Medical Professions
Medical professions related to the integumentary system include: dermatologists, dermatopathologists, plastic surgeons, medical estheticians, emergency room physicians, and oncologists.
1. Dermatologist
What they do: A dermatologist is a physician who is trained to treat skin diseases and conditions, on any part of the body. Dermatologists can treat anything from a fungus to skin cancer. They can remove cancerous or unhealthy skin lesions through minor surgical procedures, and they may also do elective procedures for patients who want to improve skin-tone or decrease signs of aging through things like laser treatments or botox injections. Where they work: Dermatologists mostly work out of a medical office. Most dermatological surgical procedures can be completed in the office instead of in a hospital. They can work in a group with other dermatologists or alone as solo practitioners. What they studied: Dermatologists must have an M.D. or a D.O. degree and they must meet the other requirements for a US medical license to practice, including passing the USMLE exam and the test for Board Certification by the American Board of Dermatology. As for schooling, they must complete:
Salary: Dermatology is one of the better paid medical specialties. A dermatologist's salary can range from $100,000 to $500,000 a year. What a career in dermatology is like: Dermatology is considered a desirable medical field because of its quality of life. Dermatologists don't have a rigorous call schedule like some other types of physicians. They handle much fewer emergency situations than other physicians. They also have a great compensation since most of their patients are well-insured, and they can set their own prices and get paid in cash for elective procedures like botox injections instead of waiting for insurance companies to reimburse them. |
2. Dermatopathologist
What they do: A dermatopathologist is a medical physician who specializes in dermatology and pathology. (Pathology is a branch of medicine that involves the causes and effects of diseases.) Dermatopathologists diagnose diseases of the skin, hair, and nails by working in a laboratory and examine samples under a microscope. Where they work: Dermatopathologists work are usually also dermatologists, so the same work environments apply: basically, they work out of the medical office. Dermatopathologists are also trained in pathology, however, so they could also work in pathology laboratories or hospitals performing biopsies, for instance. What they studied: Becoming a dermatopathologist requires many years of education. A person must complete:
Salary: Salary depends on where the dermatopathologist works. Private practice tends to reel in more money, as opposed to academia. Starting salaries range from below $100,000 to $150,000. The average salary for academia practice is $200,000, and the higher range of salary for academia is $300,000+. The average salary for private practice is $525,000, according to a recent survey. What a career in dermatopathology is like: Surveys have indicated that dermatopathologists have a high degree of job satisfaction. A dermatopathologist is often called the Sherlock Holmes of Skin because of the microscopic observations and assessments they make in order to make a diagnosis. |
3. Plastic Surgeon
What they do: A plastic surgeon is a surgeon who specializes in face or body reconstructions. Plastic surgeons are best-known for their cosmetic procedures such as liposuction, face lifts, and boob jobs, but they also work with burn victims to reconstruct the damaged areas. Where they work: Plastic surgeons usually work in hospitals or clinics, operating in sterile surgical units. Some plastic surgeons choose to work in outpatient offices, offering private practice. What they studied: A plastic surgeon, like other physicians, has a long list of requirements before he or she can begin practicing.
Salary: There's a big range in salaries for plastic surgeons, all the way from $100,000 or less, which constitutes about 11% of plastic surgeons, to $700,000, which constitutes about 3% of plastic surgeons. Most plastic surgeons have a salary somewhere between $200,000 and $500,000, with a reported average salary of $317,000. What a career in plastic surgery is like: Since most surgeries performed by plastic surgeons are elective surgeries such as liposuction or boob/nose jobs, plastic surgeons can earn more money than other types of physicians who receive reimbursements from insurance companies. Plastic surgeons receive full payments from their patients right from the start instead of waiting for an insurance check to arrive. |
4. Medical Esthetician
What they do: A medical esthetician, also called a paramedical esthetician sometimes, performs treatments that vary with location. A medical esthetician who works in a dermatology office may help treat or prevent acne through skin care, or maybe provide treatments like microdermabrasion, which removes dead epidermal cells. A medical esthetician who works in a hospital may work with cancer patients to help them learn about moisturizing dry skin, or with burn victims to help them learn how to use makeup to hide scars. Where they work: Medical estheticians can work in a dermatology, oncology, or plastic surgery office, or sometimes even a hospital. What they studied: Medical estheticians must complete a 6 to 12 month long program at an esthetics school. These programs take a minimum of 300 hours, although this depends on the state. Some states, like Kansas, require up to 1,000 hours for a standard esthetician license. After completing one of these programs, there are exams students have to pass in the state in which they want to practice. Some states offer advanced training (up to 1200 hours) to become master estheticians. Salary: The median salary for medical estheticians is usually between $25,000 and $52,000 a year, depending on how long they've been working in the field. Salary is also affected by whether or not they work full-time as opposed to part-time. Part-time is pretty common in the beauty business, which is known for its flexible scheduling. Salaries also tend to be higher in private settings. What a career as a medical esthetician is like: Medical estheticians are all about helping people feel good about themselves. They help people learn how to improve their appearance in non-invasive ways - ways that don't involve plastic surgery - and they also help people who have been in tragic accidents or have severe illnesses feel more confident. |
5. Emergency Room Physician
What they do: An emergency room physician treats patients that can't go to a primary physician. Emergency room physicians have to be prepared to diagnose and form treatment plans for a variety of diseases and wounds with little medical history to work with. Concerning the integumentary system, emergency room physicians are the ones who usually treat burns and other skin wounds that require immediate medical attention. Where they work: Emergency room physicians work in hospitals, in the emergency department. What they studied: Become an emergency room physician requires many years of education. Requirements include:
Salary: Emergency medicine physician salaries range from $239,000 to $316,296. What a career in emergency care is like: Emergency medicine physicians work in the emergency department of a hospital, which is known for being very fast-paced. It requires fast acting and even faster thinking. These physicians typically work 12 hours shifts, but they may work 8-10 hour shifts. The level and type of work depends on the size of the hospital. Bigger hospitals are much more hectic and have more severe trauma cases. |