How to Become an Immunologist

Overview

The human immune system is the body’s natural defense system; a grouping of cells, tissues and organs that work together to protect the body from infection. The National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases states that there are more than 200 different forms of primary immune deficiency diseases (PIDD), which affect more than 500,000 people in the US alone. The NIH estimates that approximately 23.5 million Americans suffer with one or more autoimmune disorders (conditions that result in the immune system attacking healthy cells in the body). When an individual is suspected of having an immune system disorder or issue of some sort, he or she can seek help in the form of a professional trained in all aspects of the immune system, such as an immunologist. As increases in immune-system disorders and health conditions increases, so too will the need for qualified professionals to diagnose and treat those disorders.

What is an Immunologist?

An immunologist is a doctor who is an expert in the disorders and problems surrounding the human immune system; one of the most important players when it comes to maintaining good health and quality of life. They have studied all aspects of the immune system and its physiological functioning in both healthy and diseased circumstances. These professionals know how to identify immune-related problems in individuals and work to develop specific treatment plans with the goal of improving health and the quality of life for their patients.

The job duties of an immunologist can be numerous, depending upon how that professional chooses to use his or her knowledge. However, some of the things an immunologist is trained to do can include:

• Tracking a patient’s immune system to diagnose any abnormalities.
• Utilizing the numerous lab-based tools to help diagnose patients.
• Develop treatment plans specific to each individual and their disorder – from simple allergies to more sophisticated illnesses like AIDS and cancer.
• Tracking and reporting the patient’s progress with each new treatment.
• Interpreting laboratory results.
• Researching the immune system and various health issues related to it.
• Presenting research findings or teaching in an educational facility.

Nobel Prize winner and virologist Frank Macfarlane Burnet called immunology a science with great potentialities both for practical use in medicine and a better understanding of living process. Although many immunologists use their education and skill to treat patients, many others use it for academic purposes and research in an attempt to better the quality of treatment or seek cures for immune-related conditions.

Educational Track

A doctorate degree is required for immunologists to enter the field.

Step by Step Educational Path of an Immunologist

1. Earn a bachelor’s degree. In order to begin the journey toward becoming an immunologist, individuals must first earn a four-year undergraduate degree. While there is no specific program required, future immunologists should focus on chemistry, physics, social sciences, biology and math related courses.
2. Take the Medical College Admissions Test (MCAT). Immunologists, like other doctors, must go through medical school, which starts with a Medical College Admissions Test. The test is a computer-based, multiple-choice test which assesses a student’s problem-solving, critical-thinking and analysis abilities as they relate to scientific ideas and concepts. After achieving satisfactory scores on this examination, the student should apply to medical school within three years.
3. Apply to medical school. The next step on an immunologist’s journey is to earn the Doctor of Medicine (MD) degree, and in order to do that, students must attend a four-year medical school. This is one of the most important steps in an immunologist’s education and teaches pharmacology, anatomy, psychology and many other topics. During the first two years, students absorb the basics of the medical industry such as patient interaction and diagnosis. During the last two years, students spend time learning with actual patients under the supervision of practicing physicians.
4. Complete a residency program. Residency programs are common for medical doctors, and give them the opportunity to absorb practical skills and to practice what they have learned up to this point. Most residencies involve rotations that allow doctors to learn and experience various specialties. A common path for immunologists is a residency in internal medicine. They will have the opportunity to experience immunology rotations, where they will learn testing methods, laboratory work and result interpretation. A residency commonly lasts between 4 and 5 years. At this point in an immunologists education, they are ready to take the medical licensing examination through the American Board of Internal Medicine to obtain their medical license.
5. Complete a fellowship program. After successful completion of the residency program, immunologists will take their knowledge and skill set to a higher level by participating in a fellowship. With this program, aspiring immunologists gather intense experience and knowledge under the close supervision of a licensed physician. During these 3 years, the student will interact with patients suffering from immune-based disorders and diseases, and may spend time in specialized areas such as autoimmune disorders or allergies. They may also bolster their education with research-based projects.
6. Become board certified. In order to become board certified, immunologists must seek certification from the American Board of Pediatrics (ABP) or the American Board of Internal Medicine (ABIM). Once they have sought out this certification, and have completed at least a 2-year fellowship, they will have the ability to seek certification through the American Board of Allergy and Immunology (ABAI).

