Expert: Ronald Levy, M.D. - 11/21/2006

Question
My son is in his first year of college and he has decided to go into a medical field. Anesthesiologist is what he wants to be. I know this is alot of years but what i would like to know is what kind of courses or what major in college should he be in? After college does he go to medical school or is that part of college. We are looking to transfer him and the school advisors haven't been alot of help. Thank you, Patti

Answer
To become an anesthesiologist you need 4 yrs of college, 4 yrs of medical school and 4 yrs of residency training. Medical school is separate from college. You can major in anything you want in college as long as you take the required premedical course (which any college can tell you what they are). The things to look for in a college are the same as anyone looking for a good college. You want it to be competitive, to have a high caliber faculty, to have their own medical school (they often give preference to their graduates) and most importantly, that the faculty and coursework in your chosen major are of high quality.

Hope this helps,

Ronald Levy, MD
Associate Professor of Anesthesiology
UTMB-Galveston