Expert: Ronald Levy, M.D. - 6/16/2008

Question
dear mr.levy,
my name is keyaira and im a rising ninth grade student. i make straight a's in school and i have been interested in the medical field and anesthesiology since i was seven. im interested in anesthesiology because not only the money, but i was always curious on how anesthesia works, ive watched shows where doctors give epiderials to woman in labor, ive been practicing giving my dolls shots for a long time, and ive watched alot of hospital shows so im use to blood and needles. my questions are: what is the total amount of years you have to be in college in order to become an anesthesiologist,what majors do i have to accomplish, what kind of colleges in atlanta or southern california can i go to to be an anesthesiologist, what do anesthesiologist do at their jobs, do you have to make certain grades in college, and how hard is it to become an anesthesiologist and what did you have to do?

Answer
That's a lot of questions. Here are the short answers:

1) what is the total amount of years you have to be in college in order to become an anesthesiologist

4 yrs college, 4 yrs medical school and 4 yrs anesthesia residency.

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2) what majors do i have to accomplish

Any major is fine but you must take prerequisite courses for medical school.

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3) what kind of colleges in atlanta or southern california can i go to to be an anesthesiologist

There is no college for anesthesiology (See answer to question 1).

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4) what do anesthesiologist do at their jobs

We give anesthesia for all surgical procedures and obstetric procedures.

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5) do you have to make certain grades in college

Yes...very high grades. It is very competitive.

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6) how hard is it to become an anesthesiologist

Yes it is very hard and competitive. See answers 1, 2 and 5.

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and what did you have to do?

All of the above.


Ronald Levy, MD
Associate Professor of Anesthesiology
UTMB-Galveston