Your specialization will not only determine what kind of education you need, but also how satisfied you are with your career, the amount of money you will make, and how quickly you will be hired after school. If you are not quite sure which direction you should take, then take a look at these 7 fulfilling medical specializations.
1. Orthodontist
Becoming an orthodontist will require further training after graduating dental school, but the results can be worth it. When it comes to the average national salary for orthodontists, they are right around the middle of the pack with pay that is comparable to other types of family practice doctors. One of the biggest benefits of becoming an orthodontist is the flexible hours. After the additional training, orthodontists have much more control over scheduling their work hours when compared to other doctors.
2. Dermatologist
Much like orthodontists, many doctors become dermatologists so that they have more flexibility over their work schedule. On average, these doctors have much shorter work weeks while still receiving a relatively large salary. Depending on what type of dermatologist you would like to become, you can expect a minimum of four years of additional training after receiving your doctorate. This career path also rates among the lowest when it comes to stress.
3. Anesthesiologist
Anesthesiologists may work relatively long hours depending on which practice or hospital they are hired at, but they also have control over those hours. These specialists are some of the highest paid within the field of medicine. This is another specialization that requires around 4 additional years of schooling.
4. Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeon
This is a unique specialty within the field of medicine as oral and maxillofacial surgeons deal with problems throughout the head and oral cavity. These doctors require some of the most training when compared to almost any other specialty, but this does come with benefits. In addition to a relatively high salary, oral and maxillofacial surgeons consistently rate their job as both challenging and rewarding.
5. Maternal Fetal Specialist
Also referred to as a perinatologist, a maternal fetal specialist like Dr. Gilbert Webb help mothers that will be experiencing a high-risk pregnancy (Source: USNews). These specialists generally meet mothers as early on in their pregnancy as possible and will treat them until the child is born. This extremely satisfying career path allows doctors to not only build a strong relationship with their patients, but to also help mothers avoid some of the most common pregnancy complications that exist today.
6. Non-Invasive Cardiologist
A non-invasive cardiologist generally runs an office-based practice and sees anywhere from a 20 to 30 patients per day. During these meetings, they can perform diagnostic tests on anyone that is dealing with cardiovascular or heart health issues as long as it does not involve an invasive procedure. Non-invasive cardiologists are at the higher end of the spectrum when it comes to pay with a national average of $400,000 per year.
7. Radiologist
Few specialties within the field of medicine have grown as quickly as radiology with new technology coming out practically every year. This sub-field of medicine continues to have a high demand for new employees with a national average salary that is just below cardiologists. These individuals can either work directly with patients in order to diagnose and treat their problems or work in a lab to develop new technologies.
In the end, it is important for prospective doctors to put job satisfaction first when it comes to choosing a specialty. As long as the passion is there, a comfortable salary and manageable work schedule will likely follow.