Allergist and Immunologist

1. Allergist and Immunologist Gabriana Beckford

2. Description • The specializing in the diagnosis and treatment of asthma, allergies, eczema, and diseases of the immune system • Patients may see allergists or immunologists for… • Autoimmune disorders • Environmental allergies • Insect allergies • Food allergies • Medication allergies • Latex allergies

3. Additional Responsibilities • Immunologists may study and work on preventing transplant rejection for those who have had organs transplanted • Work individually or in groups of other immunologists, allergists, and nursing staff • Work in an office setting and travel frequently to other hospitals and offices to care for patients

4. Duties and Responsibilities • Examine patients • Diagnose diseases and conditions relating to allergens and the immune system • Order or perform various procedures and tests • Prescribe and administer medications and treatments • Teach patients about preventative medicine

5. Earnings and Advancement • Among the highest paid occupations (approximately $248,527 annual earnings in 2011) • Earnings are dependent on… • Geographic location, whether the allergist/immunologist has a private practice or has a paid salary, the number of years practiced, personality, skill, and reputation as a professional • Possible to earn… • Paid vacations, holidays, and sick days • Retirement benefits • Life and health insurance • Paid educational leave • If self-employed, a health insurance plan and retirement plan must be arranged by the self-employer

6. High School Recommended Classes: Algebra Biology Chemistry College Preparatory English Geometry Health Science Technology Humanities Mathematics Physics Physiology Science Sociology Statistics Trigonometry Required Education: Doctoral Degree Doctor of Medicine Degree Doctor of Osteopathy Degree Allergy and Immunology Residency Minimum of three year college (most have Bachelor’s degree) Education

7. Additional Requirements and Training • Licensed to practice medicine • Need to be graduated from a credited medical school • Pass licensing exam • Complete graduate medical exam • Take the Medical College Admissions Test (MCAT) • Letters of recommendation to be accepted into a medical school • Four years of medical school, followed by a completed internship and up to three years in a residency • May spend an extra one or two years in an allergy and immunology fellowship • It is required by most states now for allergists and immunologists 150 continuing education credits for license renewal every three years

8. Employment Opportunities • Volunteering in hospitals/doctor’s offices • Part-time work in hospitals/doctor’s offices • May help to decide whether a medical career is rewarding • Possible positions include… • Hospitals • Clinics • State and federal agencies and universities • Consult directly with… • Potential employers • Professional journals • Medical school placement offices

9. Future Outlook • Through the year 2018, the occupation is expected to grow much faster than the average for all occupations • Employment is expected to increase 20 % or more • Continued growing in healthcare industry • Demand for physicians keeps increasing as consumers look for higher levels of care with the newest technology, tests, and therapies

10. Colleges • Allergy and Immunology is not a major, however, some colleges with related majors, such as pre-medicine studies and medicine studies include… • University of Cincinnati: Cincinnati, Ohio • Florida State University: Tallahassee, Florida • University of Southern California: Los Angeles, California

11. Additional Information • May work long, irregular hours • May work normal office hours with an emergency answering service for the evenings and the weekends • Often on call and answer questions over the phone • May make emergency trips to hospitals in order to treat patients

12. Skills and Personal Characteristics • Communication Skills: • Effective speaker • Concise writer • Attentive listener • Good reader • Expressive with thoughts and ideas • Interpersonal/Social Skills: • Ability to remain calm • Ability to work independently • Cooperative with others • Provider of support to others

13. Ability to work as a team member • Sensitive towards others • Patient • Good judgment • Objective • Persistent • Organization and Management Skills: • Ability to handle challenging situations • Ability to make decisions • Ability to manage people/groups • Ability to pay attention to details and handle details • Ability to perform frequent-changing duties • Ability to manage time • Demonstrates leadership

14. Research and Planning Skills: • Ability to develop evaluation strategies • Uses logical reasoning • Ability to identify problems • Ability to identify resources • Ability to gather information • Ability to solve problems • Ability to analyze information • Technical Skills: • Ability to perform scientific, mathematical, and technical work • Work Environmental Skills: • Ability to work in a medical setting

15. Physical Abilities • Ability to see and hear well, whether it be naturally or with correction • Good color vision • Ability to communicate and understand effectively • Ability to fully use hands and fingers • Ability to reach for objects, handle objects, and feel objects • Ability to cope with stressful and emotional situations calmly • Ability to kneel, stoop, crouch • Ability/stamina to work long hours

16. Works Cited • All pictures from clip art • "Redirect Notice." Google. N.p., n.d. Web. 21 Mar. 2012. <http://www.google.com/imgres?q=allergy+shots&hl=en&gbv=2&biw=1366&bih=516&tbm=isch&tbnid=Z8K5zIEOXiwALM:&imgrefurl=http://www.aaaai.org/conditions-and-treatments/library/at-a-glance/allergy-shots.aspx&docid=xER20hn5yGZiCM&imgurl=http://www.aaaai.org/Aaaai/media/MediaLibrary/Images/Conditions/Library/Allergy-shots-cropped.jpg&w=400&h=267&ei=g0hqT_TTBpKutweFhNyYCQ&zoom=1&iact=rc&dur=468&sig=108028066098496964669&page=1&tbnh=133&tbnw=177&start=0&ndsp=14&ved=1t:429,r:12,s:0&tx=84&ty=93>. • "Redirect Notice." Google. N.p., n.d. Web. 21 Mar. 2012. <http://www.google.com/imgres?q=allergy+shots&hl=en&gbv=2&biw=1366&bih=516&tbm=isch&tbnid=V-8iSL1VvPZ1BM:&imgrefurl=http://ic.steadyhealth.com/allergy_shots_side_effects.html&docid=Q5lznVzE65aGVM&imgurl=http://userfiles.steadyhealth.com/sites/steadyhealth.com/modules/infocenter/data/images/allergy_shots_side_effects.jpg&w=300&h=225&ei=g0hqT_TTBpKutweFhNyYCQ&zoom=1&iact=rc&dur=326&sig=108028066098496964669&page=2&tbnh=154&tbnw=204&start=14&ndsp=18&ved=1t:429,r:4,s:14&tx=92&ty=114>.

