RUNNING HEAD: IN-DEPTH JOB ANALYSIS REPORT 1

In-Depth Job Analysis Report: Invasive Cardiologist

Niyanthesh Reddy

Nova Southeastern University

Author Note

Niyanthesh A. Reddy, Department of Technology, Nova Southeastern University

This research was supported by Dr. Annie Myers, Instructor for TECH 1110 (Winter 2017)
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In-Depth Job Analysis Report: Invasive Cardiologist

INTRODUCTION

I have chosen to pursue a career in Cardiology not only because I am interested

in Cardiovascular Medicine, but also because it is a very fulfilling and honorable

profession. On my path to becoming a Cardiologist, I will learn how to diagnose various

conditions related to the Cardiovascular System such as Myocardial Infraction (MI),

Heart Disease (CDH), Coronary Artery Disease (CAD) and many other problems. I will

also treat my patients based on selective treatment modalities, such as Angioplasty,

medicated Arterial Stenting, Balloon Stenting and many other intravascular techniques.

In this in-depth job analysis of a Cardiologist, especially analyzing Invasive

Cardiologists, I will be using various online websites and periodicals examining the roles

Cardiologists have within the Medical field.

EDUCATION/TRAINING

The education track of a Cardiologist is very overwhelming. A Cardiologist

usually spends a minimum of 10 to a maximum of 13 years for training and expertise

based on whether he or she wants to become a specialist or not, after obtaining an

Undergraduate degree (Caldwell, 2015).

The first step to becoming a Cardiologist is earning a bachelors degree in a

University or College setting. A Cardiologist starts with a four-year bachelors

undergraduate major, usually in Biology or Chemistry. The second step is to take the

Medical College Admissions Test (MCAT) for admission to Medical School. MCAT
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assesses a students analytical abilities and overall scientific knowledge by testing for

Critical Analysis, Chemistry, Biology, Biochemistry, and Psychology (Kaplan, 2015).

The third step is Medical School. Medical School is for four years, during which

students will study in-depth Medical topics related to Anatomy and Physiology. The first

two years of Medical school, students will interview patients for medical history; perform

examinations to diagnose the conditions a patient may be facing. The last two years,

students will do clinical rotations where Medical students will be able to learn about

other branches of Medicine by specialists. Students will take both the United Stated

Medical Licensing Examinations (USMLE) Step 1 and 2, or take the Comprehensive

Osteopathic Medical Licensing Examinations (COMLEX) to get into Internal Medicine

Residency.

This leads us to the fourth step, Internal Medicine Residency (Caldwell, 2015).

After Medical school, students interested in Cardiology will go through Internal Medicine

Residency, lasting for 3 years. In Internal Medicine Residency, future Cardiologists will

take the board-certified exams by the American Board of Internal Medicine (Caldwell,

2015).

The fifth step is Cardiology Fellowship. During Cardiology Fellowship, lasting for

3-4 years, future cardiologists will work with interning Cardiologists and obtain advanced

training in the prevention, diagnosing and treatment options, including how to read EKG

(Electrocardiogram) and Stress-tests, but also how to perform Arterial Stenting. The last

step is going into a Subspecialty, such as Interventional Cardiology, which is 1-2 years.

Future Cardiologists, such as me, will be performing unique invasive procedures, such

as Arterial Stenting, if going into this sub-specialty.

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Subspecialties are usually offered in the same locations as Internal Medicine

locations, usually in Community hospitals. Cardiologists usually are enrolled in the

American Heart Association (AHA) or American College of Cardiology (ACC)

Association.

JOB SKILLS

In my opinion, the following skills are essential to become an exceptional Invasive

cardiologist (LifeWorks, 2011).

1. Oral Expression-This is essential to convey information and ideas in an effective

manner to patients.

2. Finger motion- When trying to hold small objects, in this case medical

instruments, it is important to make coordinated movements of the fingers.

3. Memorization- A Cardiologist needs both visual memory to remember pictures,

words, numbers and procedures (This is essential when performing an invasive

procedure).

