Cardiologist (Heart Specialist) is a medical practitioner, an expert in dealing with disorders of the human heart. He is specifically trained medical professional who is able to diagnosis and treats congenital heart defects, coronary artery disease, heart failure and other related heart diseases.
Unprecedented materialistic development, high expectations and unlimited wants have forced a man to work harder and harder. This has started showing its ill-effect on the human body in the form of sometime’s non-existent diseases like Hypertension and Heart failure, two most prominent of them. With overburdened body, sedentary living style, the advent of junk food, and absence of exercise from the routine these diseases are likely to spread faster with the time, thereby increasing the need of expert Cardiologist who can help to cure the patients suffering from heart-related disorders.
Cardiology can be a good option for the aspiring medical practitioner if we go by the present records and expected future requirements of Cardiologist. Young Cardiologists can help to cure ever increasing heart patients as well as make a good career for themselves.
Cardiologist Eligibility
Aspiring candidate must have done 5½ years MBBS degree followed by 3 years MD and 3-years DM (Cardiology) to become a Cardiologist.
Cardiologist Required Skills
- The cardiologist should be hard-worker, have a dedication and above all aptitude in sciences subjects, particularly in chemistry, biology and physics
- They should have discipline, patience, commitment to excel and self-confidence to become a Cardiologist.
- They should possess an organised and professional manner; be sure of your own judgement, and be confident enough to make decisions that could decide the fate of your patients.
- They should have the ability to work as an individual and as part of a team; excellent communication skills; extensive knowledge of medical practices and leadership qualities.
How to become a Cardiologist?
Interested candidates have to follow the given steps to become a Cardiologist:
Step 1
Candidates who have appeared or are appearing in +2 (with Physics, Chemistry and Biology as main subjects) have to appear in Medical Entrance Exams conducted NTA and various reputed medical institutes like NEET UG and AIIMS MBBS Entrance Exam to admit candidates in various medical institutions affiliated with it. These exams are generally held in the month of May-June.
Step 2
After completing this four and half years of MBBS degree course and one year and six months compulsory training one has to go for a Master’s Degree in Cardiology - a specialization - must work as a Cardiologist.
Aspiring MBBS doctors have to appear in Post Graduate Medical Entrance Tests like
- NEET PG
- BHU M.D. / M.S. Entrance Test
- Delhi University Post Graduate Medical Entrance Test
- Jawaharlal Institute of Post-graduate Medical Education and Research Entrance Exam.
However, some institutes also provide admission on the basis of marks obtained in the MBBS course and work experience of the aspiring candidates.
Step 3
After the completion of this two to three years of Master Degree in Cardiology course and getting the requisite registration from Medical Council of India, the budding Cardiologist can take different career paths open to Cardiologist like getting jobs in Government Hospitals like AIIMS, Corporate Hospitals like Fortis, Apollo. The cardiologist can also opt for their own heart care centre.
Cardiologist Job Description
Cardiologist’s job description includes diagnosing and treating diseases and conditions related to the cardiovascular system of a human being. This includes problems caused by restricted circulation due to narrowing of the arteries, problems in the heart valves, damage to the muscle tissue, and disorders of the pericardium. Cardiologists are supposed to address emergency situations like heart attacks besides treating congenital heart problems. If the patient needs heart surgery, the Cardiologist would make a reference to a Cardiothoracic Surgeon. Cardiology is a demanding speciality, but if you have the dedication and perseverance to succeed, you will receive enormous satisfaction in being a Cardiologist.
Increase in the patients with heart problems and opening up of Super speciality Heart Care Centres - both in government and corporate sector - has widened the scope for Cardiologists. Latest records clearly show that the need for Cardiologists will continue to grow as long as heart disease remains the leading healthcare problem and this is not expected to change soon in the near future.
Cardiologist Salary
The cardiologist can expect to get an average monthly salary of Rs.1.5 Lakh in the private sector and if they are working in the government hospitals it can be anywhere between Rs.80,000 to Rs.1,00,000 compensated by free accommodation, perks and respect enjoyed by them. However, there is no upper limit for those efficient Cardiologists who are managing their own heart care centres.
