Hospitalists

High School

Aspiring hospitalists should take as many math, biology, health, and science classes as possible while in high school. Classes in first aid and CPR will also be useful. Other recommended courses include computer science, psychology, and foreign language.

Postsecondary Education

Hospitalists need to complete at least four years of undergraduate school, four years of medical school, and three to seven years in internships and a residency program. Aspiring physicians can major in a wide range of undergraduate fields—from pre-med or public health to biology or chemistry.

Some medical schools offer combined undergraduate and medical school programs that last six or seven years.

During the first two years of medical school, students are both in the classroom and in laboratories. They take classes in anatomy, biochemistry, pharmacology, psychology, medical ethics, and laws governing medicine. They also learn how to examine and interact with patients and diagnose illnesses.

During the next two years, medical students work with patients under the supervision of physicians in hospitals and clinics. They gain experience in a variety of areas through rotations in areas such as internal medicine, family medicine, obstetrics and gynecology, pediatrics psychiatry, and surgery.

Certification

Some medical schools—such as the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center—offer hospitalist certificate programs to residents. The center says that its program "focuses on the domains of leadership in medicine, business of medicine, quality improvement, patient safety, multidisciplinary care, and professional development." Visit https://residency.dom.pitt.edu/program/certificate/hospitalist for more information.

Other Education or Training

After earning their medical degree, new graduates complete a hospital residency program that may last from three to eight years. It should be noted that some residency programs have begun developing instructional tracks to address issues which are specific to hospital medicine. A survey by the Society of Hospital Medicine indicated that almost 90 percent of hospitalists specialize in internal medicine.