How to Become a Gastroenterologist: Skill, Salary and Education

How to Become a Gastroenterologist: The esophagus, stomach, liver, gallbladder, pancreas, small intestine, and colon are all parts of the digestive tract that gastroenterologists are highly trained medical specialists in.

Whether you are just joining the medical field or are thinking about a career change, this article will arm you with the information and insight you need to start off on the right foot and succeed as a gastroenterologist.

Also Read: Are Orthodontists Doctors? (Meaning, Career and FAQs)

Who is a Gastroenterologist?

A physician with a focus on treating gastrointestinal (GI) illnesses and problems is known as a gastroenterologist.

After finishing medical school, they spend their three years of residency treating a wide range of ailments and wounds.

They must then spend a further three years in gastroenterology school before receiving a special credential.
They are recognized as experts in digestive health issues by this certification. They can also perform and interpret advanced diagnostic procedures that are often not provided by primary care physicians.

Gastroenterology can be categorized in a few different ways.

Academic vs Community vs Private Practice

As an academic gastroenterologist, you’ll be committed to advancing medical education by mentoring GI fellows and students. In academia, you frequently encounter a wider range of pathology, unusual patients, and uncommon inherited disorders.

Working in a smaller facility as a community gastroenterologist will provide you more exposure to routine cases that are frequently less challenging or unusual. At a county hospital, where patients frequently wait a long time to seek medical attention, you might see more uncommon, sophisticated pathophysiology and manifestations.

The least frequent practice situation for a gastroenterologist is private practice, and this only happens frequently in tiny towns. A GI practice has many moving pieces, including acute and chronic conditions, procedural and non-procedural aspects, making management more challenging. Private practice is becoming more difficult due to the need to coordinate staff, the clinic, and most crucially patient safety, including cleaning scopes, providing appropriate sedation, and having cutting-edge equipment.

Outpatient vs Inpatient

You will have the more typical 9 to 5 or 8 to 4 working hours and a stable schedule as an outpatient gastroenterologist. This gives you more lifestyle freedom, better hours, and a significant amount of clinic time and procedures, mostly for diagnostic screenings like a colonoscopy for the detection of colon cancer. Each week, you’ll typically spend three or three and a half days performing procedures and one to two days in the clinic. The vast bulk of your job will be outpatient in nature, however a few times per month you’ll be on call with the neighborhood hospital or academic institution for emergencies.

Your position as an inpatient gastroenterologist is probably academic. The instruction of medical students, residents, and fellows as well as exposure to more complex disorders are both implications of this. The patients will be sicker, and you will be busier than your outpatient colleagues. It’s more demanding, but for many the benefits outweigh the costs, particularly in teaching and engagement with trickier procedures like ERCP for dealing with the pancreas and liver. As a GI in academia, you may normally anticipate working from 9 AM to 6 PM depending on inpatient rounds, as well as being on call at night occasionally.

A GI hospitalist can anticipate working one week straight and taking a week off, just like an internal medicine inpatient hospitalist.

Is Gastroenterology a Reputable Career?

It is, indeed. Gastroenterologists are doctors who specialize in treating issues with the digestive system.

The majority of gastroenterologists are employed. The enormous demand for skilled GIs more than makes up for any salary gap if their high pay doesn’t ensure their financial security.

Due to the attractive financial benefits, gastroenterologists are in high demand. In Houston, a gastroenterologist may anticipate earning an annual compensation of $350,000 on average.

The potential of a gastroenterologist may not have been reached even after ten or more years of education.

To become a doctor, one must complete four years of undergraduate studies, four years of medical school, and at least three years of residency.
As you study the details of the field, becoming a gastroenterologist involves a large time commitment.

How to Become a Gastroenterologist

It takes a lot of school and training to become a gastroenterologist.

Pre-medical education and requirements usually mark the beginning of the journey, which continues through medical school, residency, and gastrointestinal fellowship training.

Let’s examine each of these actions in more depth:

1. Get a bachelor’s degree:

A bachelor’s degree is a prerequisite for pursuing a career in gastroenterology.

Although admittance to medical school does not have a set major requirement, it is crucial to complete the needed pre-medical training.

This comprises courses in mathematics, physics, chemistry, and biology.

