember to give your child plenty of fruits and vegetables, whole grains and healthy fats.

There is no need to rush when introducing solids to babies. During the first year of life, solids simply give children the chance to explore tastes and textures. Giving children a variety of healthy foods and having them join you for meals can help them develop healthy eating habits for life.

You do not become a pediatrician until after you graduate from medical school. Most anyone who desires to become a doctor attends an accredited 4 yr college majoring in biology or chemistry. If the student desires to become a pediatrician, the student should take courses in child development, child psychology too. After the student graduates from Medical School, he/she will be awarded an M.D. Degree. However, they will need to practice their speciality for a specified amount of time and become Board Certified.

First, there is no such thing as a degree in pre-med. It is a curriculum layout or sometimes known as a track, that prepares students who intend to seek admission to medical schools. It includes activities such as prerequisite coursework, clinical experience, volunteer activities, and research.

While many individuals who pursue a career as a physician major in biology at the undergraduate level, many others come from a variety of other educational backgrounds. You should meet with a career counselor at the college or university you attend for what options exist for you. The important issue is preparing for the appropriate prerequisites required for medical school. The student should have a strong background in the following areas.

• Biology (cell biology, biology of the organism)
• Chemistry (inorganic, organic)
• Physics
• Communication (written and oral)
• Higher level math's
• Computer literacy
• Development of good critical thinking skills.

The following is from the U.S. Department of Labor. Read the following carefully, and follow through on the link provided for detailed information according to the U.S. Department of Labor. After reading the below, click on the related links section (U.S. Department of Labor) indicated below this answer box for more detailed information.

The common path to practicing as a physician requires 8 years of education beyond high school and 3 to 8 additional years of internship and residency. All States, the District of Columbia, and U.S. territories license physicians.

Education and training. Formal education and training requirements for physicians are among the most demanding of any occupation-4 years of undergraduate school, 4 years of medical school, and 3 to 8 years of internship and residency, depending on the specialty selected. A few medical schools offer combined undergraduate and medical school programs that last 6 years rather than the customary 8 years.

Premedical students must complete undergraduate work in physics, biology, mathematics, English, and inorganic and organic chemistry. Students also take courses in the humanities and the social sciences. Some students volunteer at local hospitals or clinics to gain practical experience in the health professions.

The minimum educational requirement for entry into medical school is 3 years of college; most applicants, however, have at least a bachelor's degree, and many have advanced degrees. There are 146 medical schools in the United States-126 teach allopathic medicine and award a Doctor of Medicine (M.D.) degree; 20 teach osteopathic medicine and award the Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine (D.O.) degree.

Acceptance to medical school is highly competitive. Applicants must submit transcripts, scores from the Medical College Admission Test, and letters of recommendation. Schools also consider an applicant's character, personality, leadership qualities, and participation in extracurricular activities. Most schools require an interview with members of the admissions committee.

Students spend most of the first 2 years of medical school in laboratories and classrooms, taking courses such as anatomy, biochemistry, physiology, pharmacology, psychology, microbiology, pathology, medical ethics, and laws governing medicine. They also learn to take medical histories, examine patients, and diagnose illnesses. During their last 2 years, students work with patients under the supervision of experienced physicians in hospitals and clinics, learning acute, chronic, preventive, and rehabilitative care. Through rotations in internal medicine, family practice, obstetrics and gynecology, pediatrics, psychiatry, and surgery, they gain experience in the diagnosis and treatment of illness.

Following medical school, almost all M.D.s enter a residency-graduate medical education in a specialty that takes the form of paid on-the-job training, usually in a hospital. Most D.O.s serve a 12-month rotating internship after graduation and before entering a residency, which may last 2 to 6 years.

A physician's training is costly. According to the Association of American Medical Colleges, in 2004 more than 80 percent of medical school graduates were in debt for educational expenses.

Licensure and certification. All States, the District of Columbia, and U.S. territories license physicians. To be licensed, physicians must graduate from an accredited medical school, pass a licensing examination, and complete 1 to 7 years of graduate medical education. Although physicians licensed in one State usually can get a license to practice in another without further examination, some States limit reciprocity. Graduates of foreign medical schools generally can qualify for licensure after passing an examination and completing a U.S. residency.

M.D.s and D.O.s seeking board certification in a specialty may spend up to 7 years in residency training, depending on the specialty. A final examination immediately after residency or after 1 or 2 years of practice also is necessary for certification by a member board of the American Board of Medical Specialists (ABMS) or the American Osteopathic Association (AOA). The ABMS represents 24 boards related to medical specialties ranging from allergy and immunology to urology. The AOA has approved 18 specialty boards, ranging from anesthesiology to surgery. For certification in a subspecialty, physicians usually need another 1 to 2 years of residency.

Other qualifications. People who wish to become physicians must have a desire to serve patients, be self-motivated, and be able to survive the pressures and long hours of medical education and practice. Physicians also must have a good bedside manner, emotional stability, and the ability to make decisions in emergencies. Prospective physicians must be willing to study throughout their career to keep up with medical advances.

Advancement. Some physicians and surgeons advance by gaining expertise in specialties and subspecialties and by developing a reputation for excellence among their peers and patients. Many physicians and surgeons start their own practice or join a group practice. Others teach residents and other new doctors, and some advance to supervisory and managerial roles in hospitals, clinics, and other settings.

