Also known as obstetricians or gynecologists, OB/GYN doctors specialize in women’s health, reproductive issues, and childbirth. Those wishing to pursue a career as an OB/GYN must first complete medical school, along with a four-year residency in a hospital OB/GYN or pediatrics ward.
Once the residency and college degree is complete, they must then complete an exam to obtain a license allowing them to practice as an OB/GYN in their state. Although the road to becoming an OB/GYN is a lot of hard work, there are many great reasons to take on the challenge.
Above Average Salary
If you know that you want to work in the healthcare field but also want to ensure that your choice of career pays you a high salary, then becoming an OB/GYN is a great choice. Once the residency has been completed and you’re fully licensed to practice, you can expect to earn an annual salary of over $200,000 per year, which is exceptionally high for a newly qualified doctor. Once you have gained some years of experience, you can expect your salary to continue to rise. Learn more about average salaries for gynecologists at Health Care Salaries Guide.
Excellent Job Security
Women are always in need of specialized healthcare and people are never going to stop having children – so the career outlook for an OB/GYN doctor is looking great. Working in this field, you’ll be able to enjoy high levels of job security, and since good OB/GYN doctors are in demand all over the globe, that will apply no matter where you go. Even if you find yourself at a point in your life where you want to move states or even live overseas, you’re sure to find employment as an OB/GYN.
Help Women Around the World
Whether you are male or female, becoming an OB/GYN doctor means that you can add meaningful contributions to improving the health and empowerment of women around the world. Once qualified, you will be in a very powerful position to improve women’s health in impoverished areas, or perhaps you’ll consider traveling abroad to developing countries to help look after women there and improve the experience of childbirth. When it comes to making a difference to the world as an OB/GYN, the options are endless!
Serve as a Primary Care Physician
The role of an OB/GYN doctor isn’t just to assist with childbirth issues, they are also an important part of looking after a woman’s reproductive and even overall health. In the U.S., up to 60% of women will also see their OB/GYN as their primary care physician since they are often chosen early in life and can provide better preventative care when it comes to issues such as pregnancy and childbirth, menopause, and diseases such as cervical cancer. This allows OB/GYN doctors to broaden their field of practice throughout their career.
These are just some of the best reasons to consider training as an OB/GYN doctor. If you’d like to add any more, then we’d love to hear from you in the comments.