The human heart is as astonishing mechanism. This multi-chambered muscle maintains a regular pumping rhythm, signaled by electric impulses, and moves the entire volume of blood throughout the body, beginning with the main coronary arteries. The heart is an amazingly tough organ—but lots can go wrong. In fact, cardiovascular disease—problems affecting the heart itself or the network of arteries and veins—is the leading cause of death. The medical professional who specializes in treating these problems is the cardiologist.
Job Description
Cardiologists are highly specialized medical professionals who specialize in diagnosing and treating diseases and conditions related to the cardiovascular system. This includes problems caused by restricted circulation due to narrowing of the arteries, problems in the heart valves, damage to the muscle tissue, and disorders of the pericardium (the membrane surrounding the heart). Cardiologists get called to address emergency situations like heart attacks, but they also treat patients who have congenital heart problems. Signs of cardiovascular problems, such as irregular heartbeat rhythms, often show up during routine physical exams; a primary care physician often refers such a patient to a cardiologist for specialized care. If the patient needs heart surgery, the cardiologist would make a reference to a cardiothoracic surgeon.
If you are interested in jobs in cardiology, get started on the right medical path early. Becoming a heart specialist takes years of formal education training. Becoming a successful cardiologist requires an aptitude in of the sciences, particularly in chemistry, biology and physics. Getting a medical degree is a big commitment, but gaining a proficiency in a medical sub-specialty, like cardiology, requires additional training, as well as special licensing. Expect to put in many years of academic study and training—ranging from 14 to 18 years—in order to achieve your goal.
Medical Education and Training
Here's how to become a cardiologist.
- Bachelor’s Degree. Get a four-year undergraduate degree at a reputable college or university. Most medical schools will look more favorably on applicants with a Bachelor’s Degree in the sciences, such as biology or chemistry.
- Medical School. Applicants to medical school must take the MCAT examination. This standardized test focuses mostly on the sciences, and gauges your potential to succeed in medical school. Medical school is the four-year period where you receive academic knowledge and clinical training in basic medical and health care procedures. Typically, the first two years of medical school focus on foundational sciences, with courses in anatomy, microbiology, biochemistry, pathology and pharmacology. This is followed by two years of hands-on, supervised clinical training in basic healthcare procedures.
- Internship and Residency. After completing medical school, cardiologists complete a one-year internship, followed by a three-year residency in internal medicine. Medical residents often work long hours in a hospital or clinic under the supervision of licensed professionals. Cardiologists receive training in internal medicine before moving to the narrower field of cardiology. At this stage, the medical resident applies for a two- to three-year fellowship in cardiology, which gives experience in diagnosing and treating cardiovascular problems.
Those who are interested in gaining proficiency in a more specialized area of cardiology will go on to finish an additional fellowship. For instance, if you are interested in performing invasive cardiovascular procedures, such as inserting angioplasty balloons or stents, or want to focus on cardiac electrophysiology—problems related to the heart’s bioelectrical signals—this would require an additional one- to two-year fellowship. Cardiologists who practice these specialties may earn more than regular cardiologists.
License and Specialty Certification
Obtain a license to practice your profession as a doctor. It is best to check with the state board of health where you wish to practice for information about which licensing procedure is acceptable in that state. You will need to show that you graduated from an accredited medical school.
Since cardiology is considered a medical sub-specialty, you will also need to get certified by the American Board of Medical Specialists (ABMS), the American Osteopathic Association (AOA), or the American Board of Internal Medicine (ABIM). Certification generally requires a medical degree, finishing a residency and fellowship, and demonstrating evidence of clinical experience, as well as passing an examination. This certification must be maintained and renewed periodically through an exam that assesses your up-to-date knowledge in the field and clinical expertise. You will be expected to stay informed about advances in cardiovascular medicine throughout your career.
Job Prospects
Becoming a cardiologist is a long and arduous process, but the rewards can be well worth it: Cardiologists rank in the top third for physician salaries. Many cardiologists put in long hours and may be on-call to respond to emergencies. Running a private office or being part of a group practice entails managing an office, including complicated reimbursement regulations. The need for cardiologists will continue to grow as long as heart disease remains the number one healthcare problem—and this is not expected to change any time soon.
Salary
Many cardiologists work in private or group offices, diagnosing a range of heart problems and treating patients with drug therapy and lifestyle changes, such as diet and exercise. If patients need more invasive or electrophysiologic care, they may refer them to an interventional cardiologist or cardiac electrophysiologist. Non-interventional cardiologists earn an average annual salary of $400,000.
Cardiac electrophysiologists work in hospitals or as part of a group practice. They earn an average salary of $480,000.
Interventional cardiologists work in hospitals, where they have the necessary equipment to perform balloon angioplasties or insert artery stents; they may also see patients in a private office or as part of a group practice. They earn an average salary of $545,000.
Good heart care is central to U.S. healthcare practices and policies, and there are strong efforts to reduce cardiovascular-related mortalities through preventive and interventional measures. Cardiologists are on the frontline in these efforts, using a battery of tests, drug therapies, lifestyle changes, and sophisticated interventions to save lives and improve the quality of life for hundreds of thousands of patients. Advances in medical knowledge and technology make this a promising field for innovative research, and cardiologists also serve as consultants in public policy decisions. Cardiology is a demanding specialty, but if you have the dedication and perseverance to succeed, you will receive enormous satisfaction in being a heart doctor.