(Note from Mrs. Spanko - The formatting didn't transfer very well, but this is an example of the information contained in one of the pamphlets.)

Job Description

An orthopedist, or orthopedic surgeon, operates on diseases and disorders of the joints and bones. They also deal with problems of the muscles.

The term orthopedics means "straight children".

Orthopedists correct fractured bones, torn tendons, and torn ligaments. Orthopedic surgeons can also prescribe drugs, surgery, or physical therapy.

Education and Training Orthopedists usually go to college for four years and get their bachelor's degree. They usually major in science, such as chemistry or biology. College can take as long as seven years. Orthopedic surgeons must serve one or two years of residency in a hospital before being licensed.

Salary

The average salary for an orthopedist is $273,600. An orthopedist starting out can make as low as $90,000. The salary varies greatly depending on experience and skill.

Job Benefits

Orthopedists have input on choosing their assistants, and they also have the opportunity to work for themselves. Their salary can be raised very easily, according to the doctor.

Personal Characteristics Orthopedists should have high intelligence, good health, self- discipline, good business sense, the ability to organize the work of others, and must be able to deal with many different kinds of people.

Job Outlook The job of an orthopedist has a very good outlook through 2005. Orthopedic surgeons advance by building practices. The growth and aging of our population will generate a high demand for orthopedists.

Working Conditions Orthopedic surgeons generally work in clean and comfortable clinics, offices, or hospitals, working long and irregular hours. They must be able to handle emergencies on the spot. Story of My Search

I have enjoyed researching orthopedic surgeons since day one. The problems I had were finding periodicals. Finding information on education and training came very easily. Some of the best sources I encountered were The World Almanac, and a book on health by Richard Lidz and Linda Perrin.

My Opinion

I might want to be an orthopedist when I grow up because it is a doctor that doesn't have to deal with transplanting organs. I dislike the long and irregular hours, and I wouldn't want to have to handle emergencies on the spot. On a scale of one to ten (ten being the best), I would rate this career as an eight.

The Career of Tomorrow Of all the doctors in the world, an orthopedist is probably one of the most interesting, fun, important, challenging, and exciting. The world is growing so intensely and quickly, there is a high demand for orthopedists. Will you help society by being an orthopedist?

Works Cited

Anonymous. "Sitting Pretty," USA Today, September 1995.

Fetzer, Scott. "Orthopedics". The World Book Encyclopedia. 1996 ed.

Lidz, Richard & Perrin, Linda. Health. New York. Simon & Schuster Macmillan, 1996.

"Orthopedics". Grolier Encyclopedia. 1995 ed. CD ROM. Grolier Electronic Publishing Comp.

"Orthopedics". Microsoft Encarta. 1995 ed. CD ROM. Funk & Wagnalls Corp.

"Sports Medicine Practitioner", Online. Available HTTP: www.edna.edu.au:80/cgi-bin/nph- jobguide/T.R.G.G21.J230339E. Commonwealth of Australia.1996

Srinivasan, Arjun. "Should the United States Push for Equal Numbers of Generalists and Specialists?" Journal of the American Medical Association. January 4, 1995.

The World Almanac. New Jersey. Funk & Wagnalls Corp., 1996.

Be an OUTSTANDING

O R T H O P E D I S T !

Lauren S. Language Arts/ Period 2