Doctor facts for kids

A doctor is a person who has earned a high academic degree called a doctorate, or someone who practices medicine to help people stay healthy. The word "doctor" comes from a Latin word meaning "teacher."

What is a Doctor?

The word "doctor" can mean a few different things, but it usually refers to two main types of professionals:

• A medical doctor (also called a physician) is a healthcare professional who helps people when they are sick or injured. They work to keep us healthy.
• An academic doctor is someone who has earned the highest university degree, known as a doctorate. This degree shows they are experts in a specific subject.

Medical Doctors: Helping People Stay Healthy

Medical doctors are very important people in our communities. Their main job is to diagnose, treat, and prevent illnesses and injuries. They work in many places, like hospitals, clinics, and even schools.

What Do Medical Doctors Do?

Medical doctors do many things to help people. They might:

• Listen to your heart and lungs with a stethoscope.
• Ask you questions about how you feel.
• Order tests like blood tests or X-rays to find out what's wrong.
• Prescribe medicines to help you get better.
• Perform surgeries to fix problems inside the body.
• Give advice on how to live a healthy life, like eating well and exercising.

Types of Medical Doctors

There are many different kinds of medical doctors, each specializing in a particular area of health:

• General Practitioners (GPs) or Family Doctors are often the first doctors you see. They treat common illnesses and can refer you to specialists if needed.
• Pediatricians are doctors who specialize in treating babies, children, and teenagers.
• Surgeons are doctors who perform operations to treat diseases or injuries.
• Cardiologists specialize in the heart.
• Dermatologists specialize in skin problems.
• Oncologists specialize in treating cancer.

How to Become a Medical Doctor

Becoming a medical doctor takes a lot of hard work and many years of schooling. After finishing high school, future doctors usually go to university for four years to earn a bachelor's degree. Then, they go to medical school for another four years. After medical school, they complete a residency, which is hands-on training in a hospital, lasting from three to seven years depending on their specialty.

Academic Doctors: Experts in Their Field

An academic doctor is someone who has earned a doctorate degree, which is the highest academic degree awarded by universities. The most common doctorate is a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD). People with doctorates are experts in their chosen field, which can be almost any subject you can imagine!

What Do Academic Doctors Do?

Academic doctors often work in universities, where they:

• Conduct research to discover new knowledge.
• Write books and articles about their findings.
• Teach university students.
• Supervise other students who are working on their own research.

They can also work in many other areas, such as government, industry, or non-profit organizations, using their expert knowledge to solve complex problems.

Doctors in Popular Culture

The word "Doctor" is also used for some famous characters and people in popular culture:

• The Doctor from Doctor Who is a fictional character in a very long-running British science fiction TV show. The Doctor is an alien who travels through time and space, often saving the universe.
• The Doctor from Star Trek: Voyager is a fictional character in the American science fiction TV show Star Trek: Voyager. This Doctor is an emergency medical hologram, a computer program designed to act as a doctor.
• "The Doctor" is also the nickname of famous American basketball player Julius Erving. He was known for his amazing dunks and acrobatic moves on the court.

Images for kids

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  A friendly robot, often used to represent technology and the future.