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Obstetrician and Gynecologist
The female anatomy is an essential component of life—essential and invaluable.  That is why it is crucial that Medical Science and the science community does everything they can to protect women and their sustained health.  If you would like to join the Medical Science community and become a guardian of women's health, if you enjoy Health, Science, and Math, and if you are particularly interested in the female reproductive system, then you should pursue a career as an Obstetrician and Gynecologist.

Obstetricians and Gynecologists (OB/GYNs) are Physicians/Specialists who provide medical care related to pregnancy, childbirth, and the female reproductive system, treating and counseling women throughout their pregnancy and delivering babies.  They also provide general medical care to women and diagnose, treat, and help prevent diseases of women, particularly those affecting the reproductive system (breast cancer, cervical cancer, hormonal disorders, pelvic disorders, urinary tract infections, symptoms related to menopause, etc.).

The duties of Obstetricians and Gynecologists include but are not limited to:  examining patients and prescribing medications; giving prenatal diagnoses; tracking the health of and treating both mother and fetus as the pregnancy progresses; delivering babies; providing postpartum care; taking a patient’s medical history; updating charts and patient information to show current findings; ordering, performing (or directing nurses or other healthcare staff to do so), and interpreting diagnostic tests; reviewing test results to identify any abnormal findings; recommending and designing a plan of treatment; answering concerns or questions that patients have about their health and well-being; counseling and educating patients on the care of their health by discussing topics (proper diet and nutrition, hygiene, preventive health care, etc.).

High school students interested in becoming an Obstetrician and Gynecologist benefit from taking Algebra, Geometry, Trigonometry, Calculus, Biology/Anatomy, Nutrition, Nursing, Health, Chemistry, Physical Science, and Physics.  Students entering Pre-Medical Bachelor's of Science programs with no previous OB-GYN training should expect a period of 4 years to complete said program.  Pre-Medical students must complete undergraduate work in Physics, Biology, Mathematics, English, and Inorganic and Organic Chemistry.  Some students even volunteer at local hospitals and/or clinics to gain practical experience in the health professions prior to applying for medical school.  In order to legally practice, OB/GYNs must possess the required amount of training and/or a degree from an accredited school of medicine (Obstetrics and Gynecology program), pass the national exam, and apply for licensure in the state in which one wishes to practice.  Licensure is required in all states.

New OB/GYNs are much less likely to enter into solo practice and are more likely to work as salaried employees of group medical practices, clinics, hospitals, or health networks.  Many work long, irregular hours, with over one-third of full-time OB/GYNs (Physicians and Surgeons) working 60 or more hours a week.

Job prospects should be good for OB/GYNs who are willing to practice in rural and low-income areas, because these areas tend to have difficulty attracting Physicians.  And with the continued increases in knowledge of cancers and the advancements in cancer treatment technology as it relates to women as well as the increase in the awareness of the benefits of regular check-ups with OB/GYNs, employment of these Physicians and Surgeons is expected to grow by 24 percent over the next decade.  
Job Description
Median Salary & Range
​Median Salary:  $255,200

Salary Range:  ~$185,830 - $364,720+
College Majors & Attainment Routes
The normal routes to becoming an Obstetrician and Gynecologist have been to attain a Bachelor's of Science degree in Pre-Medical, Physics, Biology or Biological Sciences (Pre-Medical), Physiology or Physiology Sciences, Chemistry (Pre-Professional), Biomedical Sciences, Health Sciences, Engineering Physics, Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Pre-Professional Education, and Biochemistry.

Formal education and training requirements typically include 4 years of undergraduate school (Bachelor's of Science Degree), 4 years of medical school, and 3 to 8 years of internship and residency, depending on the specialty selected.  A few medical schools offer combined undergraduate and medical school programs that last 6 rather than the customary 8 years.
Colleges That Provide Above Majors
Colleges and universities that have Obstetrics and Gynecology Schools and related majors are:  Charles R. Drew University of Medicine and Science (Los Angeles, California); Meharry Medical College (Nashville, Tennessee); Delaware State University (Dover, Delaware); Howard University (Washington, DC); Morgan State University (Baltimore, Maryland); Norfolk State University (Norfolk, Virginia); Elizabeth City State University (Elizabeth City, North Carolina); Morehouse College (Atlanta, Georgia); Fayetteville State University (Fayetteville, North Carolina); North Carolina Central University (Durham, North Carolina); Jackson State University (Jackson, Mississippi); Oakwood University (Huntsville, Alabama); Virginia State University (Petersburg, Virginia); Johnson C. Smith University (Charlotte, North Carolina); Winston Salem State University (Winston Salem, North Carolina); Albany State University (Albany, Georgia); South Carolina State University (Orangeburg, South Carolina); Savannah State University (Savannah, Georgia); Spelman College (Atlanta, Georgia); North Carolina A&T State University (Greensboro, North Carolina); Claflin University (Orangeburg, South Carolina); Allen University (Columbia, South Carolina); Fort Valley State University (Fort Valley, Georgia); Paine College (Augusta, Georgia); Livingstone College (Salisbury, North Carolina); Benedict College (Columbia, South Carolina); Huston-Tillotson University (Austin, Texas); Hampton University (Hampton, Virginia); and Voorhees College (Denmark, South Carolina).
Available Scholarships