A pediatric surgeon is a doctor who specializes in the care of children. They perform surgical procedures on children who are in a wide range of developmental stages, such as newborn babies and children who have progressed into their adolescent years. In addition to performing surgical procedures, they can also be involved in making diagnoses and managing care before and after surgery.
Work Environment
They often work together with other physicians including pediatricians, family physicians and neonatologists. These surgeons work collaboratively with other physicians that are involved in the child's care and help determine if performing surgery is in the best interests of the child. They work in a variety of health care environments including children's hospitals, clinics and research institutions.
A pediatric surgeon can see a variety of conditions that can occur very rarely or routinely. In addition to the treatment of broken bones and other surgical procedures, they can also encounter children who have congenital birth defects, cancer, burns and serious injuries.
Types of Specialties
Pediatric surgeons are usually specialists in either pediatric oncology, trauma, prenatal and neonatal. Specialists in pediatric oncology manage the care of children who have cancer and are involved in making a definitive diagnosis as well as the surgical removal of cancerous tumors.
Trauma specialists treat children who are faced with life-threatening conditions or injuries. Prenatal specialists work with radiologists and use ultrasound techniques to discover any irregularities that occur during the fetal stage of a child's development and may plan any surgical procedures that are required. A neonatal specialist most commonly is involved in the surgical repair of any present birth defects on infants.
Educational Requirements
This field requires many years of schooling and specialized training before they can start practicing medicine. After completion of a four-year degree, students must first enter and complete at least four years of medical school. A five year training program in general surgery is the next step, as students learn the basics of surgical procedures.
Completing two years of training in a fellowship program that specializes in pediatric surgery is the next step to becoming this type of surgeon. Students must be board certified in general surgery before they are allowed to take an exam that tests their knowledge of surgical procedures for children, which is given through the American Board of Surgery.
Upon the successful completion of these educational requirements, a person will then be certified to practice as a pediatric surgeon. In order to maintain licensing requirements, the surgeon must be recertified every 10 years.
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