Career Path

Approximately 691,400 physicians and surgeons (including immunologists) held jobs in the US in 2012, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. While private practice is a very common path for immunologists who wish to treat patients suffering from immune-related conditions and diseases, many others hold positions in a variety of settings. Immunologists may work in hospitals with groups of other physicians, or in academic settings where they research or teach aspiring physicians.

In hospital settings, immunologists may consult for other physicians or combine their knowledge with the knowledge of various medical professionals in an attempt to best treat patients. In academic settings, immunologists may research broad subjects that fall within the umbrella of immunology, or may take part in medicinal studies designed to develop better drugs to treat immunological disorders.

Employers seeking immunologist candidates typically look for the following qualities:

• Excellent oral and written communication skills, required to effectively trade information and ideas with other healthcare professionals.
• Empathy and compassion, especially since immunologists often deal with patients that can be tricky to diagnose and effectively treat. Being able to support and identify with these patients and their families is crucial.
• Excellent attention to detail.
• Stamina and endurance required to work for many hours without breaks.
• Great problem-solving skills that assist the immunologist in thinking outside the box or catching minute details that can help them treat their patients effectively.

In order to increase the chances of being hired, individuals should consider the following:

• AAI Membership: The American Association of Immunologists is an excellent association and can provide numerous benefits for specialists. In addition to owning and publishing the largest and most highly-cited journal in the field of immunology, (The Journal of Immunology), the AAI offers a variety of opportunities for specialists to interact and network. From attending scientific meetings and conferences to assistance in advancing and spreading the knowledge and awareness of immunology and immune-based conditions and diseases, this is a valuable resource for all aspiring immunologists.
• AAAAI Membership: Another reputable and valuable resource, the American Academy of Allergy Asthma and Immunology offers members the chance to network with other specialists through conferences and meetings. They also provide a variety of continued education options for immunologists, as well as an online database for patients in search of high-quality immunologists.

Biochemists and biophysicists specializing in immunology earned an average of $81,480 as of May 2012, while medical scientists earned an annual salary of $76,980 on average according to the BLS. The projected growth rate for these specialists is 19% through the year 2022, which translates into an additional 5,400 jobs becoming available.

Starting a Private Practice

Establishing a private practice is often the goal of immunologists as they are obtaining their education. With increasing opportunities to work independently within the field of immunology – due to increasing awareness of immune-related conditions and newly developed treatment methods as well as an aging population suffering from allergies and immune related conditions – private practice is certainly an option for every new immunologist.

As stated above, each state in the US as well as the District of Columbia requires licensing of immunologists before they are legally able to practice. Immunologists should contact their state licensure board to determine which requirements they must meet in order to hold a private practice within the state.

Immunologists must consider the pros of starting a private practice, which include the ability to serve and treat patients in a facility that operates under their specific preferences and guidelines. The demand for private immunologist practices will continue to grow, as the number of individuals suffering from immunological diseases grows, resulting from genetic and environmental factors. Those specialists in a private practice have more job flexibility, an environment that is often less stressful, and the ability to better connect with the patients they see.

There are also important cons to consider when looking at private practice as an option. Immunologists will require start-up funds to establish their practice and must learn business practices not taught in medical school. In addition to the diagnosis and treatment of patients, the private practice will require administration work, medical billing, record-keeping, patient interaction (scheduling appointments, etc.) and more. Hiring and managing a group of professionals to run the practice is also essential. Immunologists in a private practice always run the risk of losing money in their venture and not experiencing success.

In order to increase their chances of being successful, immunologist considering a private practice should take business-related or administration-related courses or workshops which will provide essential information and resources to a new business owner. The American Academy of Allergy Asthma & Immunology provides in-depth resources to immunologists who want to start a private practice, including workshops, resources for coding and medical billing, and their Practice Matters newsletter which addresses issues and problems within a private practice and how to overcome them.

In conclusion, becoming an immunologist is entering a field where professionals’ services are highly-sought after by employers as well as patients. These specialists, for the most part, enjoy solid job security and stability, economic stability and satisfaction and fulfillment.

Additional Resources

• The American Association of Immunologists
• The American Academy of Allergy Asthma and Immunology
• Immune Deficiency Foundation
• American Autoimmune Related Diseases Association
• Federation of Clinical Immunology Societies

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