L.A.'s Pediatricians Are Devoted Advocates For Children
In most cases, a pediatrician is the first human newborns encounter when they take in their first breath. These medical doctors are well-trained to manage the physical, mental and behavioral health of patients, from birth to age 21. They work in a variety of places, including hospitals, private practice offices and public health clinics. Some are employed by institutions of higher learning, where they equip students with what they need to know in order to pursue careers as primary care physicians that specialize in children.
In Los Angeles, pediatricians earn an average annual salary greater than $198,000, with a small percentage procuring yearly wages in excess of $272,000, according to current data. They work hard, dedicating about 50 hours each week practicing their craft and an additional four hours during the week providing free medical care to the under-served.
Before they are able to practice medicine, general pediatricians must first complete four years of college, four years of medical school and three years of training in a hospital setting. If pediatricians choose to specialize in such disciplines as neonatology, pediatric oncology or social pediatrics, they are required to spend another one to three years receiving book knowledge and hands-on experience in their chosen subspecialty.
Pediatricians must take and pass a total of three national tests, co-sponsored by the Federation of State Medical Boards and the National Board of Medical Examiners. Most hospitals also make them pass the American Board of Pediatrics Certifying Examination at the end of their general pediatric training and have them re-take the rigid test every seven years to maintain their certifications.
Some of the nation's best schools that offer a comprehensive pediatrics curriculum are located in L.A., including the David Geffen School of Medicine, Keck School of Medicine, and Charles R. Drew University of Medicine and Science.
Pediatricians are staunch advocates for infants, children and adolescents. They distribute food and clothing to struggling families. They also help politicians write and straighten out laws that affect a child's health and well-being. These doctors aim to live up to the root meaning of pediatrics: healer of children.
Sharon Raiford Bush is an award-winning journalist who covers topics of social interest in greater Los Angeles. Some news articles she has authored have been archived by the Smithsonian Institution in Washington, DC. Sharon also contributes to Examiner.com.
