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Neonatal doctors specialize in caring for newborns with unique needs. To become one, a person needs a bachelor’s degree, four years of medical school, five years of residency, and a specialized fellowship. They can work in a private practice or a hospital’s neonatal intensive care unit.
Neonatal doctors are licensed physicians who specialize in caring for newborns, especially those with unique needs due to premature birth or illness. Extensive education and training is required to become a neonatal physician and to master the skills needed to diagnose and treat sick babies. A person who wants to become a neonatal physician usually needs to complete a bachelor’s degree program, four years of medical school, at least five years of practical training in hospital residencies, and a specialized fellowship. With the right training and credentials, a new doctor can choose to open a private practice or work in a neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) in a hospital.
The first step a person needs to take to become a neonatal physician is to enroll in an accredited four-year university. Most future physicians choose to major in biology or another subject related to human health, with a focus on pre-medical courses. Through classroom work and independent study, students can develop a basic understanding of anatomy, physiology, and genetics as they apply to neonates. Most students prepare to take the medical school entrance exams sometime in their last two years of graduation.
Medical schools are often very competitive and strong grades, test scores, essays, and letters of reference are needed to gain acceptance. Once a person is admitted, he or she can expect to spend about two years in lectures and laboratory classes to develop an expert understanding of medicine. The last two years are mostly spent shadowing real doctors in hospitals and conducting research. A student who wants to become a neonatal physician can begin applying for pediatric internships and residency programs in their final year of medical school.
Most new graduates spend about a year in general internship positions, where they continue to take classes and begin treating patients under the supervision of experienced physicians. Up-and-coming neonatal physicians can enter pediatric residencies two to three years after completing their internship. As a resident, a person can work in a general hospital, pediatric specialty center or private practice under close supervision.
Doctors who want to work as pediatricians can choose to take licensing exams and start practicing after completing their residency, but a person who wants to become a neonatal doctor needs additional training. A two- to three-year fellowship in the specialty allows a new physician to work exclusively with NICU patients. He or she gains expert knowledge of the special considerations and treatment techniques needed to care for newborns. After a successful fellowship, the doctor can take a series of official licensing tests and start working independently.
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