WHAT IS A MEDICAL DOCTOR? how to become a general practitioner - gp A medical doctor is a person who has completed formal training at an approved medical school, has received a medical qualification at such an institution and has satisfied all the requirements called for by the professional healthcare registration board of country/state they are practicing in. A general practitioner devotes his practice to assessing and treating general medical ailments. A general practitioner typically practices in a suburban setting and takes care of the health of families living in this area. The GP diagnoses and treats a large variety of diseases and conditions, and has the option of referring certain conditions to a specialist for further investigation and management. SO YOU WANT TO KNOW HOW TO BECOME A MEDICAL DOCTOR? If you are in high school it is essential that you excel in the following subjects: • Mathematics • Science (physics and chemistry) • Biology Additional optional subjects to study: • Psychology • A business subject • Communication Additional language(s) that are spoken in the region where you intend to practice medicine In most countries, a pre-medical science degree is a requirement when applying to pursue studies at a medical school. Even if it is not a necessity in your country, it is highly recommended that you consider completing a science degree before applying to join a training program at a medical school. WHAT ARE THE ATTRIBUTES THAT I NEED TO BECOME A MEDICAL DOCTOR? • A strong desire to become a medical doctor. This is very important. Do not pursue medicine as a career if you are in any measure unsure about your decision. • Perseverance. • Embarking on a career that will require formal studies of 6 years or longer requires high levels of perseverance. • Love and respect for human beings (patients and their relatives). • Respect for life. • A keen interest in the structure and functioning of the human body. • The ability to work under pressure and within time constraints. • The ability to work as a member of a wider healthcare team. • The ability to work for long hours continuously. • The ability to keep your concentration for extended periods of time. • You need to like working with your mind and your hands. • You need to like working with people, love serving people?and mankind in general. • An enquiring mind – always trying to find out more about interesting subjects. • Intelligence. If you really struggle with your studies despite daily putting in considerable effort, you may do well to submit yourself for psychological assessment to ascertain if you have the intellectual ability to becoming a doctor. • Don’t worry if you have a tendency toward fainting, nausea, or dislike blood. Over a period of time, you will get used to it without the tendency to react negatively. BENEFITS OF A MEDICAL CAREER: • Fulfillment. A medical doctor experiences intellectual fulfillment in an environment where people are being helped. • Flexibility. The opportunity to follow a number of different careers within the general field of medicine. A researcher at university, a successful private practitioner as a GP, a hospital medical doctor, a medical advisor to a healthcare organization or a medical specialist are some of the career options that the field of medicine has to offer. • Financial security. Medical doctors in most countries worldwide are in the upper 15 percent of earners when compared with other careers and professions. • The opportunity to serve people. Being a medical doctor allows you to dedicate your life towards serving other people! • Status and respect. Medical doctors enjoy a high level of status in the communities where they work and live. • Challenges. Medical doctors are faced with diagnostic and treatment challenges on a daily basis. • Variety. People, diseases and medical conditions are all interesting variables in the doctor’s life ensuring that a doctor’s life is almost never boring. • Mobility. Doctors are not tied to their desks and career opportunities are available worldwide. • Relationships. As a family practitioner, you will be able to build long-term satisfying doctor-patient as well as friendly relationships with a large number of families and individuals within the community that you are serving. Undergraduate Study 1. Achieve the required NSC scores. You cannot and will not be considered for medical schools without at least Level 5 scores in mathematics, physical and life sciences, and English. 2. Pass a placement test. South African medical schools make prospective candidates complete an entrance exam to determine their ability and compare it to the training regimen offered by that university. A good score on this test will secure a candidates place in medical school. The University of Kwazulu-Natal requires candidates to complete four placement tests covering three subjects: an English test, a logical reasoning test, and two mathematics tests. The University of the Witwatersrand in Johannesburg (WITS) requires candidates to medical school to complete an English test and a math test. 3. Complete a biographical questionnaire. This shows the admissions staff what abilities you have garnered through extracurricular activities and demonstrates you are suited to a career in medicine. More important, it asks you to define why you want to study medicine. 4. Complete a six-year program. WITS stipulates that undergraduate applicants complete a six-year course. The University of Kwazulu-Natal provides extra specialization as part of its degree program, allowing medical students to graduate as neurologists, oncologists, or pediatricians to name but three. Postgraduate Study 5. Complete a degree. A degree is required in a science- or mathematics-based subject for entry into a postgraduate degree program. 6. Get accepted into a Graduate Entry into Medicine Program (GEMP). The GEMP is offered by WITS university and allows graduates with a science-based degree to enter the field of medical study. This is undertaken on a four-year course and requires candidates to complete a secondary placement test in addition to the first placement test required by the university. GEMP candidates may also be required to attend an interview. 7. Complete the course. Once youre done, you can register to be a doctor with the Health Professions Council of South Africa (HPCSA) and look for jobs as a practicing physician.
Posted on: Mon, 01 Dec 2014 10:57:45 +0000
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