Pick your Speciality

Pediatrics

Q&A Professional Association

 What are the key points of specialist training?

Further training lasts 5 years and is structured as follows:

    • 3 years of basic further training, during this phase a decision is made regarding the advanced further training, either for the practice pediatrics curriculum or the hospital pediatrics curriculum. In this way, further training can be geared towards future activities.
    • 2 years of postgraduate training, during this phase a decision is made as to whether a specialty training program will be completed.
    • Optional further training: maximum one year. Either research in one area of pediatric and adolescent medicine or further training in all specialist areas of a specialist title.

How expensive is this specialist training?

The costs incurred for mandatory courses and congress attendance to obtain the title are – if well planned – generally covered in full or in part by the training centers as part of the annual support for external training, so that no or minimal costs are incurred by the trainees.

What further training options and specializations are there?

Specializations:

    • Pediatric endocrinology-diabetology
    • Pediatric gastroenterology and hepatology
    • Pediatric cardiology
    • Neonatology
    • Pediatric nephrology
    • Neuropediatrics
    • Pediatric oncology-hematology
    • Pediatric pneumology
    • Pediatric rheumatology
    • Developmental Pediatrics
    • Pediatric emergency medicine

How can a stay abroad in this area be implemented or is it even necessary? (e.g. necessity of the USMLE)

In principle, a stay abroad can be easily organized and financed, especially as part of a research project (SNSF, foundation, host hospital). It is not obligatory for further training, but desirable (larger and more diverse patient population and integration into a larger research team).

How well can this specialty be combined with research (clinical research or basic research)?

Research work is possible at all larger clinics with a university affiliation, but requires not only an interest in research but also additional personal commitment.

How important is it to do research (e.g. to do an MD-PhD)?

No publication is required for the title of specialist in pediatrics and adolescent medicine and therefore research activity is not a prerequisite. In some specialties, however, a publication is a prerequisite for obtaining the specialty title. In these specialties, it is therefore important to plan research activities with the aim of publication at an early stage of training in consultation with the training center directors. If you are planning an academic career in a specialty area, a broad research activity, if possible as part of an MD-PhD program, is desirable, especially with regard to a habilitation (in this case, it is crucial to select a research-active postgraduate training institution in Switzerland and/or abroad).

How important is it for your starting job to gain an insight into this subject area during the elective year?

An insight already in the elective year is not a prerequisite for specific further training, but allows students to have a concrete insight, to start research work (possibly a doctoral thesis) and, if things go well, to plan their later further training with the head of the training center.

Q&A Physicians

Physician, 44 years old

How old are you?

44 y/o

Where did you study and when did you graduate?

Basel, 2005

Do you have a doctorate?

Yes

When did you become a specialist?

2013

How long did your specialist training take?

6 years.

What is your current position (and background)?

Independent in a pediatric practice (together with 2 colleagues).

How does your working week look like? 

I work 60% in my own practice, i.e. 3 days (8-12h, 13-17h). 50% is patient contact, one half day in the office. I do a lot of paperwork and administration for the practice in the evenings/on my days off. This probably results in at least an 80% workload, but I don’t record the hours. No shift work. 

When and why did you choose this specialization?

I knew during my studies that I was most interested in internal medicine or pediatrics. The final decision was made during my residency.

How would you describe your time as a resident?

  • Intensive in terms of time, especially the start. The team at the hospital was part of my social life.
  • I always found the working environment positive: good residency team, support from the head physicians, chief physicians with whom it was possible to exchange ideas.
  • The hospital software and all the administration were sometimes annoying.
  • I learned a lot.

Is part-time work possible already during residency?

Yes.

What working modalities does your specialist title offer?

Hospital, specialist training within pediatrics, practice, research.

How competitive is it to complete this specialist title in Switzerland?

Not very competitive. The challenge is in getting an entry-level position in pediatrics, the rest is not competitive.

How would you rate your work-life balance on a scale of 1-10? Would your colleagues with the same specialist title confirm this?

6

How easy is it to implement family planning in this field?

Quite well in the meantime. It is certainly easier to work 100% at the beginning of the training.

What do you wish you had known before your specialist training?

Nothing.

Why should someone choose this specialty?

  • Working with the whole family (parents and children) is interesting and fun.
  • Most diagnoses are made clinically. Comparatively few instrumental and laboratory tests.
  • In the practice you experience the development of the children and become the family’s confidant.
  • The pediatric environment is nice! We are well networked and support each other.
  • There are always exciting things that make you think: “never seen this before.”

What challenges await someone in this field?

  • During the residency period, there is shift work (emergency, IPS)
  • Socially difficult family constellations and child protection cases are challenging

Is it necessary to write the master’s/doctoral thesis in this subject area?

No.

Is it possible to find an assistant doctor position in this specialty directly after the federal examination?

In the past, rather no. Today, increasingly yes.

What advice would you give to young medical students?

  • Working with and on patients is exciting and enriching. Don’t lose the joy of it.
  • As a resident in the hospital, try to improve things and address problems. Some things, on the other hand, cannot be changed, you can’t get worked up about them.
  • Continue your training in patient communication early on. It enriches the work.
  • See the person behind the patient.

← Back