How do I become a Gastroenterologist?
“A gastroenterologist is a physician who specializes in disorders and conditions of the gastrointestinal tract, also called the digestive tract. This organ system includes: the esophagus, liver, pancreas and biliary, small intestine and colon. After completing their general medical education, gastroenterologists train for at least two years to attain Board Certification in Internal Medicine. Then, gastroenterologists study for an additional 2 – 3 years specifically for conditions of the GI tract. For more details, click here to download a brochure entitled, “What is a Gastroenterologist”.” Source and further information: http://www.gi.org/physicians/about.asp “What is a Gastroenterologist”: http://www.gi.org/patients/ccrk/WhatIsAGastro.pdf Further information:
Gastroenterologists are doctors who specialize in diseases that relate to the digestive system, or the gastrointestinal (GI) tract. They diagnose and treat medical conditions that deal with the intestines, the stomach, the esophagus, the liver, the gallbladder, the pancreas, and the bile ducts. A person who wishes to become a gastroenterologist will study for at least 13 years. As an undergraduate, the student may take courses in math, biology, and chemistry. Upon earning an undergraduate or postgraduate degree, the student who wants to become a gastroenterologist will attend four years of medical school. When the student graduates from med school, he or she earns a Doctor of Medicine (M.D.) or Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine (D.O.) degree. After earning the medical degree, the doctor will embark on a three-year program where he or she will train in a general internal medicine residency. After completing the residency, the doctor can choose to specialize in gastroenterology by entering