Additionally, it is advantageous to get involved in extracurricular activities, including volunteering at clinics or hospitals, to obtain real-world experience and show your dedication to the area.

2. Enroll in Medical School

The pre-clinical and clinical years make up the first two years of medical school, which normally lasts four years.

You will acquire the fundamental medical information and abilities during your pre-clinical years.

You will have the chance to work closely with patients during the clinical years under the direction of knowledgeable doctors.

3. Internal Medicine

Aspiring gastroenterologists must undergo an internal medicine residency program after graduating from medical school.

A three-year internal medicine residency program offers thorough instruction in the diagnosis and management of adult disorders.

To obtain exposure to and experience in several medical specialities, including gastroenterology, you will cycle through them throughout this period.

4. Gastroenterology Fellowship Training

Following completion of your internal medicine residency, you should apply for a gastroenterology fellowship.

Programs for specialized training in the diagnosis and management of digestive system problems in gastroenterology normally take three years.

You will get the chance to collaborate closely with skilled gastroenterologists during this period, acquiring practical experience in performing endoscopic operations, evaluating diagnostic findings, and creating patient treatment plans.

5. Board Certification and Licensing

After completing your fellowship training, you will be qualified to apply for gastroenterology board certification.

Although it is not required, board certification is strongly advised because it shows your knowledge and dedication to the profession.

You must successfully complete a test given by the American Board of Internal Medicine (ABIM) and the American Board of Gastroenterology (ABG) in order to achieve board certification.

A medical license in the state where you intend to practice is another something you’ll need to get.

State-specific licensing standards may differ, however they all often involve passing a standardized test, such as the USMLE.

Skills for a Gastroenterology Career

1. Strong Analytical Abilities:

To analyze something is to dissect it into its constituent elements in order to get broader conclusions.

Gastroenterologists need to be able to decipher test results, assess intricate medical data, and diagnose patients correctly.

2. Paying Close Attention:

When we say that we pay attention to the details, we mean that we pay special attention to every single thing. This entails monitoring events, validating information, and making wise scheduling decisions.

In gastroenterology, the ability to pay meticulous attention to detail is essential since even slight abnormalities or subtle changes in test results can have a big impact on patient care.

3. Effective Communication Skills:

If it is possible to acquire a talent at all, mastering communication could take a lifetime.

To improve your communication skills and make sure you can easily transmit and understand information, there are a number of easy things you can do.

Gastroenterologists must be able to communicate with patients clearly and efficiently, breaking down complex medical concepts for their benefit.

4. Compassion and Empathy:

Compassion in the medical arena entails more than only feeling sorry for the patient.
As a nurse, compassion means going above and beyond one’s “normal” responsibilities to establish trusting relationships with patients and to make them feel better.

The quality of life of a patient can be greatly impacted by gastrointestinal diseases. Therefore, showing compassion and empathy can promote a favorable patient-doctor connection through fostering trust.

5. Hand-eye Coordination:

The studied and perfected use of fine motor abilities, such as gripping, manipulating, and releasing objects, is known as manual dexterity.

Due to the prevalence of endoscopic procedures, gastroenterologists must have outstanding manual dexterity and hand-eye coordination.

Also Read: How to Become a Personal Trainer

What Do Gastroenterologists Earn?

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the job prognosis for gastroenterologists is favorable, with an expected growth rate of 7% from 2019 to 2029.

The rising incidence of gastrointestinal illnesses, an aging population, and improvements in medical technology all contribute to the demand for gastroenterologists.

Frequently Asked Questions

Conclusion

It takes commitment, perseverance, and a love for comprehending and treating digestive system diseases to become a gastroenterologist.

Whether you decide to operate as a gastrointestinal generalist or a specialist, your knowledge will be crucial in enhancing the health and wellbeing of countless people.

So, start your path to becoming a gastroenterologist today if you’re eager to explore the intriguing world of the human digestive system.

YOU MIGHT BE INTERESTED…

• Online Cyber Security Courses for Beginners
• How Long does it take to Become an Orthopedic Surgeon?
• The Best Colleges for Orthodontists
• What is the Dental Admission Test (DAT)?
• How to Become an Arborist (Salary, Skills and Jobs)