Hematologist Job Description, Career as a Hematologist, Salary, Employment

Training/Educational Requirements: Specialized medical degree and license

Median Salary: $235,929 per year

Job Prospects: Good

Job Description

As a specialized physician, a hematologist treats disorders of the blood. These can include many different conditions, and a hematologist must be knowledgeable enough to treat all of the different types, which may include disorders with blood cells, bone marrow, and the vascular system in general.

As hematologists are specialists in blood disorders they may work with patients who have everything from anemia to cancer to sickle cell disease, and everything in between. They work as any other type of physician to begin the process by consulting with their patients to understand their symptoms and gather valuable information. They are often referred by primary care physicians as a specialist in this field is required for a proper diagnosis and treatment plan, so they may also utilize physician’s notes and records in the treatment of their patients.

Hematologist may spend some of their time in a laboratory, looking at the blood samples collected from their patients. They use this to form the basis of their diagnosis and may have to perform a great deal of research as part of their job responsibilities. Hematologists may prescribe and perform many different tests, procedures, and blood work to gather as much information as they can on their patient to ensure that an appropriate diagnosis is provided. They work with their patients every step of the way to understand what the condition is and what the prognosis and associated treatment plan is. Hematologists may perform surgeries as part of a patient’s treatment plan.

Hematologist must run their practice as any other physician would. If they are part of a smaller staff or practice or if they run their own, hematologists must handle all business aspects, including the management of their staff. If they work as part of a larger group or at a hospital directly, they may be involved in committees or research initiatives. Though hematology is a specialization, some of the responsibilities are the same as any other type of physician.

Training/Educational Requirements

There is a rather extensive educational requirement for hematologists. They must complete medical school and gain a license, as any other type of doctor would. Beyond that, they must receive an advanced degree in hematology, as this is their focus. Hematologists may even declare and focus on a specialization beyond hematology, such as pediatrics if they wish to treat children with blood disorders. A student of hematology must travel a long road to fulfill all of the educational requirements for this specialization, sometimes taking up to ten years.

It is important to keep up with the licensing requirements, which may vary by state. There is usually an ongoing training requirement of some sort so that the hematologist keeps current within their field. It is expected that most hematologists will attend industry events, workshops, or seminars to keep up with new trends or findings so that they can better serve their patients. While on-the-job training comes with experience, any additional training can help to keep an hematologist competitive and in the best capacity to serve their patients.

How to Get Hired

IBeyond meeting educational requirements and obtaining a license, hematologists get hired based on their experience is a great way to get hired. Any internship or residency work focused in this area can provide an excellent way to get hired as a full-time hematologist.

As an hematologist moves throughout their career, it is important to develop and maintain good relationships with doctors, particularly primary care physicians. Because referrals from primary care doctors make up a lot of a hematologist’s client base, relationships between general physicians and hematologists can play a major factor in a hematologist being hired by a patient. Having good relationships with insurance companies and previous patients can also work well because word-of-mouth and other referrals serve as one of the best ways to get hired. Keeping a good reputation in the field and demonstrating solid experience as an hematologist who provides excellent care for their patients is another great way to keep the clients coming.

Job Prospects, Employment Outlook, and Career Development

The outlook for hematologists is good because it is a specialization that more and more patients are requiring. And because the health care industry is doing well in terms of jobs and demand, this specialization is growing. This all means that there are excellent opportunities for jobs for hematologists. Since there are a variety of different ways that hematologists may practice their specialization, this too contributes to more jobs and increased potential for career advancement.

Working Environment

The working environment for an hematologist is quite similar to that of any other physician. This involves working in treatment or exam rooms, where the hematologist may consult with and diagnose patients. Hematologists usually have a private office where they may handle research and paperwork. They may expect to spend some of their time in a lab analyzing blood samples, and they may spend part of their time at a hospital or medical facility, performing procedures or surgeries. Hematologists may travel between these different environments to handle patient care, and therefore the environment may change by day. Because they will deal with some stressful circumstances, hematologists must be able to keep their patients calm.

Salary and Benefits

Hematologists can expect to receive about $235,929 per year. This may vary based on the manner in which they practice, the years of experience that they posses, as well as the geographical location in which they work. This means that the salary range may be anywhere between $181,348, for those just starting out, to upwards of $600,000 for those that have a great deal of experience and a good reputation in the field. As this is a specialized type of medicine, there are usually great benefits associated with it, such as medical coverage; pension; paid vacation, sick days, and holidays; a flexible work schedule; and the potential for many others. Hematologist may have their own practice, and this means that they are responsible for their own benefits, but this also contributes to a much higher salary as well.