Gastroenterology is a specialty of internal medicine in the field of medical courses.
What is Gastroenterology?
“Gastroenterology is the branch of medicine that focused on the stomach and intestines and its disorders”.
In Gastroenterology, we studied about the diseases that affect the gastrointestinal tract, as well as the related organs.
The term “Gastroenterology” is a combination of three ancient Greek terms: gaster means “Stomach”, enteron means “intestine” and logos means “reason”.
“Gastroenterologists or GI Doctors are the physicians who practicing in this field. He specializes in the diagnosis and treatment of patients affected by problems related to the digestive system”.
On the other hand, Gastroenterologist is a medical doctor who specializes in the study of the stomach and its functions, structure and diseases.
Role of Gastroenterologist
They pursue gastroenterology programme & practice in gastroenterology medical field.
Gastroenterologist treated the problems related to the gastrointestinal organs such as gallbladder, colon, small intestine, Bile duct, stomach, pancreas & other related parts.
There is no age limit for patients treated by Gastroenterologists. They treat patients from children to the very elderly. Gastroenterologists have the ability to help other physicians in a surgery with their experience. They also have their own team of doctors & nurses to provide support. Gastroenterology is a sub-specialty of Internal Medicine.
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Scope of Gastroenterology
There is a huge scope to pursue a Gastroenterology programme. After completion of a Gastroenterology course, you can work in a government & private hospital, research institutions, health care clinics, medical colleges, etc. You can also work with the other physicians. The career prospects as a Gastroenterologist is wide not only in India but also in aboard with handsome salary.
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Courses & Duration
How I become a Gastroenterologist?
To become a Gastroenterologist, you have spent several years in the study of medicine. In India, various universities offer master, doctoral and super specialty courses in the field of Gastroenterology.
Gastroenterology Programme gives a science based study of the pharmacology, cell biology, physiology & pathology of the gastrointestinal tract.
The courses are mentioned below:
Bachelor Courses: It is four year duration programme.
- Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery (MBBS)
Master Courses: The duration of these programme are of two years.
- Post Graduate Diploma In Gastroenterology
- MS in Gastroenterology
- MD in Gastroenterology
Doctoral Courses: It is three year duration programme.
- DM in Gastroenterology
- DNB in Gastroenterology
Specialization Course:
- MCh in Gastroenterology.
Gastroenterology Specializations fields
- Nutrition specialist
- Laboratory scientist
- GI physiology/functional bowel specialist
- Gastrointestinal oncologist
- Clinical trialist
- General gastroenterologist
- Hepatologist
Skills Required
- Well-qualified
- Self-motivated
- Discipline
- Patience
- Interpersonal Skills
- Broad knowledge of the medical discipline
- Critical analytical skills
- Commitment to excel
- Self-Confidence
- Ability to take timely decisions
Eligibility & Admission
How I start my education to become a Gastroenterologist?
- Candidate must have passed the 10+2 examination with Physics, Chemistry and Biology.
- After12th, candidate have to appear for the medical entrance exams for MBBS. You can appear for national level exam, i.e. NEET 2024 and other exams. The admission to the MBBS/BDS course all over the country is done through NEET exam only.
- After MBBS, you have to pursue for the MD/MS/ DNB programme.
- Then, you can go for specialization in the field, i.e DM in Gastroenterology & MCh in Gastroenterology.
- For PG medical courses, students can appear in INI SS 2024, INI CET 2024, NEET PG 2024 etc entrance tests.
- Those candidates seek admission in doctorate level course, they are selected on the basis of performance in the qualifying examination and entrance exam. Various Institutions conduct their own entrance test for admission doctoral level courses.
Colleges in India offer Gastroenterology Courses:
- AIIMS, Delhi
- BHU University
- IPGMER, Kolkota
- Moti Lal Nehru Medical College, Allahabad
- Maulana Azad Medical College, New Delhi
Career & Jobs
The job growth increases due to growing population and increase demand of healthcare services. The outlook of this field is quite good because it is a job within the health care industry.
Gastroenterologists deal with the same issues as physicians or other specialties. They treat patients of different age from children to the very elderly. As a Gastroenterologist, they treat patients with diarrhea, vomiting, unexplained weight loss, abdominal pain, heartburn and rectal bleeding.
Their job includes diagnosis, evaluation, treatment and management of the diseases related to the digestive system. Gastroenterology is considered as one of the highest-paying careers in the medical field. There is a wide scope for higher studies in Gastroenterology programme. You can work in a government as well as private hospitals, health care network or group medical practice. In this field of education you can find a lucrative job profiles in abroad or in India as well.
Where Gastroenterologists can work?
Gastroenterologist has lots of job opportunities in government as well as private hospitals. They can work along with other physicians and may even have their own team of doctors and nurses to provide assistance.
Gastroenterologists employed in medical research institutes and medical colleges/schools as faculty members. After gaining experience, they can also set up their own Gastro Clinic, which will be resourceful & prestigious. The need of Gastroenterologist continues to grow because more patients are suffering with gastrointestinal & digestive issues. They can use a variety of techniques & treatments to combat gastrointestinal disorders & illnesses.
Job Profiles:
- GI Physician
- Professor
- Hapatologist
- Endocrinologist
- Gerontologist
- Consultant Polmonologists
- Orthopaedics
- Anesthetist
- General Surgeon
- Ortho Surgeon
Salary
Gastroenterology is one of the highest paying branches of medicine. Salary is different according to the skill, year of practice, geographic region and professional reputation. As a fresher in the government sector, you can earn Rs. 5 Lac to Rs. 6 Lac per annum. Those candidates interested to work in the private sector, there starting salary is Rs. 7 Lac to Rs. 10 Lac per year. If you have a year of experience in this field, then you get Rs. 1 Lac salary in one month.
In abroad, the average salary earn by the medical profession is $315,038 per year.
Books & Study Material
Atlas of Gastrointestinal Endoscopy by David M. Martin, Ralph C. Lyons
Gastroenterology by Julian Katz
Women’s Health in Gastroenterology by Laurel Fisher
Gastrointestinal and Liver Diseases by Sleisenger and Fordtran’s
Management of Pancreatic Diseases by Nuzhat Ahmad
Clinical Gastroenterology by Rajiv Mehta
Emergencies in Gastroenterology and Hepatology by Daniel Marks and Marcus Harbord
Oxford Handbook of Gastroenterology and Hepatology (Oxford Medical Handbook by Stuart Bloom and Gorge Webster
Bedtime Gastroenterology by Ghoda
Padiatric Gastroenterology by Bavdekar Ashish
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