If you’re interested in joining the medical world, then you will definitely be interested in our dermatologist job description. Maybe you were wondering what does a dermatologist do and how is this profession different from that of an aesthetician.
First of all, a dermatologist is a trained physician that is specialized in the treatment of skin conditions like eczema, psoriasis, melanoma. However, the attributes of a dermatologist do not end here, but we will get to that later. On the other hand, an esthetician is a paramedical specialist, having obtained a degree in cosmetology.
Compared to the dermatologist, an esthetician is more specialized in the cosmetology part of skin, like applying makeup or helping patients recover from fire damage or chemotherapy.
What Does a Dermatologist Do?
The profession of dermatologist encompasses quite a lot of attributions. As an overview, a dermatologist is a trained physician who is in charge of conducting a clinical and paraclinical investigation on various skin conditions.
Furthermore, the dermatologist must also offer consultations to other medical specialties if the situation demands it. As a dermatologist, you will also have to refer your patients to other clinical specialties if you consider that his or her condition exceeds your area of expertise.
Dermatologists are also in charge of using and applying various types of procedures in order to cure or to manage certain diseases. A dermatologist may also confer with other medical specialists upon the treatment a patient should receive.
Dermatologist Job Description for Resume – Responsibilities
Here’s all you’ll need to know in terms of dermatologist job description:
- Consult patients;
- Record, request, or review the patient’s health history;
- From time to time, you will be required to offer consultation to other medical specialties;
- Recommend and perform liposuctions;
- Conduct research;
- Refer patients for additional investigations: X-Rays, mammograms, CT or PET scans;
- Perform biopsies;
- Provide various therapies for patients;
- Diagnose various skin conditions;
- Instruct interns and residents about how to diagnose and to treat certain conditions;
- Read the latest literature and participate in conferences;
- Provide advice to patients who wish to undergo a certain procedure.
Dermatologist Essential Skills
If you are still thinking about pursuing the medical career, then here is what you need to know about becoming a dermatologist.
- Medical Machinery Mastery – the candidate will need to demonstrate that during his or her Med school years and internship has mastered the basics of working with dermatology equipment. This includes working with specialized equipment like handheld cauteries, dermatoscopy, Welch Allyn episcopes, cryosurgery equipment and more.
- Medical Skills – those who are willing to take up this medical specialty must prove that they have learned how to diagnose properly and treat a patient’s condition. This also extends to ordering various types of additional tests and investigations.
- Disease Knowledge – candidates must also prove that they possess knowledge on most diseases, as well as ways to treat them;
- Communicational skills – a dermatologist must also possess excellent verbal skills. On more than one occasion, the physician will have to persuade the patient into disclosing the full extent of his or her condition.
- Computer Skills – dermatologists must prove that they are able to work with other electronic devices such as X-Ray machines, PET-CT and CT scanners, MRIs, and ultrasounds. The candidate is also required to work with special software, as well as knowing how to use MS Office’s functions.
How to Become a Dermatologist
The path to becoming a dermatologist is long and strenuous. Dermatologists usually have to go through a 3-year residency program in order to get their degree in this branch. Furthermore, there are no short-cuts to occupying this position, such as on the job training programs or other formal courses.
Education & Training Requirements
According to the dermatologist job description, an individual wanting to occupy a certain position must walk on a very clearly defined path. So, here’s what you’ll need to do in order to become a dermatologist.
- Graduate college in order to earn a BA;
- Enlist in medical school, and choose between becoming an osteopathic doctor of medicine or a medical doctor;
- Complete a one-year internship;
- Enlist in the dermatology residency program, which lasts for approximately 3 to 4 years, depending on the institution.
Work Experience
As in all other industries, the more experience you have, the more chances you will have to occupy a better position in the hierarchical ladder. Furthermore, the level of experience will determine your salary.
The same things apply when it comes to chances of securing a similar position at a top-paying institution.
According to the dermatologist job description, an individual occupying such a position can, over the time, develop sub-specialities like skin surgery, pediatric dermatology, photobiology, eczema, psoriasis, acne, vulvar disease, skin cancer, blistering disease, connective tissue disease and more. Keep in mind that the more specialties you develop over the years, the more your salary will increase.
Work Schedules
On average, dermatologists work 40 to 50 hours a week. Also, they can see 40 to 50 patients a day. However, there is the possibility of working overtime or even on weekends to accommodate certain patients that might have a busy schedule during the week.
Career Prospects
According to an average wage report posted on payscale.com, a dermatologist can earn up to $204,072 per year. However, the salary level can go even higher if we take into account influencers like the institution’s policy, experience and the number of sub-specialties you have developed over the years.
All in all, a dermatologist, can look up to an annual $308,057 paycheck. Furthermore, an individual with this medical specialty can also have the chances of earning yearly bonuses going up to $74,666.
Conclusion
All in all, the dermatologist job description doesn’t do the specialty any justice, meaning that there are no profiles out there that can encompass the full attributions of a physician specialized in dermatology. Another position in the healthcare industry with a more flexible schedule that you can consider is that of an esthetician.