Geriatricians

High School

You will need to devote many years to schooling before you are admitted to practice as a doctor. Your first step, therefore, should be to take a college preparatory curriculum while in high school. Take four years of math, English, and science classes. Biology, chemistry, and physics are particularly important to take. Study a foreign language and, if your high school offers it, the language you take should be Latin. Many medical terms you will encounter later on have roots in the Latin language. In addition, round out your education with history courses and courses such as psychology and sociology, which may give you a greater understanding of people, an asset in this people-oriented career.

Postsecondary Training

To become a geriatrician, you will need to earn a college degree and a medical degree, complete specialized training, and become licensed. You will need to get your bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university. Most students considering medical school get their degree in a science field. Some schools offer a premed program, which you can also take. In either case, typical studies include biology, organic and inorganic chemistry, physics, and mathematics. Competition for admission to medical school is strong. You will need to take the Medical College Admission Test as part of the admission requirements. Medical school lasts four years and students complete classroom and laboratory work as well as work with patients under the supervision of doctors and residents.

After students have completed this phase of their education, they get more training through a residency, with study in a specialty area. Geriatric care is generally considered a subspecialty. So students complete their residency in one specialty area, such as internal medicine, and then go on to complete a fellowship in geriatric care. The length of these programs varies, and they can take anywhere from one to four years to complete. The Association for Gerontology in Higher Education publishes an Online Directory of Educational Programs in Gerontology and Geriatrics (http://www.aghedirectory.org), which has information on educational programs available at various levels, including fellowship programs.

Other Education or Training

Continuing education opportunities are provided by many national and state organizations, including the American Association for Geriatric Psychiatry, American Medical Association, American Osteopathic Association, and Academy for Gerontology in Higher Education. Contact these organizations for more information.