To prepare for a career as an emergency room doctor, make sure that you're committed to dedicating the time, energy and finances to complete your medical school education. As stated on the Bureau of Labor Statistics article on "Physicians and Surgeons," the "education and training requirements for physicians are among the most demanding of any occupation--4 years of undergraduate school, 4 years of medical school, and 3 to 8 years of internship and residency." That time does not include any additional training to specialize in emergency room care. You need a strong background and interest in the sciences, especially biology, chemistry and anatomy. You should also balance those intense courses with courses that you enjoy. Once you begin your four years of study as a pre-med, remain aware of the structure and pre-requisites you'll need to continue in your studies and do the best you can on your Medical College Admissions Test, or MCAT. Look for volunteer opportunities or internships available in an emergency center in a hospital near you. Your volunteer work may have very little to do with the direct practice of medicine, but the experience of being in the fast-paced environment of the emergency room will help prepare you both mentally and physically for the challenges and experiences you may encounter in the ER.
It may sound strange, but taking care of your physical, mental, and emotional health is one of the best ways you can prepare yourself for a career as an emergency room doctor. Because of the many stresses that doctor's face in both their training and their professional lives, it is important to develop healthy habits before you begin your medical studies. According to the article "Emotional Exhaustion and Stress in Doctors are Linked" by Susan Mayor, doctors who feel emotionally exhausted have a tendency to experience higher levels of stress and eventually see their patients as objects instead of people. One way to avoid this or at least lessen its effects is to understand how stress effects you and figure out healthy ways to ease your stress effectively.
Find a mentor. Having a trusted mentor once you've entered medical school or your residency or started your work in the emergency room can be an invaluable asset. According to the article "Mentoring Resources" on the Family Medicine Interest Group website, there are many mentoring groups available for medical students and interns based on their race, gender, sexual orientation or interests. See the "Resources" link for more details. Mentors can not only help you with the professional pressures of life in the emergency room, but can also give you tips and advice on some of the personal and emotional struggles that come with the profession.