4. Control Precision- Being able to precisely adjust to a situation in case of an

emergency.

5. Visualization- A cardiologist needs to visualize how something (In this case the

Heart) will react when moved or interacting with another object.

6. Category Flexibility- Using different methods or rules to reach the solution to a

problem

7. Manual Dexterity- The ability to make quick, coordinated actions

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8. Arm-Hand Steadiness- When performing a procedure, the steadiness of the

arms and hands are important

9. Deductive Reasoning- The ability to deduce the answers to specific problems a

patient may have.

To obtain experience in Cardiovascular Medicine, doing Research, volunteering in

local clinics and hospitals, and gaining professional experience by shadowing other

Cardiologists are viable options when wanting to have prior experience in a profession.

In my opinion, I am very motivated and dedicated to helping others so when I consider

Cardiology; I consider my motivation and dedication to be relieving patients from their

suffering. Millions of men and women around the world suffer from Heart Disease, the

number one cause of death (Nichols, 2017).

EARNINGS

The standard beginning salary for an Invasive Cardiologist is $267,442. In Fort

Lauderdale, the beginning salary is $384,675. In my hometown, Gainesville, FL, the

average starting salary for this profession is $360,286. (Salary.com, 2017)

I can expect to receive a maximum of $493,753 as an Invasive Cardiologist. In

Fort Lauderdale, the maximum an Interventional Invasive Cardiologist can get is

$480,431. In Gainesville, FL, I can expect to make a maximum of $449,118.

(Salary.com, 2017)
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Salary range can be affected by Experience (Years), Level of specialization, Choice

of practice, location of practice and Locum Tenens (Not being physically present)

(Consultants, 2017).

EXPENSES

To be a Cardiologist, many expenses need to be covered. First of all, the cost of

hiring a new staff and if I wanted to become an individual Cardiologist, the setup of a

new Cath-lab would be the primary expenses. The tuition for Undergraduate and

Medical Schools are the secondary expenses, leading to more than $300,000 in debt.

Residency and Fellowship programs pay the future cardiologists money, when working

in a community hospital.

Start-Up Financing. Undergraduate and Medical Schools can be financed through

scholarships by the University or the US Army. For Medical School, the US army can

finance the student costs by an enlistment into the Health Professions Scholarship

Program or finance the students costs for Undergraduate School by going through the

Undergraduate Health Care Education Program (Army Medicine Education

Opportunities, 2016).

To set up a Cath-lab operations room, typically 600 to 650 square feet is needed.

The costs change based on the equipment being used to perform a diagnostic or

treatment procedure, and the location of the Cath-lab room (Kaiser, 2009). This can

typically be deferred if an Invasive Cardiologist has individual partners. This way, the

costs will be reduced by half than the actual expenses needed to build a Cath-lab.
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TYPICAL DAY

The usual work-day for a Cardiologist begins at 8:30 AM and ends at 8 PM. From

8:30 AM to 9:30 AM, cardiologists will begin seeing new patients, deciding what

treatment plan(s) a patient should undertake, whether to change medications and/or

whether there is a need to see another specialist. From 9:30 AM to 11:30 AM,

Cardiologists will go to afternoon multidisciplinary meetings to discuss about different

patients and the appropriate plan of action. From 11:30 AM to 1 PM, new inpatient

individuals will undergo initial assessments and doctors will be called. At 1 PM, Lunch is

eaten with the secretary having the entire patients paperwork. From 2-6 PM,

Cardiologists will spend in the Cardiac Catheterization Lab (Cath-Lab) performing a

variety of procedures, such as Angioplasty and stenting of the coronary arteries, to

inserting pacemakers to stimulate the heart. From 6-7 PM, any patients that the

Cardiologist has not seen will be reassigned a new appointment schedule date. From 7-

8 PM, Cardiologists will read their emails. Last at 8 PM, the Cardiologist is finished (Leo,

2012).

