OBSTETRICIAN AND GYNECOLOGIST *By: Kianna Leonard

JOB DESCRIPTION Obstetrician and Gynecologist or sometimes

referred to as OB GYN, diagnose, treat, and help prevent diseases of women, especially those affecting the reproductive system and the process of childbirth.

They also counsel and treat women throughout their pregnancy, giving prenatal diagnoses, taking ultrasounds, and giving postpartum care.

MORE… They track the health of boy the mother and

fetus throughout the course of a pregnancy. If an issue arises they must treat the mother

by prescribing appropriate medication, operating or taking another measure to cure the problem.

WHY THIS CAREER IS FOR METhis is the career for me because I am patient, careful and also very passionate about future babies and their health. I believe in order for the baby to be healthy, the mother must be healthy as well.

SKILLS NEEDED Able to work in a variety of settings including

hospitals, clinics and private doctor’s offices. Empathy for their patients. Good manners. Strong communication skills. Ability to thrive under stressful conditions. Ability to multitask.

EDUCATION Required education for a career in medicine. Complete a doctor of medicine degree or

doctor of osteopathic medicine degree. Complete a 4-year, bachelor’s degree. Aspiring doctors must complete an additional

3-8 years of internships and residencies. Doctors must also pass a state licensing

exam to practice medicine.

MONEY & OUTLOOK The health industry is growing at a fast rate

compared to other fields. With a high number of OBGYN’S expected to retire between 2008 and 2018, the job prospects for this profession should be relatively strong.

A shortage of these doctors exists in under-served and rural areas.

The trend toward group practices open more positions for OBGYNs to be hired and hold leadership roles.

MORE… OBGYN’s are among the highest-paid

professionals in the health care industry, earning an average annual salary of $204,470. This rounds to making approximately $98 per hour.

As with all professionals, salaries may vary depending on geographic location, employer, years of experience and other factors.

The lowest-paid OBGYNs brought in less than $100,000 per year, and some of the highest-paid earned over $400,000 each year.

RELATED CAREERS Family/General Practitioner Anesthesiologist Psychiatrist Surgeon Chiropractor Coroner Internist, General Optometrist Pediatrician, General Podiatrist

WORKING CONDITIONS Surgeons and doctors often work long

irregular hours. OBGYN’s just entering the field are more than

likely to be hired as salaried employees than to enter into solo practices. Therefore they may have a supervisor and have a limit to the number of patients they need to see.

They may spend long hours on their feet seeing patients or performing operations.

SALARY

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Average

Average

GROWTH RATERegion Growth RateCity of Atlanta 21%Coastal 31%Cobb County 40%East Central 25%Fulton County 21%Georgia 59%