Education · 1 of 4

The path

You become an internal medicine doctor first, then a blood specialist.

1. 1

   High school

   Grades 11 and 12

   Top grades in biology, chemistry, math and English. You need a very strong record to get into a competitive science program.

2. 2

   Bachelor's degree

   4 years

   Any major works if you finish the required science courses. Keep your GPA high, get research and clinical experience, and write the MCAT (medical school admission test).

3. 3

   Medical school

   4 years

   Two years of classroom science, then two years of clinical rotations. You take the first two steps of the United States Medical Licensing Examination along the way.

4. 4

   Internal medicine residency

   3 years

   Matched through the national residency match. Hospital wards, intensive care and clinics. In your second or third year you apply to the fellowship match.

5. 5

   Hematology fellowship and board certification

   2 to 3 years

   Most programs in the United States train hematology and oncology together. Leukemia and lymphoma wards, clotting and bleeding clinics, the blood bank, and reading bone marrow under a microscope. Then board certification and a state medical license.