Tips From Dr. Lou Hampers For Future Pediatricians

If you’re reading this, it means you are considering a career in pediatrics. These are some advice, based on what Dr. Lou Hampers had learned over the course of my career as a pediatrician.
Be Committed To The Field
If you’re dedicated to being a pediatrician, then you’re probably aware of the challenges and sacrifices involved with this career path. You’ll be working long hours in stressful situations that may leave you emotionally drained at times. But if you can handle all that, then I say go for it!
The best advice Dr. Lou Hampers can give someone who wants to be a pediatrician is: know what kind of person they are before they enter the field. Are they willing to work hard? Are they able? Do they have what it takes emotionally? If so–then go out there and make us proud!
Have Realistic Expectations
One of the most important things to keep in mind is that you will be busy, tired and overworked. You will also have a lot of responsibility and be underpaid for it. Expect drama from your coworkers, as well as from your patients’ parents. You may even find yourself in the spotlight for all the wrong reasons at some point during your career!
The good news is that this stage of your training will pass quickly; once you’ve finished your residency program (which takes three years), things should get easier on many fronts–especially if you choose a specialty where there isn’t as much pressure on physicians like pediatrics or psychiatry (or family medicine).
The best way to prepare for being a pediatrician is to be passionate about helping children and never stop learning new things. There’s always something new in pediatrics, so you should be excited about learning more about it.
The second thing that he would say is that you should do your best at whatever job or school opportunity comes up next in your life, whether it’s working as a medical assistant or volunteering at the hospital on weekends. It will help build experience with patients who may have similar illnesses as children do, which could come in handy when treating kids later on down the line!