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.). 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 MD 14 May 2008 [pdf, 177 KB]
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