Cardiologist
A cardiologist is a specialized medical doctor focused on diagnosing, treating, and preventing diseases related to the heart and cardiovascular system. They can be classified into different areas, including nonsurgical, invasive, and interventional cardiologists, each with varying degrees of specialization. Nonsurgical cardiologists primarily provide medical advice and conduct noninvasive tests, while invasive cardiologists can perform catheterizations to assess heart function. Interventional cardiologists are specially trained to carry out more complex procedures like angioplasty to treat blocked arteries.
Cardiologists typically work in busy medical environments such as hospitals and clinics, where they engage closely with patients and collaborate with other medical professionals. Their work often involves long hours, including on-call responsibilities for urgent patient care. Given the high demand for heart health expertise due to the prevalence of heart disease, cardiology is a rapidly evolving field that integrates advanced medical technologies and continuous research. Education pathways require extensive training, including a bachelor’s degree, medical school, and additional years of residency and fellowship.
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Subject Terms
Cardiologist
Snapshot
Career Cluster(s): Health Science
Interests: Research, surgery, science, helping others improve their health, communicating with others
Earnings (Yearly Average): $229,300 per year $110.24 per hour
Employment & Outlook: 3% (As fast as average)
Entry-Level Education Doctoral or professional degree
Related Work Experience None
On-the-job-Training Internship/residency
Overview
Sphere of Work.Cardiologists are medical doctors and internists who specialize in the diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of diseases of the heart and cardiovascular system. There are several areas of specialization, but most cardiologists fall into the following classifications: nonsurgical, invasive, and interventional. Further specialization in pediatric cardiology, nuclear cardiology, or electrophysiology and other fields is also possible. Other cardiologists focus on conducting research and teaching cardiology at medical schools.
Nonsurgical cardiologists provide medical advice on how patients can maintain heart health, and they perform noninvasive tests to determine whether patients have a heart condition. These tests include electrocardiograms and stress tests and are performed in a medical office. Invasive cardiologists do much of the same work as nonsurgical cardiologists, but they have the added ability and training to perform catheterizations. This is a procedure that helps the physician understand blood flow to the heart and determine the heart’s ability to pump.
An interventional cardiologist has the skill and training to perform more invasive procedures, such as angioplasty, used to open blocked arteries and insert stents, in a clinical setting. These clinical procedures involve more risk and are most often performed at a hospital.
Work Environment. Cardiologists generally work in medical environments, such as hospitals and medical offices. These environments can be very busy. Hospitals, in particular, are extremely active, with frequent, daily interaction between the cardiologist and nurses, other doctors, medical technicians, and patients. Medical facilities and hospitals are sterile environments, and physicians and staff follow daily procedures to ensure that each patient is protected from germs and other health hazards.
To conduct patient consultations for on-going treatment and noninvasive work, cardiologists use medical offices with examination rooms where they can meet privately with patients. Medical offices keep a limited supply of related medical technology on the premises, which is used for noninvasive or nonsurgical patient testing. When the cardiologist must use more invasive techniques to treat a patient, they might consult with a fellow cardiologist (trained to perform a specific procedure) or other medical personnel, such as nurses and medical technicians, to treat the patient in a clinical setting.
Cardiologists often work erratic, long hours. Their workday is further extended when the doctor is assigned to provide “on-call” services, which include answering patient calls after hours and, when necessary, going to the hospital to treat patients who need urgent care.
Occupation Interest. Because heart disease is one of the most common public health issues, cardiologists work in a busy environment where their services are in high demand. Cardiology is also a growing field, where new discoveries and research lead to frequent changes in best practices. Cardiologists enjoy the benefits of working with state-of-the-art technology, which is constantly being refined and upgraded. Cardiologists earn significant salaries, but are also subject to significant malpractice insurance costs.
A Day in the Life—Duties and Responsibilities. The daily responsibilities of a cardiologist vary based on his or her specialty. For example, a noninvasive cardiologist works primarily in the office of his or her medical practice, seeing as many as 30 patients a day. They will conduct tests, recommend medication, and/or dietary changes and exercise. When more invasive procedures are warranted, the nonsurgical cardiologist may refer patients to other cardiologists. Invasive, non-interventional cardiologists perform these tasks as well, but they perform catheterizations in a catheterization laboratory, or cath lab, which also provides medical imaging equipment used during the procedure.
Interventional cardiologists perform the above duties and are further qualified to perform angioplasty (a procedure in which a balloon is used to enlarge arteries and clear arterial blockages as well as insert stents) and other procedures. Interventional cardiologists tend to work longer hours in the hospital than non-interventional specialists.
Other cardiologists choose to obtain additional training to work specifically with certain types of patients, for example, children. Many also receive training in the field of electrophysiology (the bioelectrical impulses that make the heart beat). This training qualifies them to implant pacemakers and to perform other procedures to correct irregular heartbeats.
Some cardiologists perform research in addition to practicing cardiology and teaching medical students. These doctors usually work in research laboratories, medical libraries, and universities, studying samples and conducting studies to learn more about cardiac and cardiovascular problems and treatments. They write frequent medical articles and share the results of their studies with peers at conferences and meetings.
Work Environment
Immediate Physical Environment. Cardiologists spend a great deal of time working in medical offices. Noninvasive procedures and patient follow-ups take place in medical offices. The hospital environment is more complex and frenetic, with a great deal of social interaction and a higher caseload assigned to each doctor.
Human Environment. Cardiologists are in constant contact with patients during the course of their work, providing consultations, performing procedures, and studying patients for the purpose of medical research. Cardiologists also work closely with colleagues, nurses, physician assistants, medical technologists, hospital administrators, and other medical professionals. Empathy, patience, and effective communication skills enhance patient interaction and treatment.
Technological Environment. Cardiologists must understand the application of a wide range of medical equipment, including electrocardiograms, diagnostic equipment, and surgical supplies. They rely on smartphones, computer systems, and related databases, all of which enable them to efficiently communicate with peers, conduct research, order medications, and organize patient records. The field of cardiology is dynamic, and health technologies are constantly being improved and developed to enable doctors to perform with more precision.
Education, Training, and Advancement
High School/Secondary. High school students interested in cardiology should take a wide range of mathematics and science courses, such as algebra, biology, chemistry, trigonometry, physiology, geometry, and psychology. Because doctors must be effective communicators, students can benefit from English and other humanities courses.
Postsecondary. Future cardiologists should earn a bachelor’s degree in science with a focus on premedical studies. They must attend medical school for another four years to receive a medical doctorate, followed by several more years of internships and residency. Upon completion of the residency, they are expected to obtain a cardiology fellowship, which lasts an additional two to five years.
Related Occupations
− Surgeon
Bibliography
“Occupational Employment and Wages, May 2022: 29-1069 Physicians and Surgeons, All Other.” Occupational Employment Statistics, Bureau of Labor Statistics, US Dept of Labor, 25 Apr. 2023, www.bls.gov/oes/2016/may/oes291069.htm. Accessed 13 Sept. 2023.
“Physicians and Surgeons.” Occupational Outlook Handbook, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, US Dept of Labor, 5 Sept. 2023, www.bls.gov/ooh/healthcare/physicians-and-surgeons.htm. Accessed 13 Sept. 2023.