Being a Cardiologist, the rewards with the patient being healthy and leading a quality

standard of life is the number one most rewarding part. Another best part of the day is

meeting new patients and taking a unique approach to treating their problems (Leo,

2012). During the day, some problems a Cardiologist may face include the increased

intensity of the hours, complexity of invasive procedures and increasing competition by

fellow Cardiologists would have to be the most challenging problems (Leo, 2012).
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APTITUDE

Personality Traits

My motivation, diligence and determination are my most important personality traits.

When being a Cardiologist, these three personality traits can help me perform invasive

procedures with more probability of success. Some skills I have that I believe can help

me in becoming a Cardiologist is my hands-on skills. During my basic science and

clinical research studies, I have become adept at handling various medical instruments

which can help me become proficient as a Cardiologist when or if I am performing

procedures.

Real Life Experience

I have done much Cardiovascular Research in my high school and volunteering

at a local cardiovascular outpatient lab. My Cardiovascular research involved correlating

the onset of cardiovascular disease with oral bacteria at the University of Florida. In my

hometown, I was able to volunteer alongside a cardiologist operating a Cardiac

Catheterization Operations Lab as a solo invasive Cardiologist.

CONCLUSION

Honestly, I did not know about the schedule and earnings of a Cardiologist.

Being a Cardiologist, I did not know the hours were so strenuous and the earnings I

predicted were wrong as I did not know that a Cardiologist earned so much money in

the state of Florida.

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My passion to become a Cardiologist is directed to helping and thereby treating

others, in this case my patients, to lead a better quality of life. Patients who suffer from

Myocardial Infraction, Heart Disease and other cardiovascular illnesses can always be

in life-threatening situations. I am willing to do anything to help them, and also because I

can perform unique invasive procedures being a specialist and give my patients more

hope for a quality future.

What else would you like to know?

In my opinion, I would like to know how the personal life of a Cardiologist is, apart from

their work experiences. Depending on how their work-life is, a Cardiologists personal

life could vary.

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REFERENCES

Army Medicine Education Opportunities. (2016, December 15). Retrieved May 2, 2017, from

US Army: http://www.goarmy.com/amedd/education.html

Australia, C. C. (2017). Cardiologist. Retrieved May 2, 2017, from Career Centre:

http://www.careercentre.dtwd.wa.gov.au/Occupations/Pages/cardiologist.aspx

Caldwell, E. (2015, February). HOW TO BECOME A CARDIOLOGIST. Retrieved May 2, 2017,

from Doctorly: http://doctorly.org/how-to-become-a-cardiologist/

Consultants, T. (2017). Cardiologist Salaries. Retrieved May 2, 2017, from Mommd:

https://www.mommd.com/cardiology-salary.shtml

Kaiser, D. (2009, December). Cath Lab Digest. Building an Interventional Department, 17(12).

Retrieved May 3, 2017, from Cath Lab Digest:

http://www.cathlabdigest.com/articles/Building-Interventional-Department

Kaplan. (2015, October 12). What is the MCAT? Retrieved May 5, 2017, from Kaplan Test Prep:

https://www.kaptest.com/mcat/mcat-test/what-is-the-mcat

Leo. (2012, February). Work Experience : A day in the life of a Cardiologist. Retrieved from

Doceatdoc: http://www.doceatdoc.com/work-experience-a-day-in-the-life-of-a-

cardiologist/

LifeWorks. (2011). Physician, Cardiologist. Retrieved from NIH Life Works:

http://nihlifeworks.org/Alphabetical%2bList/Physician%2c%2bCardiologist4ef3.html?O

penDocument&ShowTab=4&
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Nichols, H. (2017, February 23). The top 10 leading causes of death in the United States.

Retrieved May 2, 2017, from Medical News Today:

http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/282929.php

Salary.com. (2017, April 27). Florida Physician - Cardiology - Invasive Salaries. Retrieved from

Salary: http://www1.salary.com/FL/cardiologist-salary.html