Physicians diagnose diseases, treat illnesses and injuries, and are involved in research, rehabilitation, and preventive medicine.
Most physicians specialize in a particular field of medicine such as internal medicine, general surgery, psychiatry, or pediatrics. The fastest growing specialty is family practice, which emphasizes general medicine.
Most new physicians open their own offices or join associate or group practices. Those who enter the armed forces start with the rank of captain in the army or air force or lieutenant in the navy. Other federal positions are in the Veterans Administration; the U.S. Public Health Service; and the Department of Health and Human Services.
Places of Employment and Working Conditions
Just about every community has at least one physician.
The northeastern states have the highest ratios of physicians to population; the southern states have the lowest. Physicians tend to locate in urban areas close to hospital facilities and educational centers; rural areas are often under-served.
Many physicians have long and irregular working hours. Specialists work fewer hours than general practitioners. Physicians do have the option of curtailing their practices as they grow older, thus being able to work at a reduced pace past the normal retirement age.
Qualifications, Education, and Training
Anyone interested in this field must have a strong desire to serve the sick and injured. He or she must have emotional stability and the ability to make quick decisions in an emergency and be able to relate well to people. The study of medicine is long and expensive and requires a commitment to intense, vigorous training.
High school should include as much mathematics and science as possible, and grades should average "B" or above.
Most medical school applicants have a bachelor's degree, although medical schools will accept three years of premedical college study. Competition or entrance into medical school is fierce. Premedical college grades of "B" or better are usually necessary along with a high grade on the Medical College Admission Test (MCAT). Other relevant factors are the applicant's character, personality, and leadership qualities; letters of recommendation; and, in state-supported medical schools, area of residence.
It usually takes four years to complete medical school; students with outstanding ability sometimes complete it in three. A few schools have programs that allow completion of premedical and medical studies in a total of six years.
The first half of medical school is spent in classrooms and laboratories studying medical sciences. The remaining time is spent in clinical work under the supervision of experienced physicians. At completion of medical school, students are awarded a doctor of medicine (M.D.) degree.
After graduation, a three-year hospital residency is usually completed. Those seeking certification in a specialty spend up to five years in advanced residency training; this is followed by two or more years of practice in the specialty before the required specialty board examination is taken.
Physicians, who intend to teach or research, must earn a master's or Ph.D. degree in a field such as biochemistry or microbiology.
All physicians must be licensed to practice medicine. Requirements usually include graduation from an accredited medical school, completion of a residency program, and a passing grade on a licensing examination-usually the National Board of Medical Examiners (NBME) test. Applicants who have not taken the NBME test must sit for the Federation Licensing Examination that is accepted by all jurisdictions. Physicians licensed in one state can obtain a license in most other states without further examination.
Graduates of foreign medical schools must pass an examination given by the Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates before they are allowed to serve a residency in the United States.
Potential and Advancement
Employment opportunities should be very good through the years to come due to the growing demands for health care. Anticipated increases in the number of medical graduates of existing and new U.S. medical schools, combined with foreign medical graduates, could cause the supply to exceed the demand. This should encourage more physicians to establish practices in areas that have traditionally lacked sufficient medical services such as rural and inner-city areas. An increase in the supply of new physicians will also mean more competition in some specialty fields. Primary care practitioners, such as family physicians, pediatricians, and internal medicine specialists, will continue to be in demand.
Income
New physicians setting up their own practice usually have a few very lean years in the beginning, but, once a practice is established, salaries rise rapidly. Physicians in a private practice usually earn more than those in salaried positions, and specialists earn considerably more than general practitioners.
Because practitioners in metropolitan areas have much better incomes than those in rural areas, some rural communities offer a guaranteed annual income to a physician who is willing to practice in their area.
Additional Sources of Information
- American Medical Association 515 N. State Street Chicago, IL 60654
- Association of American Medical Colleges 450 N St NW, Washington, DC 20037
