Pediatrician--Career Q&A: Professional Advice and Insight

What is it like to be a pediatrician? In this Career Q&A video interview, Laura Layer, M.D. talks about her career path, what she does on the job, and the keys to success in pediatrics. She also offers candid advice on breaking into the profession as well as insight into the industry's biggest challenges and how the field may change in the next ten years.

Length: 15 minutes

ORDER CODE: FFM-BVL133148

Copyright date: ©2017

Closed Captioned

Pediatricians: Duties and Responsibilities (00:41)
Laura Layer's day is filled with consulting with colleagues on difficult cases and educating parents regarding their children's health.

Pediatricians: Getting Your Career Started (00:46)
Layer chose medicine as a career because of her interest in science. An advantage to working in the medical field is the ability to go almost anywhere in the world.

Pediatricians: Success (01:16)
Patience is crucial when working with children. Sometimes Doctor Layer has to nudge parents who do not ask enough questions or curtail parents who talk too much.

Pediatricians: Certification, Education and Training (01:30)
A pediatrician needs four years of college, then four years of medical school before completing a residency term. Medicine is a continuing education career with exams every ten years until retirement.

Pediatricians: Workplace Atmosphere (01:38)
Dr. Layer works in an intercity clinic and puts in long hours at the office. Speaking Spanish helps to communicate with clients. Working with a less educated clientele requires negotiation skills.

Pediatricians: Sharing Advice (01:19)
A desire to serve people is necessary to be a medical provider. Layer says that you need to enjoy being around children and have patience with their parents to be a pediatrician.

Pediatricians: Typical Day (01:41)
Layer and her staff fill their days with well visits, sick visits, shots, blood draws, and hearing tests for children. At end of day, medical assistants enter email information into the computer.

Pediatricians: Industry Goals (01:23)
Educating children while they are young is important for their overall future health. There are social workers on staff in the clinic where Layer works.

Pediatricians: Challenges (02:03)
Insurance coverage is the biggest challenge for medical clinics. Obesity is an issue in pediatric healthcare. There is more type-two diabetes in children today than in the past.

Pediatricians: Future (01:42)
Layer believes that years from now, families will still be dealing with the same issues. She hopes that obesity will decrease and that there will be insurance coverage for preventative medical care in the future.