Overview
Physicians examine patients, obtain medical histories, and order, perform and interpret diagnostic tests. They counsel patients about illness, injuries, health conditions, and preventive healthcare (diet/fitness, smoking cessation, etc.). They can also conduct medical research, teach, and run medical centers. People with medical education are in demand in many areas. Physicians work in one or more specialties, including, among others:
- anesthesiology
- family and general medicine
- general internal medicine
- general pediatrics
- obstetrics and gynecology
- psychiatry
- surgery
For more information about medical specialties, visit the Careers in Medicine page on the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC) Website. For a fascinating glimpse into the real-life experiences of seven doctors, see NOVA Online's special feature, "Survivor M.D."
NOTE: For a user-friendly, interactive resource on pursing a career in allopathic medicine, see the Association of American Medical Colleges' AspiringDocs website.
You can download, save and print a PDF of this career profile:
Physician M.D. 31 Dec 2008 [pdf, 294 KB]
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Salary:
$150,000
-
$300,000
[*]
Years in school:
10
-
15
after high school graduation
Job outlook:
Excellent
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