Cardiology
- Aayushi S
- Dec 28, 2022
- 4 min read
Cardiology is the study, treatment, and management of disorders that affect the cardiovascular system, mainly the heart and blood vessels.
How To Become A Cardiologist:
In order to become a cardiologist, you would first have to get a bachelor’s degree. You should really major in a science/health-related field and should take classes like chemistry, physics, and biology. You will also need to take the MCAT, which medical schools will use to determine whether or not they will accept you. Next, you would need to get into medical school, which takes 4 years to complete. This will either earn you your Medical Degree (M.D.) or Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine (D.O.) degree. You now need to obtain a medical license, which will allow you to practice. You will do this by taking exams, in which you must score high, as it will help determine if a residency program will accept you. The next step would then be to complete a residency program! It will take you an average of 3 years to complete your residency program, in which you will complete clinical rotations in different internal medical specialties. The last step is to complete a fellowship!! Obtaining a cardiology fellowship is very difficult, but it is possible to do so if you try! The fellowship lasts 3-4 years, and you will learn to manage cardiac conditions, perform procedures, and do tasks such as clinical research. You will then take an exam to get a certificate and will be able to obtain a job as a cardiologist! The average salary is around $460,000, but it can vary due to multiple factors.
Cardiology Subspecialties:
There are many subspecialties within the cardiology field, but here are the most common ones.
Cardiothoracic Surgeon: As you can probably tell from the name, a Cardiothoracic Surgeon is a type of surgeon that operates on the heart, lungs, and thorax. It takes a while to become a Cardiothoracic Surgeon; you will need to complete 4 years of college, 4 years of medical school, 5 years surgency residency, and about 2-3 years completing a fellowship. In order to obtain this job, you will need to be an expert in these subjects: anatomy, biochemistry, pathology, and pharmacology.
Electrophysiologist: An electrophysiologist is a type of cardiologist that focuses on diagnosing, treating, and managing cardiac arrhythmias (a condition in which the heart beats irregularly) using technological and invasive procedures. They treat multiple different disorders that affect the cardiovascular system. In order to become an electrophysiologist, you would need to complete 4 years of college, 4 years of medical school, 3-5 years of a fellowship, an exam to become certified, 2 years of training, and an additional exam at the end. It takes a lot of work, but you can do it if you put your mind to it!
Echocardiologist: Echocardiologists focus on cardiac ultrasound procedures. You should complete clinical rotations and get certified to become an Echocardiologist besides from all the years of schooling and training.
General Clinical Cardiologist: A General Clinical Cardiologist focuses on the diagnosis, prevention, and management of cardiovascular diseases. In order to become one, you have to go through 4 years of college, 4 years of medical school, 3 years of training (residency), 4 years of specialized training, and then an exam.
Interventional Cardiologist: An Interventional Cardiologist performs interventional procedures. In order to become one, you would need an additional year or two of education/training in cardiovascular diseases, especially ones that are present at birth and affect the heart.
Nuclear Cardiologist: Nuclear Cardiologists analyze the degree of heart damage and check for blockages in coronary arteries. They are trained to manage heart conditions. In order to become one, you would need to go through up to 8 years of education, get a bachelor’s degree, complete a residency program, and go to medical school.
Heart Failure and Transplant Cardiologist: Heart Failure and Transplant Cardiologists treat and manage patients with heart failure. In order to become one, you would need to complete medical school, residency, and a fellowship, as well as an exam at the end, after college.
Preventive Cardiologist: Preventive Cardiologists are similar to a general clinical cardiologist, but have extra training in the prevention of a variety of cardiovascular diseases. To obtain a job as a Preventive Cardiologist, you would need to go through clinical rotations in addition to the requirements to become a Cardiologist (college, medical school, residency, fellowship, and exam).
What Does A Job As A Cardiologist Look Like?
Cardiologists check on patients, some that are in the hospital due to shortness of breath, and others that are going through the process of surgery. They conduct office visits with patients and follow up with tests. After tests, cardiologists then diagnose their patients and provide them with a sustainable treatment option. Cardiologists also follow up on their patients and track their progress. Overall, cardiologists assess their patients to determine their diagnosis and treatment after checking in on them and track their progress to see if their treatment needs to be altered/is over. Depending on the specialty, some conduct surgeries and different procedures to help their patients as well.
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