What Does It Take To Become a Dermatologist?
Dermatology is the surgical and medical branch of health care focused on the skin, hair, and nails. According to the American Medical Association, there were less than 5,000 dermatologists in the United States as of 1970. Today, the American Academy of Dermatology can boast of 20,000 members. Dermatology has become one of the most sought-after careers as the technology and efficacy of treatment methods increasingly improve. If you’re interested in a career in this field, this article details what it takes.
What is a dermatologist?
According to the Academy of Dermatology, dermatologists are highly specialized medical doctors focused on three major body parts: the hair, skin, and nail. Dermatology primarily deals with the diagnosis, effective treatment, and prevention of patients with different hair, nail, and skin type conditions.
Dermatology is also a highly diverse medical field with several processes. Experts discover new conditions and effective strategies like EMsculpt neo through scientific publications to afford patients the best results. Emsculpt Neo was invented by Dr. Nowak and was recently approved by the U.S. Food and Drugs Administration (FDA) as a non-invasive body shaping procedure that works to simultaneously remove fat and aids with muscle building.
Dermatology experts like Dr. Nowak require the same level of training as all doctors. Educational institutions may have the same application process and entry requirements. So, enlisting an admission expert can be a surefire way of scaling past the low med school acceptance rate. Dermatology students may even find it harder to gain admissions due to the competitiveness in residency programs. While dermatologists’ wages are significantly higher than family medicine, dermatology residency positions are far fewer than internal medicine options. That notwithstanding, dermatology can be an exciting field, and you’re more than valid with your quest to become one.
Patients of all ages rely on skin specialists to solve medical conditions like psoriasis, melanoma, and other life-saving plastic surgery procedures. If you’re interested in cosmetic surgery options like liposuction, etc., then a dermatology career can be a great fit for you. The following section can outline specific steps in achieving your goal.
Steps to becoming a dermatologist.
It’s essential to go through the mill, satisfying every qualification there is on the dermatology journey. Some specific steps include:
1. Earn a bachelor’s degree.
Earning a bachelor’s degree from your dream school is the first step for aspiring skin specialists. You can take pre-med courses in biology, organic chemistry, and physics to qualify for med school. But depending on your preferred school, you may need to add math and biochemistry courses.
2. Attend medical school.
Typical med school courses to expect include pharmacology, physiology, anatomy, microbiology, etc. You may find pre-med courses like biochemistry in med school, but it’s essential not to rest on your laurels counting on past knowledge. After completing the United States medical licensing examination (USMLE), doctors need impressive test scores to qualify for a dermatology residency. Students may also need convincing remarks from supervisors during the clinical trial.
3. Get work experience.
Clinical rotations familiarize you with the realities on the ground, usually under strict supervision. That’s often the best time to ask specific questions and clear your doubts. Residency gives you the room to gain significant work experience for better results in your final USMLE Step 3 exam.
4. Get a license.
You can become a practicing dermatologist after earning your ULSME. After, you can set up your consultancy or work for other health care providers.
All in all, dermatology can be a highly rewarding and diverse field for students. Some professionals can further specialize in several other areas. Going higher can bring you significant benefits and career opportunities.
