Pregnancy Journals Recalls Safety Shopping Sleep Site Map Shop. For College Pediatricians Specialists in pediatrics spend at least three years studying children's health problems. Many devote additional years to subspecialize in a particular area of pediatrics such as heart, lung, or endocrine problems.
Pediatricians often employ nurse practitioners or physician's assistants.
These individuals work under the supervision of the pediatrician and are often an important part of a pediatric clinic. Pediatric specialists have more extensive training in and experience with children's health issues than any other doctor. However, over half of all children in many areas of the nation receive their routine care from someone other than a pediatrician. Family practitioners and nurse practitioners are quite capable of caring for the common health care needs of children. Your decision to use a pediatrician is a personal one.