Tiny Patients, Big Impact: The Essentials of Pediatrics

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Written by Maria Bilat

September 15th, 2024

 

Welcome to the Lab2Life articles page! Every week, we will be posting a new article related to the theme of the month, and you can find all of the articles right here on the website. The theme for September is Pediatrics, and it is my pleasure to dive into this wonderful topic with you in our very first article. 

 

Pediatrics is a specialized branch of medicine focused on providing

care to patients from birth to the age of 18. It supports the needs of

patients in various stages of development, ranging from infants and

children to adolescents and young adults. Pediatrics focuses on

supporting the unique physical, emotional and developmental needs

of the younger population, and plays a critical role in ensuring that

children grow into healthy adults.

 

The discipline of pediatrics is a key factor in the well-being of a community. One of its most important roles is preventive care, which focuses on preventing illness and diagnosing it early through routine check-ups, immunizations, and screenings. Pediatricians monitor the growth and development of children and educate parents on the importance of preventative measures, such as healthy nutrition, exercise, and safety. 

 

Pediatricians also care for children with acute and chronic conditions. They diagnose and treat a range of conditions, from common illnesses like colds and gastrointestinal problems, to chronic conditions such as asthma and diabetes. When treating a chronic condition, pediatricians develop a treatment plan and help guide families through managing the illness, typically through regular monitoring, medication and specialized testing. 

 

Pediatricians typically work clinics or hospitals, with some working in general practice and others specializing in treating children with specific health concerns. To become a pediatrician, doctors must complete several years of specialized education and training. While every doctor’s path is different, this is what a typical educational background looks like for a pediatrician in Canada: 

 

1. Undergraduate degree 

   • ​4 year bachelor’s degree in a relevant field, such as biology, chemistry, psychology, health sciences, or biomedical sciences. 

2. Medical school

   • ​4 year MD program, typically consisting of two years of in-class learning and two years of clinical rotations.

3. Residency​​​

   • ​Completion of a specialized pediatric residency program ranging anywhere from 3-5 years

 

After residency, pediatricians can go into general pediatric practice or enter a fellowship program to specialize in a pediatric subspecialty, such as neonatology, pediatric cardiology or pediatric surgery. These programs can take anywhere from 2 to 6 years of additional training. According to Salary Expert, an entry-level pediatrician in Ontario earns an average salary of $164,429, while a senior-level pediatrician earns an average salary of $314,991.1

 

There are so many different career options when it comes to pediatrics, and being a pediatrician is not the only option if you want to work in the field. Pediatric hospitals look for all kinds of staff, ranging anywhere from nurses and respiratory therapists to patient service clerks and environmental services. Check out CHEO’s hiring page and see what kind of positions they are looking to fill! 

 

To conclude this article, I’d like to share a quote that captures the magic of working in pediatrics and inspired me personally to pursue a career working with sick children. For all of you Grey’s Anatomy fans, this quote is from Season 6, Episode 8, where Arizona Robbins explains that “This is not general surgery in miniature. These are the tiny humans. These are children. They believe in magic. They play pretend. There is fairy dust in their IV bags. They hope, and they cross their fingers and they make wishes, and that makes them more resilient than adults. They recover fast, survive worse. They believe.”2​