About This Career

Diagnoses and performs surgery to treat fetal abnormalities and birth defects, diseases, and injuries in fetuses, premature and newborn infants, children, and adolescents.

This career is part of the Health Science cluster Therapeutic Services pathway.

A person in this career:

• Analyzes patient's medical history, medication allergies, physical condition, and examination results to verify operation's necessity and to determine best procedure.
• Conducts research to develop and test surgical techniques that can improve operating procedures and outcomes.
• Consults with patient's other medical care specialists, such as cardiologist and endocrinologist, to determine if surgery is necessary.
• Describes preoperative and postoperative treatments and procedures, such as sedatives, diets, antibiotics, or preparation and treatment of the patient's operative area, to parents or guardians of the patient.
• Directs and coordinates activities of nurses, assistants, specialists, residents, and other medical staff.
• Examines fetuses, infants, children, and adolescents, and diagnoses health issues to determine need for intervention, such as surgery.
• Examines instruments, equipment, and operating room to ensure sterility.
• Examines patient to obtain information on medical condition and surgical risk.
• Follows established surgical techniques during the operation.
• Informs parents and guardians of child's health problems and surgical procedures through various channels, such as in-person and telecommunication systems.

Working Conditions and Physical Demands

People who do this job report that:

• You would often handle loads up to 10 lbs., sometimes up to 20 lbs. You might do a lot of walking or standing, or you might sit but use your arms and legs to control machines, equipment or tools.
• Work in this occupation involves use of protective items such as safety shoes, glasses, gloves, hearing protection, a hard hat, or personal flotation devices
• Exposed to disease and infections more than once a month through work such as patient care, laboratory work, and sanitation control
• Work in this occupation involves using your hands to hold, control, and feel objects more than one-third of the time
• Work in this occupation requires being inside most of the time
• Work in this occupation involves sitting more than one-third of the time
• Work in this occupation involves standing more than one-third of the time

Work Hours and Travel

• Irregular hours
• Overtime work
• Weekend work