Following an Orthopedic Surgeons Career Path

If you break a bone or have some other type of bone problem, you would more than likely see orthopedists, also known as orthopedic surgeons. These doctors practice a branch of medicine that uses both surgical and non-surgical means to repair musculoskeletal injuries and deformities. These problems are often related to sports injuries, infections, tumors, and degenerative childhood diseases.

The name orthopedics is derived from two Greek words orthos and paideion when put together mean "straight-child" and is often used on children to correct deformities in the spine and other problems with the bones. These children are often born with these deformities.

Orthopedic surgeons usually deal with patients with some type of musculoskeletal injury. Orthopedic surgeons use general anesthesia on the patients while they perform their surgeries and often are able to land a great job for life in a local hospital, teaching school, or a private practice office.

The future often looks bright for these specialists, especially in areas that are away from the big cities where good doctors are not as easy to find. The pay scale for orthopedic surgeons is roughly between $100,000 and $500,000 a year, depending on your experience and ability. The pay also depends on where your practice is located as often the professionals in private practice are on a higher pay scale because the competition is not as high.

If you desire to follow this path, you will need to earn a bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university in either pre-med, or biology. Then you will need to finish four years of medical school then complete a hospital residency, which also lasts about four years. This residency usually includes general surgery with specialty training.

After you have completed all the required schooling, you must apply for a medical practice license in the state that you wish to practice. To do this, you must pass the Medical Licensing Exam. You must apply to be re-certified every 7-10 years so that your license stays up to date and you can continue to practice your skill.

There are many skills that are required for you to become a good orthopedic surgeon. These include having a complete understanding of any new technologies being used in the surgical field, ethics within the medical field, pharmacology so that you can prescribe the right medicines for your patients, and physiology. You will also need to have an understanding of what contributes to the health of the musculoskeletal system and how to prevent and treat disease. You must also have the stamina to work the long hours that are required with this career.

If you desire to follow this path, the future is great for you. If you have the patience, your dream can come true and you can have a great future in the medical field.