Becoming a hematologist-oncologist requires a high school diploma, a bachelor’s degree, medical school, a residency program in internal medicine or pediatrics, and a hematology-oncology fellowship program. Courses in chemistry, biology, physics, and mathematics are necessary, and clinical work is required.
To become a hematologist-oncologist, many years of training are required. Students must first complete high school and a four-year college degree. Then they must become doctors, attending medical school for about four years and successfully completing the necessary licensing exams. After that, it is necessary to complete a residency program in internal medicine or pediatrics. The final step is to finalize a hematology-oncology fellowship program.
One of the first steps required to become a hematologist-oncologist is to earn a bachelor’s degree from an accredited university. Students do not necessarily need to major in a specific discipline, but they do need to complete courses in chemistry, biology, physics and mathematics. Before or after graduating from college, students usually take an entrance test in preparation for applying to medical school. Other components of a medical school application include transcripts of all college papers, essays that explain the person’s desire to become a doctor, and letters of recommendation.
The next step to becoming a hematologist-oncologist is to study medicine. Typically, this degree takes four years to complete. Often, the first two years are spent in the classroom, taking courses on topics such as anatomy, physiology, microbiology, and pathology. The next two years are devoted to clinical work, interacting with real patients and learning to apply the courses learned during the first two years to real-life situations. While students are not required to take specific courses in hematology or oncology, interested students may choose to take electives in these subjects.
After finishing medical school, a person trying to become a hematologist oncologist must complete a residency program. Students typically enroll in these programs while still in medical school. This part of the training takes three years to complete and provides a broad base of knowledge about caring for adults. If someone wants to be a hematologist-oncologist who cares for adults, he or she would complete an internal medicine residency program. Alternatively, if someone wants to become a hematologist-oncologist who cares for children, he or she can complete a pediatric residency program.
Completion of a hematology-oncology fellowship is one of the final steps to becoming a licensed professional in that field. Fellowship programs generally last at least two years. Some programs include time to work clinically with patients and time to do research in the field. After completing the fellowship and passing the certification exams, a person will be qualified to work as a hematologist-oncologist.
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