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Becoming a neonatal surgeon requires a commitment to many
years of education and training. These surgeons operate on some of the most
vulnerable patients, as they specialize in treating newborns and may even
provide care to babies who are yet to be born. In most cases, this career
requires a high school diploma, four years of college, four years of medical
school, and residency training that may last for up to eight years. In addition
to this extensive training, many jurisdictions require aspiring neonatal
surgeons to spend an additional two years in pediatric surgery training that
focuses on neonatal care. If you want to become a neonatal surgeon, the first
step you will usually have to take is completing high school. Science and math
classes, in particular, may help prepare you for the educational path you will
pursue, but composition and public-speaking classes may prove important as well.
College admissions staff will likely consider all of your grades when you apply,
so it is important to do well in all your subjects. Many colleges will consider
your participation in extracurricular activities and groups as well.
Additionally, volunteer activities may help boost your chances of being accepted
to the college of your choice. In most cases, you won’t have to choose a
particular major to become a neonatal surgeon, as most medical schools will
accept students who've pursued just about any major. Some aspiring surgeons
choose science or pre-medicine majors, however, and both can provide good
preparation. Still, you may also gain acceptance to medical school after
completing a liberal arts degree or studying math. More important than your
choice of majors may be the grades you earn in college, the extracurricular
activities you pursue, and the recommendations of your professors. In addition,
you will usually have to take a medical school entrance exam to gain entry to
medical school. Medical school usually lasts for four years and not only
includes classroom education, but also clinical training. In most jurisdictions,
aspiring doctors have to pass a licensing examination to become doctors as well.
Once you've completed medical school and passed this exam, however, your
training to become a neonatal surgeon is not over. In most jurisdictions, you
will have to complete a five- to eight-year residency followed by two years of
pediatric surgery training that focuses on neonatal care to prepare for this
career. Once you have finished this specialty training, you may have to pass
another exam to be board certified in this field to become a neonatal
surgeon. |
