Physician Career Education and Advancement

Physician Career Education and Advancement Search Physician Career Education and Advancement Share this articleTwitterLinkedinFacebookemailJob descriptionPhysicians serve an essential role in our society. They diagnose and treat sick and injured people through examinations and tests. They also advise their patients on such matters as preventative care and personal hygiene.Doctors can be general practitioners or choose a specialty, such as internal medicine, cardiology, endocrinology, neurology, oncology, obstetrics, gynecology, or sports medicine. Primary care physicians tend to see the same patients on a regular grund for preventive care and to treat a variety of ailments. General and family practitioners emphasize comprehensive healthcare for patients of all ages and for the family as a group.People who wish to become physicians must have a desire to help people, be self-motivated, and be able to withstand the pressures and long hours of medical education and practice. Physicia ns must also be emotionally strong and have good people and communication skills. They must also be able to relate to their patients as people and work to cure not only the illness but the person as whole. In general, doctors should have a high degree of patience and great compassion for human beings. A day in the lifeMany physicians work in small private offices or clinics, with assistance from a staff of nurses and administrative personnel. Many physicians work long, irregular hours, and must travel frequently between their offices and hospitals to care for their patients. Many physicians are on call, and must therefore deal with patient concerns either over the phone or at their patients homes, and make emergency visits to hospitals or nursing homes. Being a doctor can be a very physically and mentally trying occupation, as they must often be the bearers of bad news, breaking painful news to patients and their families. But it can also be very rewarding to heal people and contin uously improve human lives.Education and trainingIt takes many years of education and training to become a physician. Typically, three to four years of undergraduate school and four years of medical school are required, with three to eight years of internships and residency, depending on the area of specialty. But there are a few medical schools that offer combined undergraduate and medical school programs that last for six years. Premedical students must complete undergraduate work in courses such as physics, biology, mathematics, and chemistry. Medical students spend most of their first two years in laboratories and classrooms taking courses in anatomy, biochemistry, physiology, pharmacology, psychology, microbiology, pathology, medical ethics and law. They also learn to take medical histories, examine patients, and diagnose illnesses.During the last two years of medical school, students work with patients under the supervision of licensed physicians in hospitals and clinics to learn about acute, chronic, preventive, and rehabilitative care. They make rotations within internal medicine, family practice, obstetrics and gynecology, pediatrics, psychiatry, and surgery in order to gain experience in various areas and to help determine their interests and skills. All medical students must be licensed in order to begin practicing medicine. Physicians must graduate from an accredited medical school, pass a licensing examination, and complete one to seven years of graduate medical education to obtain licensure. Physicians licensed in one State can usually get a license to practice in other states with relative ease. Physicians must be involved in continuous career education to keep up with medical advances and to best serve their patients. This will help them respond to the changing demands of todays rapidly developing health care environment.Job outlookAccording to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment of physicians will grow about as fast as the average f or all occupations through the year 2010. fruchtwein employment will be due to the expansion of the health care industry as a whole. And the growing and aging population will also cause growth in the demand for physicians. While job prospects may be better for primary care physicians such as general and family practitioners and pediatricians, a substantial number of jobs for specialists will also be created because of the growing demand for specialty care. The number of physicians entering the field has begun to slow, and will likely decline over the next few years. Opportunities are expected to be best in rural and low-income areas, because many physicians find these areas unattractive due to such factors as lower income potential and isolation from the medical society.Related occupations Nursingis the clearest related profession to physicians. Although the educational demands are less rigorous, the responsibilities and work duties can be just as demanding.Nurse practitioners i n particular hold related responsibilities, as they prescribe medicines and play a key role in patient care. Other related careers includelab technicians, pharmacology, biology, biochemistry, biophysics, chiropractor, dentistry, optometrists, physician assistants, podiatrists, speech-language pathologistsand audiologists, andveterinarians.Related Salary.com Content 5 Resume Strategies That Will Get You Hired The Importance of Job Descriptions 7 Signs Your Employees Hate You From our trusted Partners From our trusted Partners Home Articles Career Development Physician Career Education and AdvancementPhysician Career Education and Advancement Search Physician Career Education and Advancement Share this articleTwitterLinkedinFacebookemailJob descriptionPhysicians serve an essential role in our society. They diagnose and treat sick and injured people through examinations and tests. They also advise their patients on such matters as preventative care and personal hygiene.Doctors can be general practitioners or choose a specialty, such as internal medicine, cardiology, endocrinology, neurology, oncology, obstetrics, gynecology, or