Physician Careers and Information

Have you ever watched House or E.R. on television and wished you could be a doctor? As a kid did you dream of helping sick people get well? Do you want a high-paying, respected profession? If so, you may be interested in a career as a physician.

What does a physician do?
Physicians are doctors who have chosen to specialize in providing general care to individuals. Their profession may be called "Internal Medicine" or "Family Medicine" if they deal with children and adults. Their medical school training prepares them to deal with a wide range of illnesses and injuries, although they often do not have enough experience in any one area to treat major diseases or injuries. They may perform an initial diagnosis on a patient before referring him or her to a specialist, like a radiologist or dermatologist.

What skills should a physician have?
Physicians need to have excellent people skills. Their entire job revolves around helping people when they are at their most vulnerable. Sick patients may be scared, uncertain, or hopeless; physicians may need to deliver difficult news to patients and their families, which requires delicateness and tact. Doctors also have to be very empathetic. They need to balance the technical aspects of their profession -- diagnosis and treatment -- with the emotional needs of their patients.

They also must be highly ethical. They are entrusted with patients' medical records, the ability to write prescriptions for drugs, and assigning treatment to patients who may not be able to evaluate their care options. Above all, they are sworn to "do no harm" by protecting their patients' health at all costs. If doctors abuse these privileges they may have their medical license revoked and face other professional sanctions.

How do you become a physician?
To become a physician you will need a bachelor's degree from an accredited four-year college, followed by four years of medical school where you will earn your MD, before finally finishing with a medical residency as an apprenticing doctor where you may serve 2-5 years or more based on your area of specialization. After this period you can become certified as a physician, at which point many physicians begin their own private practices.

To evaluate whether being a physician is right for you, you may wish to take an aptitude test. This career assessment device can help match your skills and interests with the job that is right for you. It can also highlight which skills you need to build in order to transition to your new career.

Medical and healthcare careers related to the physician field:

• CNA - Certified Nursing Assistant
• Licensed Practical Nurse
• Medical Assistant
• Nursing
• Nursing Aid
• Nurse Practitioner
• Physician Assistant