17. "Redirect Notice." Google. N.p., n.d. Web. 21 Mar. 2012. <http://www.google.com/imgres?q=allergy+shots&hl=en&gbv=2&biw=1366&bih=516&tbm=isch&tbnid=4HGkdvEHlJQglM:&imgrefurl=http://www.buzzle.com/articles/allergy-shots-side-effects.html&docid=hFNQKi3Lj9h3aM&imgurl=http://www.buzzle.com/img/articleImages/314992-3379-16.jpg&w=350&h=263&ei=g0hqT_TTBpKutweFhNyYCQ&zoom=1&iact=hc&vpx=558&vpy=182&dur=1527&hovh=195&hovw=259&tx=103&ty=121&sig=108028066098496964669&page=1&tbnh=133&tbnw=164&start=0&ndsp=14&ved=1t:429,r:3,s:0>. • "Redirect Notice." Google. N.p., n.d. Web. 21 Mar. 2012. <http://www.google.com/imgres?q=immunology&hl=en&biw=1366&bih=516&gbv=2&tbm=isch&tbnid=CaX-qcRZEKUi8M:&imgrefurl=http://www.225.pitt.edu/node/369&docid=B5r7fM2onfqttM&imgurl=http://www.225.pitt.edu/sites/default/files/225-images/296_inside-display-image(immunology.medicine.pitt_.edu).jpg%253F1327089826&w=376&h=452&ei=v0BqT8KtA8-JtweUi82ICQ&zoom=1&iact=rc&dur=376&sig=108028066098496964669&page=5&tbnh=147&tbnw=136&start=67&ndsp=18&ved=1t:429,r:3,s:67&tx=110&ty=62>. • "Redirect Notice." Google. N.p., n.d. Web. 21 Mar. 2012. <http://www.google.com/imgres?q=immunology&hl=en&biw=1366&bih=516&gbv=2&tbm=isch&tbnid=tafkYKkVSvizKM:&imgrefurl=http://www.med.unc.edu/bbsp/phd_microbio.html&docid=1ZdACeorLiRQkM&imgurl=http://www.med.unc.edu/bbsp/images/Micro.JPG&w=393&h=393&ei=v0BqT8KtA8-JtweUi82ICQ&zoom=1&iact=rc&dur=271&sig=108028066098496964669&page=2&tbnh=157&tbnw=162&start=14&ndsp=18&ved=1t:429,r:5,s:14&tx=73&ty=129>.

18. "Redirect Notice." Google. N.p., n.d. Web. 21 Mar. 2012. <http://www.google.com/imgres?q=immunology&hl=en&sa=X&gbv=2&biw=1366&bih=516&tbm=isch&tbnid=3CK7UZoBICXcVM:&imgrefurl=http://www.studydiscussions.com/phd-immunology-programs-in-usa/&docid=eWbiR1CX4pUoIM&imgurl=http://www.studydiscussions.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/01/immunology-4.jpg&w=300&h=323&ei=w0BqT_f-HIyTtweRsYivBA&zoom=1&iact=rc&dur=382&sig=108028066098496964669&page=1&tbnh=135&tbnw=125&start=0&ndsp=14&ved=1t:429,r:6,s:0&tx=44&ty=118>. • "Redirect Notice." Google. N.p., n.d. Web. 21 Mar. 2012. <http://www.google.com/imgres?q=immunology&hl=en&sa=X&gbv=2&biw=1366&bih=516&tbm=isch&tbnid=uRHdTTRp4L6xiM:&imgrefurl=http://omrf.org/research-faculty/programs/arthritis-clinical-immunology/&docid=CWCKe38ELcfQ2M&imgurl=http://omrf.org/wp-content/uploads/2010/09/arthritis-frontpage-630x320.jpg&w=630&h=320&ei=w0BqT_f-HIyTtweRsYivBA&zoom=1&iact=rc&dur=591&sig=108028066098496964669&page=4&tbnh=99&tbnw=195&start=50&ndsp=17&ved=1t:429,r:7,s:50&tx=46&ty=64>. • "Untitled." Untitled. N.p., n.d. Web. 18 Mar. 2012. <http://library.coin3.com/ReportDetails.cfm?EX=1&Occ=T&URLPATH=%2Fexploration%2Fexploration%5Fcontent%2Ecfm>. • "Untitled." Untitled. N.p., n.d. Web. 18 Mar. 2012. <http://library.coin3.com/ReportDetails.cfm?EX=1&College=T&URLPATH=/exploration/exploration_content.cfm?college=1>.