sports medicine. Primary care physicians tend to see the same patients on a regular grund for preventive care and to treat a variety of ailments. General and family practitioners emphasize comprehensive healthcare for patients of all ages and for the family as a group.People who wish to become physicians must have a desire to help people, be self-motivated, and be able to withstand the pressures and long hours of medical education and practice. Physicians must also be emotionally strong and have good people and communication skills. They must also be able to relate to their patients as people and work to cure not only the illness but the person as whole. In general, doctors should have a high degree of patience and great compassion for human beings. A day in the lifeMany physicians work in small priva te offices or clinics, with assistance from a staff of nurses and administrative personnel. Many physicians work long, irregular hours, and must travel frequently between their offices and hospitals to care for their patients. Many physicians are on call, and must therefore deal with patient concerns either over the phone or at their patients homes, and make emergency visits to hospitals or nursing homes. Being a doctor can be a very physically and mentally trying occupation, as they must often be the bearers of bad news, breaking painful news to patients and their families. But it can also be very rewarding to heal people and continuously improve human lives.Education and trainingIt takes many years of education and training to become a physician. Typically, three to four years of undergraduate school and four years of medical school are required, with three to eight years of internships and residency, depending on the area of specialty. But there are a few medical schools that off er combined undergraduate and medical school programs that last for six years. Premedical students must complete undergraduate work in courses such as physics, biology, mathematics, and chemistry. Medical students spend most of their first two years in laboratories and classrooms taking courses in anatomy, biochemistry, physiology, pharmacology, psychology, microbiology, pathology, medical ethics and law. They also learn to take medical histories, examine patients, and diagnose illnesses.During the last two years of medical school, students work with patients under the supervision of licensed physicians in hospitals and clinics to learn about acute, chronic, preventive, and rehabilitative care. They make rotations within internal medicine, family practice, obstetrics and gynecology, pediatrics, psychiatry, and surgery in order to gain experience in various areas and to help determine their interests and skills. All medical students must be licensed in order to begin practicing m edicine. Physicians must graduate from an accredited medical school, pass a licensing examination, and complete one to seven years of graduate medical education to obtain licensure. Physicians licensed in one State can usually get a license to practice in other states with relative ease. Physicians must be involved in continuous career education to keep up with medical advances and to best serve their patients. This will help them respond to the changing demands of todays rapidly developing health care environment.Job outlookAccording to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment of physicians will grow about as fast as the average for all occupations through the year 2010. fruchtwein employment will be due to the expansion of the health care industry as a whole. And the growing and aging population will also cause growth in the demand for physicians. While job prospects may be better for primary care physicians such as general and family practitioners and pediatricians, a substanti al number of jobs for specialists will also be created because of the growing demand for specialty care. The number of physicians entering the field has begun to slow, and will likely decline over the next few years. Opportunities are expected to be best in rural and low-income areas, because many physicians find these areas unattractive due to such factors as lower income potential and isolation from the medical society.Related occupations Nursingis the clearest related profession to physicians. Although the educational demands are less rigorous, the responsibilities and work duties can be just as demanding.Nurse practitioners in particular hold related responsibilities, as they prescribe medicines and play a key role in patient care. Other related careers includelab technicians, pharmacology, biology, biochemistry, biophysics, chiropractor, dentistry, optometrists, physician assistants, podiatrists, speech-language pathologistsand audiologists, andveterinarians.Related Salary. com Content 5 Resume Strategies That Will Get You Hired The Importance of Job Descriptions 7 Signs Your Employees Hate You From our trusted Partners From our trusted Partners Home Articles Career Development Physician Career Education and AdvancementPhysician Career Education and Advancement Search Physician Career Education and Advancement Share this articleTwitterLinkedinFacebookemailJob descriptionPhysicians serve an essential role in our society. They diagnose and treat sick and injured people through examinations and tests. They also advise their patients on such matters as preventative care and personal hygiene.Doctors can be general practitioners or choose a specialty, such as internal medicine, cardiology, endocrinology, neurology, oncology, obstetrics, gynecology, or sports medicine. Primary care physicians tend to see the same patients on a regular grund for preventive care and to treat a variety of ailments. General and family practit ioners emphasize comprehensive healthcare for patients of all ages and for the family as a group.People who wish to become physicians must have a desire to help people, be self-motivated, and be able to withstand the pressures and long hours of medical education and practice. Physicians must also be emotionally strong and have good people and communication skills. They must also be able to