JOB OVERVIEW Dermatologists are medical doctors who focus on various disorders and treatment of parts of the body that affect the ff: skin, nails and scalp in infants, children and adults. This includes a rangeof disorders that may be pathologic and cosmetic in nature. Cosmetic disorders are those that dematologists do in an elective basis for aesthetic purposes. Treatments include face wrinkles, discolorations, scars, moles and hair losses. Some pathologic or non-cosmetic disorders that can be mild and may include rashes, fungal dandruff and eczema, psoriasis as well as skin allergies. Other non-cosmetic disorders may be more serious and severe. These include skin infections and even skin cancers. Some dermatologists also have specializations. There are, at this time, two common specialties in this field: pediatric dermatology and dermatopathology. Pediatric dermatologists focuses on children and teens patients, while the dermatopathologists, focuses on studying skin diseases at the deeper chemical and microscopic level.
EDUCATION AND TRAINING REQUIREMENTS
Like all physicians, dermatologists are required to undergo years of intense education and training in the field of science. A pre-med course should be taken first. Then an exam for a medical school should follow. After passing the entrance exam, taking the medical course proper is the next step. After the medical school, a board exam should be taken and passed. Applicants then move on to three to four years of residency training in Dermatology. Should one wants to take another specialization, an additional training is required afterwhich an exam will follow for the formal certification given by the The American Board of Medical Specialties (ABMS).
ABILITIES AND SKILLS
A dermatologist should have the following skills: critical thinking skills, analytical skills, skills in empathy as well as stress management skills more than their expertise in the field of specialty.For the cosmetic dermatologist, they should be additionally creative and aesthetic conscious so as to please the clients with the visual results of their treatments.
For the dermopathologists however, they should be more pharmacologically focused, using drugs and regimens to treat severe infections and dermatologic cancers.
DUTIES
The primary job of a dermatologist is to deliver to the patients medical problems, specifically dermatological problems. They involve assessing, diagnosing, and treating patients affected with skin and other integumentary disorders. The treatment will depend on the kind of disorder the client has, which may range to giving topical medicines, to even chomotherapeutuc agents, and from simply pricking to electrocautery treaments. They also conduct referrals to another services for co-management as needed.
EARNINGS AND JOB OUTLOOK
Earnings for dermatologists are affected by the doctor's caliber and years of practice, the location of practice as well as the overall personality, business perspective and professional standing as a doctor. It is not expected that dermatologists in their first year of practice get a high pay already. On the average, they earned a salary of around $160,000. The salary ranges widely from 120,000 to $225,000 per annum. Dermatologists who had been practicing for an average of three years are expected to earn an average of $232,000. Their salaries also may range from $168,988 to $407,000.
Paula Hiz is a researcher and a human resource specialist who helps newly graduates, job applicants and post graduate professionals be aware of the opportunities and trainings for skills and practice upgrading.