Oncologists

Duties & responsibilities: Oncologists are physicians who study, diagnose, and treat cancerous tumors. They practice in hospitals and medical centers, university hospitals, and research organizations.

Salary: The median annual Physician - Hematology/Oncology salary is $276,873 with a range usually $222,809-$351,598.

Education: To become certified as an oncologist, a candidate must first graduate from an accredited medical school before entering into training as a specialist. Candidates must have graduated from an approved medical school and must have completed an ACGME accredited residency program. Graduate education in a specialty and, if the physician chooses, a subspecialty follows. After satisfactory completion of graduate education in a specialty, physicians may apply for certification. Applicants must pass the certifying examination administered by the medical specialty board. If they go on to receive additional education and training in a subspecialty (e.g., pediatric oncology and hematology), they must complete the education and training requirements and then apply for certification and pass the examination administered by the medical specialty board.

Reflection: Would you like to be one? Why? Why not?

No, I do not think I would like to be one. The reason why is because I am not into medical careers. Although being in a medical career you earn a good salary and save peoples life by treating them, I do not think I’d enjoy this job. I would not like to be in a medical career because it is not what I am interested in. I would not like to wake up every morning and be in a career I do not enjoy and am not happy to wake up for. Therefore I don’t think I would like to be one. Although this is a great job for anyone that is interested in medical careers.