To become a hospitalist physician, you need an undergraduate degree in a pre-medical discipline, a medical degree in internal medicine, and complete residency and fellowship programs. Look for part-time employment or internships in the medical field during undergraduate studies. Hospitalist physicians only work in hospitals and need to be licensed. Apply for vacancies at local hospitals and check hospital job sites for employment opportunities.
You will need to complete several degree programs to become a hospitalist physician and schooling can take up to 10 years. An undergraduate degree in a pre-medical discipline and a medical degree in internal medicine are the most common focuses for people entering this profession. In addition to education, there are residency and fellowship programs that you will need to complete before becoming a medical hospitalist. The duties of this job are extremely similar to other medical professions, with the exception that you only work in hospitals. Due to the competitiveness of medical school admission, you will need to have an impeccable academic history during graduation for acceptance.
Although many schools do not offer a degree in pre-medical studies, you can choose a related course with a strong emphasis on the natural sciences. Some of your courses should include organic chemistry, biochemistry and genetics. During your undergraduate studies, consider looking for part-time employment or internships in the medical field. Most of your coursework will prepare you for the entrance exams and practice in the field will help you with your advanced medical courses. You can also request information from your school on preparatory courses and practical exams for the medical school entrance test.
Upon acceptance to medical school, you will want to choose a degree program that will help you become a medical doctor. The first two years of medical programs are usually academic-based, while the last two years will be clinical fieldwork. These programs are designed to prepare you for the residency program that will allow you to become a medical hospitalist. After graduation, most locations require you to complete at least a three-year residency, which is usually based on your area of specialization. Internal medicine is the most common program for this career because you need to be trained in a field of general medicine to perform various services in different sections of a hospital.
Most jurisdictions will require you to be licensed to practice medicine in that particular field, and you will need to take a licensing exam to become a medical hospitalist. Hospital working hours differ greatly from private practice hours, and you will typically need to accommodate a flexible schedule as well. To find employment in this field, you should apply for vacancies at local hospitals and continually check hospital job sites.
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