relate to their patients as people and work to cure not only the illness but the person as whole. In general, doctors should have a high degree of patience and great compassion for human beings. A day in the lifeMany physicians work in small private offices or clinics, with assistance from a staff of nurses and administrative personnel. Many physicians work long, irregular hours, and must travel frequently between their offices and hospitals to care for their patients. Many physicians are on call, and must therefore deal with patient concerns either over the phone or at their patients homes, and make emergency visits to hospitals or nursing homes. Being a doctor can be a very physically and mentally trying occupation, as they must often be the bearers of bad news, breaking painful news to patients and their families. But it can also be very rewarding to heal people and continuously improve human lives.Education and trainingIt takes many years of education and training to become a physician. Typically, three to four years of undergraduate school and four years of medical school are required, with three to eight years of internships and residency, depending on the area of specialty. But there are a few medical schools that offer combined undergraduate and medical school programs that last for six years. Premedical students must complete undergraduate work in courses such as physics, biology, mathematics, and chemistry. Medical students spend most of their first two years in laboratories and classrooms taking courses in anatomy, biochemistry, physiology, pharmacology, psych ology, microbiology, pathology, medical ethics and law. They also learn to take medical histories, examine patients, and diagnose illnesses.During the last two years of medical school, students work with patients under the supervision of licensed physicians in hospitals and clinics to learn about acute, chronic, preventive, and rehabilitative care. They make rotations within internal medicine, family practice, obstetrics and gynecology, pediatrics, psychiatry, and surgery in order to gain experience in various areas and to help determine their interests and skills. All medical students must be licensed in order to begin practicing medicine. Physicians must graduate from an accredited medical school, pass a licensing examination, and complete one to seven years of graduate medical education to obtain licensure. Physicians licensed in one State can usually get a license to practice in other states with relative ease. Physicians must be involved in continuous career education to keep up with medical advances and to best serve their patients. This will help them respond to the changing demands of todays rapidly developing health care environment.Job outlookAccording to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment of physicians will grow about as fast as the average for all occupations through the year 2010. fruchtwein employment will be due to the expansion of the health care industry as a whole. And the growing and aging population will also cause growth in the demand for physicians. While job prospects may be better for primary care physicians such as general and family practitioners and pediatricians, a substantial number of jobs for specialists will also be created because of the growing demand for specialty care. The number of physicians entering the field has begun to slow, and will likely decline over the next few years. Opportunities are expected to be best in rural and low-income areas, because many physicians find these areas unattractive due to such f actors as lower income potential and isolation from the medical society.Related occupations Nursingis the clearest related profession to physicians. Although the educational demands are less rigorous, the responsibilities and work duties can be just as demanding.Nurse practitioners in particular hold related responsibilities, as they prescribe medicines and play a key role in patient care. Other related careers includelab technicians, pharmacology, biology, biochemistry, biophysics, chiropractor, dentistry, optometrists, physician assistants, podiatrists, speech-language pathologistsand audiologists, andveterinarians.Related Salary.com Content 5 Resume Strategies That Will Get You Hired The Importance of Job Descriptions 7 Signs Your Employees Hate You From our trusted Partners From our trusted Partners Home Articles Career Development Physician Career Education and AdvancementPhysician Career Education and Advancement Search Physician Career Edu cation and Advancement Share this articleTwitterLinkedinFacebookemailJob descriptionPhysicians serve an essential role in our society. They diagnose and treat sick and injured people through examinations and tests. They also advise their patients on such matters as preventative care and personal hygiene.Doctors can be general practitioners or choose a specialty, such as internal medicine, cardiology, endocrinology, neurology, oncology, obstetrics, gynecology, or sports medicine. Primary care physicians tend to see the same patients on a regular fundament for preventive care and to treat a variety of ailments. General and family practitioners emphasize comprehensive healthcare for patients of all ages and for the family as a group.People who wish to become physicians must have a desire to help people, be self-motivated, and be able to withstand the pressures and long hours of medical education and practice. Physicians must also be emotionally strong and have good people and communi cation skills. They must also be able to relate to their patients as people and work to cure not only the illness but the person as whole. In general, doctors should have a high degree of patience and great compassion for human beings. A day in the lifeMany physicians work in small private offices or clinics, with assistance from a staff of nurses and administrative personnel. Many physicians work long, irregular hours, and must travel frequently between their offices and hospitals to care for their patients. Many physicians are on call, and must therefore deal with patient concerns either over the phone or