Pediatric Surgeons

Diagnose and perform surgery to treat fetal abnormalities and birth defects, diseases, and injuries in fetuses, premature and newborn infants, children, and adolescents. Includes all pediatric surgical specialties and subspecialties.

Jobs growth:

+3% projected 2024–2034

Doctoral or professional degree

Typical Entry-Level Education

What They Do

Pediatric surgeons operate on patients from before birth through adolescence, addressing conditions that range from birth defects to traumatic injuries. They spend their days evaluating young patients, determining whether surgery is necessary, and performing complex procedures tailored to developing bodies. This might include correcting heart abnormalities in newborns, removing tumors, repairing cleft palates, or treating injuries from accidents. Beyond the operating room, they consult with families to explain diagnoses and treatment options, collaborate with pediatricians and other specialists to coordinate care, and follow up with patients during recovery.

Programs That Prepare You

College programs linked to this occupation, ranked by graduate earnings

Medicine(professional)Stanford University, CA

Medicine(professional)Columbia University in the City of New York, NY

Medicine(doctoral)SUNY Downstate Health Sciences University, NY

Medicine(professional)University of California-San Francisco, CA

Medicine(doctoral)Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, NY

Medicine(professional)Harvard University, MA

Medicine(doctoral)Yale University, CT

Medicine(professional)University of Southern California, CA

Medicine(professional)Albert Einstein College of Medicine, NY

Medicine(professional)University of California-Los Angeles, CA

Medicine(professional)CUNY City College, NY

Medicine(professional)Hofstra University, NY

Medicine(professional)New York Medical College, NY

Medicine(professional)Stony Brook University, NY

Medicine(professional)California University of Science and Medicine, CA

Medicine(professional)California Northstate University, CA

Medicine(professional)California Health Sciences University, CA

Medicine(professional)University of California-Davis, CA

Medicine(professional)University of California-Riverside, CA

Medicine(professional)Samuel Merritt University, CA

Medicine(professional)University of California-San Diego, CA

Medicine(professional)Brown University, RI

Medicine(professional)New York University, NY

Medicine(professional)SUNY Downstate Health Sciences University, NY

Medicine(professional)Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, NY

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