What does a Pediatrician do?
A Pediatrician works in various settings, including private practices, hospitals, laboratories, and surgical environments. A Pediatrician’s primary responsibility is to care for their patients, but they may also work closely with other health care providers and specialists. Other doctors can also consult them for their specialty in pediatric medicine.
A Pediatrician in private practice will work closely with the parents and family of the babies and children they care for. This can include consulting on lifestyle, nutrition, as well as medical needs.
A Pediatrician practicing in a hospital, laboratory, or surgical environment may be required to visit patients at the bedside. Consulting with other healthcare providers and specialists is part of providing medical care within this environment.
In all cases, Pediatricians need to maintain the highest standards of ethical observance and comply with all laws regarding medicine within their province or territory.
Pediatrician skills and qualifications
Successful Pediatricians have a blend of analytical, communication, and counselling skills combined with extensive medical knowledge. Due to the diverse nature of the position, there are many skills and qualifications desired in a Pediatrician. Some of these include:
- Excellent interpersonal and communication skills
- Excellent patient and family interaction and time management skills
- Strong analytical and problem-solving ability
- Extensive knowledge of diagnostic, treatment, and rehabilitation processes
- Current information regarding drugs and medications acceptable for children and the side effects
- Familiarity with traditional and web-based patient information systems
Pediatrician experience requirements
All Pediatrician positions require a strong foundation in overall medical care and treatment. Other experience requirements vary based on the role. A clinical Pediatrician will have experience working within either a hospital setting or within a private practice. However, a laboratory or surgical Pediatrician typically has experience within a hospital setting. Pediatricians gain initial experience through the specialty residency training required for the completion of their academic requirements.
Pediatrician education and training requirements
In Canada, Pediatricians need to complete a bachelor’s degree in a scientific field from an accredited university. They must then graduate from an approved medical school and meet a certain number of hours of specialty training. Depending on the work environment and region, they may need an additional four to six years of specialty residency training, and further two years of subspecialty training. A Pediatrician also needs to pass the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada exam and become certified in their province or territory of practice.
Job description samples for similar positions
If a Pediatrician is not quite what you’re looking for, some related job description samples that may fit your needs include:
*Indeed provides this information as a courtesy to users of this site. Please note that we are not your recruiting or legal advisor, we are not responsible for the content of your job descriptions, and none of the information provided herein guarantees performance.
