Your strong desire to help others fight cancer might influence the topic choice of your bachelor degree. If you have made a decision to work in the field of oncology, you’ll want to examine its various aspects to find your niche. If you possess a strong love for children and a desire to help reduce their pain and discomfort, pediatric oncology may be the path for you.
Deciding to Pursue Pediatric Oncology
The time to determine your ultimate career path is when you are first starting your bachelor degree program. Majoring in biology, chemistry or physics will give you a strong foundation for medical school. If you know that you want to ultimately work in pediatric oncology, you’ll also want to spend time with children. You might get a part-time job in a pre-school as a teacher’s aide or volunteer in the pediatric oncology section of a hospital. Some people love children, but are too sensitive to cope with witnessing them struggle with illness. You’ll want to assess yourself in this regard ahead of time to ensure that you can cope emotionally with the day-to-day demands of your work.
Planning a Career Path in Pediatric Oncology
In addition to going to medical school after completion of your undergraduate degree, you’ll want to seek out specialized research programs in pediatric oncology. Look for graduate and post-doctoral research opportunities to learn about pediatric tumors, leukemia and relevant clinical treatments.
The more in-depth your education and knowledge, the better you will be able to help advance the field of pediatric oncology.