For the source and more detailed information concerning this request, click on the related links section (U.S. Department of Labor) indicated below this answer box.

To the person about what should your major be if you want to become a gynecologist. I myself would like to be an obstetrician gynecologist and I am a Biology major. I think any person wanting to go into the medical field would be a Biology major.

This may not always be the case. It does not matter what a person's major is to be considered "pre-med." There are History, Business, Psychology, Chemistry, and Physics majors who ended up becoming physicians. The simple answer is this: You can major in whatever you want, as long as you complete the prerequisites to get into Medical school. I am going to steal this answer from another question which relates to this question as well:

First, there is no such thing as a degree in pre-med. It is a curriculum layout or sometimes known as a track, that prepares students who intend to seek admission to medical schools. It includes activities such as prerequisite coursework, clinical experience, volunteer activities, and research.

While many individuals who pursue a career as a physician major in biology at the undergraduate level, many others come from a variety of other educational backgrounds. You should meet with a career counselor at the college or university you attend for what options exist for you. The important issue is preparing for the appropriate prerequisites required for medical school. The student should have a strong background in the following areas.

• Biology (cell biology, biology of the organism)
• Chemistry (inorganic, organic)
• Physics
• Communication (written and oral)
• Higher level math's
• Computer literacy
• Development of good critical thinking skills.

The following is from the U.S. Department of Labor. Read the following carefully, and follow through on the link provided for detailed information according to the U.S. Department of Labor. After reading the below, click on the related links section (U.S. Department of Labor) indicated below this answer box for more detailed information.

The common path to practicing as a physician requires 8 years of education beyond high school and 3 to 8 additional years of internship and residency. All States, the District of Columbia, and U.S. territories license physicians.

Education and training. Formal education and training requirements for physicians are among the most demanding of any occupation-4 years of undergraduate school, 4 years of medical school, and 3 to 8 years of internship and residency, depending on the specialty selected. A few medical schools offer combined undergraduate and medical school programs that last 6 years rather than the customary 8 years.

Premedical students must complete undergraduate work in physics, biology, mathematics, English, and inorganic and organic chemistry. Students also take courses in the humanities and the social sciences. Some students volunteer at local hospitals or clinics to gain practical experience in the health professions.

The minimum educational requirement for entry into medical school is 3 years of college; most applicants, however, have at least a bachelor's degree, and many have advanced degrees. There are 146 medical schools in the United States-126 teach allopathic medicine and award a Doctor of Medicine (M.D.) degree; 20 teach osteopathic medicine and award the Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine (D.O.) degree.

Acceptance to medical school is highly competitive. Applicants must submit transcripts, scores from the Medical College Admission Test, and letters of recommendation. Schools also consider an applicant's character, personality, leadership qualities, and participation in extracurricular activities. Most schools require an interview with members of the admissions committee.

Students spend most of the first 2 years of medical school in laboratories and classrooms, taking courses such as anatomy, biochemistry, physiology, pharmacology, psychology, microbiology, pathology, medical ethics, and laws governing medicine. They also learn to take medical histories, examine patients, and diagnose illnesses. During their last 2 years, students work with patients under the supervision of experienced physicians in hospitals and clinics, learning acute, chronic, preventive, and rehabilitative care. Through rotations in internal medicine, family practice, obstetrics and gynecology, pediatrics, psychiatry, and surgery, they gain experience in the diagnosis and treatment of illness.

Following medical school, almost all M.D.s enter a residency-graduate medical education in a specialty that takes the form of paid on-the-job training, usually in a hospital. Most D.O.s serve a 12-month rotating internship after graduation and before entering a residency, which may last 2 to 6 years.

A physician's training is costly. According to the Association of American Medical Colleges, in 2004 more than 80 percent of medical school graduates were in debt for educational expenses.

Licensure and certification. All States, the District of Columbia, and U.S. territories license physicians. To be licensed, physicians must graduate from an accredited medical school, pass a licensing examination, and complete 1 to 7 years of graduate medical education. Although physicians licensed in one State usually can get a license to practice in another without further examination, some States limit reciprocity. Graduates of foreign medical schools generally can qualify for licensure after passing an examination and completing a U.S. residency.

M.D.s and D.O.s seeking board certification in a specialty may spend up to 7 years in residency training, depending on the specialty. A final examination immediately after residency or after 1 or 2 years of practice also is necessary for certification by a member board of the American Board of Medical Specialists (ABMS) or the American Osteopathic Association (AOA). The ABMS represents 24 boards related to medical specialties ranging from allergy and immunology to urology. The AOA has approved 18 specialty boards, ranging from anesthesiology to surgery. For certification in a subspecialty, physicians usually need another 1 to 2 years of residency.

Other qualifications. People who wish to become physicians must have a desire to serve patients, be self-motivated, and be able to survive the pressures and long hours of medical education and practice. Physicians also must have a good bedside manner, emotional stability, and the ability to make decisions in emergencies. Prospective physicians must be willing to study throughout their career to keep up with medical advances.

Advancement. Some physicians and surgeons advance by gaining expertise in specialties and subspecialties and by developing a reputation for excellence among their peers and patients. Many physicians and surgeons start their own practice or join a group practice. Others teach residents and other new doctors, and some advance to supervisory and managerial roles in hospitals, clinics, and other settings.

For the source and more detailed information concerning this request, click on the related links section (U.S. Department of Labor) indicated below this answer box.