When you think about an OB/GYN what do you think of? Many people don’t realize what they do or the job that they have. They will be with a woman at some of their most important moments of their life and they are there for everything for a woman. In this paper I am going to be talking about all the steps and information you will need in order to become an OB/GYN.
First of all, the acronym OB/GYN stands for two different things. OB stands for obstetrician, and GYN stands for gynecologist. You might be thinking well what’s the difference? “A gynecologist is a doctor who specializes in women’s reproductive health. Obstetricians care for women during their pregnancy and just after the baby is born. They also deliver babies. An ob-gyn is trained to do all of these things.” (Definition of ob/gyn, PG 1). Your ob-gyn will deal with some of the most important health issues in your life, including birth control, childbirth, and menopause. An ob-gyn can also screen for cancer, treat infections, and perform surgery for pelvic organ or urinary tract problems. Because ob-gyns deal with such personal and sensitive health issues, the thought of seeing one, especially for the first time, may be troubling to some women. You might be nervous or embarrassed at having a doctor see the most private parts of your body. Or you may be reluctant to discuss your most intimate issues with an ob-gyn, but at the end of the day it’s their job and they see those things every day and they are here for you.
This next section is going to be talking about the steps to become an OB/GYN. “Step 1 is to pursue a four-year undergraduate degree, such as a Bachelor of Science in Human Biology.” (Career: Gynecologists and Obstetricians, Pg. 1) Students may consider taking courses in biology, chemistry and anatomy, which provide a foundation of education for medical school and human health. “The next step is to pass the Medical College Admissions Test (MCAT) to gain entry into medical school.” (Career: Gynecologists and Obstetricians, Pg. 2) The MCAT is an intensive, day-long exam that tests students on biology, chemistry and physics, in addition to reading and writing skills. The Association of American Medical Colleges notes that roughly half of the students who apply to medical school are accepted. As a result, many pre-med students begin studying for the exam well in advance of college graduation. Step 3 is to complete a 4-year medical school program. “Aspiring OBGYNs take many of the same courses as general physicians but may choose classes with a concentration in obstetrics and gynecology.” (Career: Gynecologists and Obstetricians, Pg. 3) Medical school programs also include extensive hands-on practice through clinical rotations in which students can gain experience in OBGYN. The next step is to complete an internship and residency in a hospital. An internship is usually a year long, while a medical residency may last between 3-7 years. During a medical residency, OBGYN students are paid employees and may evaluate patients, create treatment plans and observe patient progress. The final step is to obtain a license. State licensure is mandatory in order to officially become an OBGYN. Students who are licensed can legally begin medical practice in the U.S. and its related territories. (Career: Gynecologists and Obstetricians, Pg. 4) Once you have made it through all of the schooling then you can begin your career as an OB/GYN. The total amount of schooling is roughly 12 years from start to finish. People may be scared off by that but if you are truly meant to become a doctor and that is your end goal, nothing will stop you.
Everyone normally wonders, well how much does a doctor make? It depends on if they practing as an obgyn or if they are just doing one or the other. The average Physician – Obstetrics/Gynecology salary in Michigan is $268,526 as of December 01, 2018, but the range typically falls between $232,959 and $323,164. (Physician – Obstetrics/Gynecology in Michigan, Pg.1) People may say well that’s too much money or wow that’s a lot but they have a lot on the line for their job and they have a lot of responsibility. They have worked hard and continue to work hard every day, so their salary is good for them.
Throughout this whole paper you may think, holy cow that’s a lot to do, in order to become an obgyn. It is scary to think about all the years of education you may need but it is good for someone who will enjoy this career one day. Throughout this paper I was going to be talking about all the steps and information you will need in order to become an OB/GYN, I hope that you learned a lot about this great career and you got to see a glimpse of what my future is going to be like.
