An obstetrician/gynecologist is a physician specialist who provides medical and surgical care to women and has specific skill in pregnancy, childbirth, and disorders of the reproductive system. This includes preventative care, prenatal care, detection of sexually transmitted diseases, Pap test screening, and family planning. An obstetrician/gynecologist, commonly abbreviated as OB/GYN, can serve as a primary physician and often serve as consultants to other physicians.
OB/GYNs can have private practices, work in hospital or clinic settings, and maintain teaching positions at university hospitals. OB/GYNs may also work public health and preventive medicine administrations. OB/GYNs have a broad base of knowledge and can vary their professional focus. Many develop unique practices, providing high-quality health care for women.
OB/GYNs may choose to specialize in Acute and chronic medical conditions, adolescent gynecology, behavioral problems, cancer, endocrinology, health maintenance during pregnancy, infertility, pregnancy and delivery, prevention health, and urinary tract disorders. <Tab/>The education and training requirements to be an Ob/gyn are a bachelor’s degree in the field of pre-medicine, graduation from an approved medical school, completion of an OB/GYN residency program (minimum of 4 years in length) that is accredited.
Rotations divided between obstetrics, gynecology, gynecologic oncology, reproductive endocrinology, and ultrasonography, experience in primary and preventive care role for the equivalent of at least 6 months of the residency, including inpatient and ambulatory care, diagnosis and management of breast disease and lower urinary tract disfunction, performance and interpretation of diagnostic pelvic and transvaginal ultrasound, increase in patient responsibility with each year of training, serving as senior resident during final year of residency.
During four years of training, the obstetrician-gynecologist learn about aspects of preventive health care, including exams and routine tests that look for problems before you are sick, immunizations, overall health and provision of care for a range of medical problems, not just those of the reproductive system. The starting salary for an Ob/gyn in the year 2002 was $233,061 a year not including bonuses. The salary can also vary by experience, state, country, personality, hour’s worked and professional reputation. Many Ob/gyns may choose to be self-employed by which the salary may fluctuate.
Ob/gyns are the third highest paid profession in the field of Physicians. Ob/gyns that desire to start their own practice must provide their own insurance also their own retirement. Ob/gyn is a great field to go in to because of the opportunities that the job has. Working with women and their different situations, and also delivering children is a fulling job to have. Many Ob/gyns work as regular doctors with aspirations to become head of the department. Being head of the department means overseeing over other ob/gyn specialist.
Due to the growing field of the industry and the growing and aging there is a high demand for physicians in this particular field of women’s health care. Reports show shortages especially in the urban and lower income areas because of lower earning potential. Also because of the lengthy training that students have to endure in order to become an Ob/gyn medical facilities are requesting hospitals to open up more residency slots. For now experienced Ob/gyns have to work longer hours to fulfill the increasing growth of demand.
