Hmissa 1

Taha Hmissa
AMH 1020 MW 9:30 a.m.
Professor Kennedy
February 23, 2015
Career History
The anesthesiologist is a doctor who focuses on the ease of a patient during a surgery and
minimize the chances of waking up during surgery. They plan the anesthetic for the patient and
monitor their vitals. An anesthesiologist can use gas, IV, or other forms medication to apply the
anesthesia. They also care for those who are critically injured in the emergency room until a
specialist can take over. The amount school required to become an anesthesiologist is an amazing
amount. A student needs four years of undergraduate school to earn a Bachelors Degree in any
sort of major (I will be using a biology degree as an example). Then a student must go on into 4
years of medical school to earn a doctorates degree in Medicine (M.D) or earn a degree of
osteopathy (D.O). After medical school, a student must then specialize into their career during a
4 year residency. During this residency a student will then choose to become an anesthesiologist.
A residency program is no longer school. In fact it is only on-the-job training for medical
students. Students also earn an income for this on-the-job training, however only at a fraction of
the earning of a licensed anesthesiologists. The anesthesiologist has one of the top most paid
occupations with a residency salary ranging from $34,100 to about $42,100 and after residency
the salary increases to $126,000 to about $220,000. Dr. Rob Sterling from Anesthesia Zone
spoke on the amount of school needed to become an anesthesiologist, The skills
anesthesiologists must acquire are active listening skills, good judgment, critical thinking skills,
monitoring skills, and good communication. Even before entering college, those interested in a
career in anesthesiology need to think about the kinds of classes taken in high school. Classes
with a math and science concentration certainly go a long way in preparing a future
anesthesiologist for success in college and medical school.

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The history of Anesthesiology has also proven to be an interesting one because it is such
a recent practice. The American Society of Anesthesiologists is the most respected organization
in the medical field. Not many realize that it started in Brooklyn, New York less than 120 years
ago. Dr. Adolph Frederick Erdman, in October 1905, joined forces with forces with nine other
doctors, each having different specialties, to ease study the art and science of anesthesia. They
met at Long Island College Hospital, the first medical school in the country. By October 1911,
the instruction grew attention and the name was changed to New York State Society of
Anesthetists. The first elected president was Dr. James T. Gwathmey. Annual fees rose to three
dollars a year and many who applied were accepted. However later on as its popularity grew,
memberships requests grew and only the best applicants became members. In 1917, the New
York State Society of Anesthetists, acting on behalf of its members, contacted the federal
government to offer the services of organized anesthesia for the war effort.
While there is no official pre-medical degree required for medical school, many
baccalaureate degree programs are geared toward preparing graduates for medical school.
Whether it carries the pre-medical label or not, a 4-year degree, preferably in natural sciences, is
virtually required to gain admission to an accredited medical school. Technically, only the
prerequisite college courses are required, but the vast majority of matriculating medical students
have bachelor's degrees. These undergraduate programs should be heavily weighted in physics,
organic and inorganic chemistry, anatomy and biology. Prior to specializing in anesthesiology, all
students must graduate from a 4-year Doctor of Medicine (MD) or Doctor of Osteopathy (DO)
program at an accredited medical school. These extremely competitive programs are renowned
for their academically demanding and time-consuming nature. An anesthesiologist can expect be
in debt for up to $500,000 by the time they have finished their residency, only if no scholarships
are earned and they spend an average amount on tuition, fees, housing, and food. The quarter

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million a year salary earned by a starting anesthesiologist will help pay off this educational debt
within an average of 15 years. Dr. Barry Allen of Baylor College of Medicine states, A person
who sacrifices grows to earn, and a person who has yet to sacrifice will have yet to earn. A
doctors debt is temporary, yet their impact on society is permanent. Although no medical
school is announced to be the very best, Osteopathic medical schools in America do require
students to have medical experience in hospitals before residency. There are only 25 osteopathic
medicals in the country and the closest one would be the Lake Erie College of Osteopathic
Medicine in Bradenton.
I am interested in becoming an anesthesiologist in order to be able to reward myself for
working hard during school. I feel 14 years of college and medical school should be rewarded
with the highest paying job in America. I also have a family history in the medical field and
would like to continue that tradition. Philosopher Voltaire stated his opinion on medicine, The
art of medicine consists in amusing the patient while nature cures the disease.

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Works Cited
Allen, Barry. "American Society of Anesthesiologists - About Profession." American Society of
Anesthesiologists - About Profession. 3 July 2007. Web. 22 Feb. 2015.
<https://www.asahq.org/For-the-Public-and-Media/About-Profession.aspx>.
Sterling, Robert. "Anesthesiology: A Science of Man." Anethesia Zone 1 Jan. 2005. Anethesia
Zone. Web. 16 Feb. 2015.
Voltaire, "Medicine Quotes." BrainyQuote. Xplore, 15 Mar. 2012. Web. 22 Feb. 2015.