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Overview of How to Become a Cardiothoracic Anesthesiologist

Career News October 28, 2015

Do you know who a cardiothoracic anesthesiologist is? Would you like to know more about this profession and probably think of the possibilities of joining the profession? If so, read this article.

Career Overview of a Cardiothoracic Anesthesiologist

As a Cardiothoracic anesthesiologist, your work involves taking care of heart patients before an operation, during and after every operation. To be specific, your work may involve anesthetizing patients just before operations in the heart or chest and sometimes you may be asked to do some other duties either inside or outside of the operating room.

The education background for this professional is indeed formal. Besides completing a four year undergraduate degree, you will be required to attend medical school and graduate with a doctorate degree. Also, note that all cardiothoracic anesthesiologist must be state licensed and should have attended both fellowship and residency programs.

Education: Bachelor’s degree, doctorate degree, fellowship program and residency program all in anesthesiology
Additional requirements: Sate operation license, and a certificate from the American Society of Anesthesiologist
Estimated job growth rate: At least 24%
Average annual salary: $235,070

Job Description of a Cardiothoracic Anesthesiologist

The maiden duty of a cardiothoracic anesthesiologist is to provide anesthesia during heart surgeries, lung surgeries or during any other surgery session involving the chest. Additionally, he or she may provide anesthesia services during minor surgeries, robotic surgeries and during complicated aortic surgeries. Usually, this professional also supervises the use of the heart lung machine.

Other duties done by cardiothoracic anesthesiologists include monitoring the physical conditions of a patient throughout the whole surgical process by the use of invasive monitors. At times, the professional may also provide their services to non-cardiac operations patients especially during thorascopic surgery or esophageal resection.

Nowadays, it is the responsibility of cardiothoracic anesthesiologists to ensure that the whole surgical procedure is done well as expected with no risks posed to the patient. Certification may be earned through the National Board of Echocardiography, a body which can also be consulted for any services relating to electrophysiology or to reprogram pacemakers and cardioverter defibrillators.

Important Job Requirements

For one, you have to earn a medical degree from a recognized medical school before you can get any certificate to operate as a cardiothoracic anesthesiologist. The World Health Organization has a list of the accredited medical schools in the country that you can seek education from. Besides the degree, you will have to undergo four additional training in a related residency program and one year in a fellowship program (Note: additional education should be learnt from a school accredited by the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education). Also, remember that you can only get full certification from the American Board of Anesthesiology or the American Society of Anesthesiologists.

Job Opportunities and salary details

It is estimated that there will be a job growth rate of 24% for all kinds of anesthesiologist jobs in the next few years, according to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics. The average annual pay in this profession is $235,070.

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