Spotlight on Cardiology

Taaran Kaur, 7/10/24

The field of medicine is very large and rapidly changing, and also consists of many specialties. One of these is cardiology, which focuses on the heart. There are many careers within the category of cardiology; some examples include echo technicians, scribes, cardiothoracic surgeons, and, of course, cardiologists. Cardiologists are medical doctors who specialize in diagnosing and treating illnesses of the heart, lungs, and circulatory system. Although a career as a cardiologist requires a lot of work, it is a growing career option that is considered to be very rewarding.

Becoming a cardiologist requires many years of education and rigorous training. First, students must complete a bachelor's degree at a university. Some recommended college classes for pre-med students are Anatomy and Physiology, Biochemistry, Histology, Microbiology and  Immunology. After four years of college, future doctors will need to go to four more years of medical school to receive their M.D. degree (Wood). According to RUSM, medical school typically consists of “two years of medical science classes and two years of hands-on clinical training” (RUSM). Medical school graduates then move on to residency, which can take three to eight years (RUSM). To become a cardiologist, the residency program involves three years in the field of internal medicine  (Wood). After this comes one or two years of fellowship training before becoming a full cardiologist. 

Cardiologists have a wide scope of responsibilities that includes detecting, treating, and preventing cardiovascular disease, heart failure, and other health problems. Most cardiologists have private practices or work in hospitals. Depending on where they work, they might have to work long hours. They also will have to be on-call at certain times, where they must report to the hospital if they are needed–no matter what time it is. Though they do not perform heart surgery–that is the responsibility of a cardiothoracic surgeon–cardiologists do perform procedures such as heart catheterizations or inserting a pacemaker. With a few years of extra training, they can also perform procedures involving stents. On top of all that, many cardiologists also conduct research and participate in academic conferences to develop new techniques and technologies. Because of this research, the field of cardiology continues to advance and develop. (RUSM)

The demand for cardiologists is high due to an aging population (RUSM). Heart disease is one of the main causes of death in older people, so cardiologists will become even more valuable in the coming years (RUSM). Additionally, there is currently an unequal distribution of heart specialists throughout the country: for example the employment of cardiologists is much higher in states such as California, New York, and Illinois compared to states such as Nebraska, Kansas and Utah (“Cardiologist”). This may lead to a greater demand of cardiologists in areas where there are less of them. Additionally, heart disease is now the leading cause of death in women, while before it was breast cancer (CDC). In some cases, it is going undiagnosed because women would prefer female doctors while cardiology is still a male dominated profession. Therefore, there has recently been an increase in demand for female cardiologists. 

Lastly, cardiologists have said that the career is very rewarding. Because heart disease can have immediate and severe effects on a person’s life, heart doctors mention that their work is “immediately gratifying” (RUSM). They also mention that cardiology is a field where they are able to provide both primary and secondary care and prevention which leads to a better doctor and patient relationship (RUSM). In addition, there are so many opportunities for research. Because heart disease is common there are many ways to improve the techniques used for treatment (IQVIA). Finally, becoming a cardiologist leads to even more options and paths to take your career (1QVIA). The practice itself is very varied, so every day is new. 

 A career as a cardiologist needs a lot of work, but it is a promising career with opportunities for innovation. While a cardiologist or a cardiothoracic surgeon might be the most representative careers in this field, it is important to remember that there are other careers within the field of cardiology to consider as well. The heart is one of the most important organs in the body, making the work of cardiology professionals vital.

References

“Cardiologist.” U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, 25 Apr. 2023, https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes291212.htm. Accessed on 14 Jan. 2024.

CDC. “Women and Heart Disease.” Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 9 Jan. 2024, 

www.cdc.gov/heartdisease/women.htm. 

Farnen, Karen. “Does a Cardiologist Have to Do an Internship?” Chron, 9 Nov. 2016, work.chron.com/cardiologist-internship-29781.html. Accessed on 14 Jan. 2024

“4 Reasons You Should Choose a Career in Cardiology: Iqvia News and Blogs.” IQVIA, www.iqviamedicalsalescareers.com/article/2021-7/4-reasons-you-should-choose-a-career-in-cardiology-12082716374#:~:text=A%20career%20in%20cardiology%20allows,to%20the%20medical%20sales%20industry. Accessed 30 Jan. 2024. 

Marinelli, Renee. “College Courses to Take before Medical School.” US News, 15 Mar. 2022,www.usnews.com/education/blogs/medical-school-admissions-doctor/articles/college-courses-to-take-before-medical-school. Accessed on 14 Jan. 2024.

“What Is a Cardiologist? Specialization & Career Paths.” Ross University School of Medicine, 15 Feb. 2021, medical.rossu.edu/about/blog/what-is-a-cardiologist. Accessed on 9 Jan. 2024.

Wood, Sarah. “How Long Is Medical School and What Is It Like?” U.S. News, 12 Jan. 2024, www.usnews.com/education/best-graduate-schools/top-medical-schools/articles/how-long-is-medical-school-and-what-is-it-like. Accessed on 14 Jan. 2024.