<p>I'd really appreciate it if someone who succeeded to become, or knows the requirements to be, a cardiologist or cardiothoracic surgeon could help me out. I have quite a few questions.</p>
<p>1st: Do cardiologists and cardiothoracic surgeons take completely different paths in medical school? Could you become a cardiologist and than a cardiothoracic surgeon within a few years?</p>
<p>2nd: Do you need to attain a bachelors degree to get accepted into medical school? Could you enroll into the necessary prerequisites/classes to pass the MCAT and get admitted to medical school; or do you NEED a bachelors?</p>
<p>3rd: Which bachelors is preferable for admission? I heard that it doesn't matter at all as long as you maintain a high G.P.A. If this really is the case, than would a bachelors in business administration suffice this requirement? I'd like to major in business administration so if I ever decide to open my own clinic, I'll have the necessary knowledge to know how to run it and make it function properly.</p>
<p>4th: Are there any prerequisites for medical school besides having a bachelors? I heard something about having a year of calculus complete. If this is true, than would it matter where I took those prerequisites? At the moment I'll be heading off to a local community college. After getting 60 units, I plan on transferring into the Haas School Of Business, but I'd take my math courses (including calculus) at the community college since its also a requirement to transfer into Haas.</p>
<p>Thank you for taking the time to read this lengthy post. Any of these four questions answered is highly appreciated.</p>
<p>1 - different paths during residency</p>
<p>2 - yes unless you are in some combined program</p>
<ol>
<li><p>major is unimportant to get into med school</p></li>
<li><p>require 2 years of chem with one year of organic chemistry, one year each of biology, physics, English and math.</p></li>
</ol>
<p>Not sure how community college credits work with med school requirements. One of our experts will say something.</p>
<p>Thank you for answering my questions Texaspg. Are there ever circumstances where a cardiothoracic surgeon is also a cardiologist? I realize that both are heavily busy and most likely wouldn’t be able to find the time to diagnose, decide on the treatment, AND do the surgery as well; but what if a cardiothoracic surgeon decides to open up his own cardiovascular clinic? Would he/she be able to be both a cardiologist and a cardiothoracic surgeon?</p>
<p>It would not be possible to be both a cardiologist and ct surgeon. Here’s the breakdown for training:</p>
<p>4 years undergrad -> 4 years medical school -> residency</p>
<p>You would then have to choose which specialty you want to pursue. It will be very likely that you change your mind about cardiology or ct surgery. However, here are the time frames for both of these specialties:</p>
<p>Cardiology: 3 years internal medicine -> 3 years cardiology residency -> 1-2 year fellowship to further specialize
CT Surgery: 5-7 years general surgery residency -> 3 years ct surgery fellowship -> 1-2 year fellowship to further specialize</p>
<p>As you can see, it would be 24 years post high school in the best case scenario!</p>
<p>Yea, that’s quite a bit of time. I guess I’ll choose one or the other when the time comes. Anyways, if anyone has gone down the path/currently is, to becoming a doctor, please let me know. I want to ask a bit more random questions.</p>
<p>Your question unintentionally “cuts” to a natural divide that exists in medicine: medical doctors vs. surgeons.
Cardiologists are medical doctors who specialize by taking additional training in treating cardiovascular disease.
Cardiothoracic surgeons are general surgeons who take an additional fellowship in the surgical treatment of problems of the chest cavity, including heart surgery.
The training programs in no way overlap.
It typically requires six years of training after med school to complete an interventional cardiology fellowship.
The training for CV surgery can be eight years post med school.
As far as opening your own clinic, that option became more and more remote over the last ten years. In the US, nearly all cardiologists and CV surgeons are employed by hospital systems or large multi specialty clinics.
The independent practice of these two specialties is a thing of the past.
Medicine and health care is changing at a rapid pace.
For us old-timers, the changes can be frustrating. However, there are very few careers in this world as rewarding as medicine. I can’t imagine devoting my life to anything else so worthwhile (I ruled out the clergy early on).
You will be able to figure out easily in medical school whether you fit in cardiology or surgery. The decision was not remotely difficult for me or most doctors I know.</p>