at their patients homes, and make emergency visits to hospitals or nursing homes. Being a doctor can be a very physically and mentally trying occupation, as they must often be the bearers of bad news, breaking painful news to patients and their families. But it can also be very rewarding to heal people and continuously improve human lives.Education and trainingIt takes many year s of education and training to become a physician. Typically, three to four years of undergraduate school and four years of medical school are required, with three to eight years of internships and residency, depending on the area of specialty. But there are a few medical schools that offer combined undergraduate and medical school programs that last for six years. Premedical students must complete undergraduate work in courses such as physics, biology, mathematics, and chemistry. Medical students spend most of their first two years in laboratories and classrooms taking courses in anatomy, biochemistry, physiology, pharmacology, psychology, microbiology, pathology, medical ethics and law. They also learn to take medical histories, examine patients, and diagnose illnesses.During the last two years of medical school, students work with patients under the supervision of licensed physicians in hospitals and clinics to learn about acute, chronic, preventive, and rehabilitative care. T hey make rotations within internal medicine, family practice, obstetrics and gynecology, pediatrics, psychiatry, and surgery in order to gain experience in various areas and to help determine their interests and skills. All medical students must be licensed in order to begin practicing medicine. Physicians must graduate from an accredited medical school, pass a licensing examination, and complete one to seven years of graduate medical education to obtain licensure. Physicians licensed in one State can usually get a license to practice in other states with relative ease. Physicians must be involved in continuous career education to keep up with medical advances and to best serve their patients. This will help them respond to the changing demands of todays rapidly developing health care environment.Job outlookAccording to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment of physicians will grow about as fast as the average for all occupations through the year 2010. fruchtwein employment wil l be due to the expansion of the health care industry as a whole. And the growing and aging population will also cause growth in the demand for physicians. While job prospects may be better for primary care physicians such as general and family practitioners and pediatricians, a substantial number of jobs for specialists will also be created because of the growing demand for specialty care. The number of physicians entering the field has begun to slow, and will likely decline over the next few years. Opportunities are expected to be best in rural and low-income areas, because many physicians find these areas unattractive due to such factors as lower income potential and isolation from the medical society.Related occupations Nursingis the clearest related profession to physicians. Although the educational demands are less rigorous, the responsibilities and work duties can be just as demanding.Nurse practitioners in particular hold related responsibilities, as they prescribe medic ines and play a key role in patient care. Other related careers includelab technicians, pharmacology, biology, biochemistry, biophysics, chiropractor, dentistry, optometrists, physician assistants, podiatrists, speech-language pathologistsand audiologists, andveterinarians.Related Salary.com Content 5 Resume Strategies That Will Get You Hired The Importance of Job Descriptions 7 Signs Your Employees Hate You From our trusted Partners From our trusted Partners Home Articles Career Development Physician Career Education and AdvancementPhysician Career Education and Advancement Search Physician Career Education and Advancement Share this articleTwitterLinkedinFacebookemailJob descriptionPhysicians serve an essential role in our society. They diagnose and treat sick and injured people through examinations and tests. They also advise their patients on such matters as preventative care and personal hygiene.Doctors can be general practitioners or choos e a specialty, such as internal medicine, cardiology, endocrinology, neurology, oncology, obstetrics, gynecology, or sports medicine. Primary care physicians tend to see the same patients on a regular grund for preventive care and to treat a variety of ailments. General and family practitioners emphasize comprehensive healthcare for patients of all ages and for the family as a group.People who wish to become physicians must have a desire to help people, be self-motivated, and be able to withstand the pressures and long hours of medical education and practice. Physicians must also be emotionally strong and have good people and communication skills. They must also be able to relate to their patients as people and work to cure not only the illness but the person as whole. In general, doctors should have a high degree of patience and great compassion for human beings. A day in the lifeMany physicians work in small private offices or clinics, with assistance from a staff of nurses and a dministrative personnel. Many physicians work long, irregular hours, and must travel frequently between their offices and hospitals to care for their patients. Many physicians are on call, and must therefore deal with patient concerns either over the phone or at their patients homes, and make emergency visits to hospitals or nursing homes. Being a doctor can be a very physically and mentally trying occupation, as they must often be the bearers of bad news, breaking painful news to patients and their families. But it can also be very rewarding to heal people and continuously improve human lives.Education and trainingIt takes many years of education and training to become a physician. Typically, three to four years of undergraduate school and four years of medical school are required, with three to eight years of internships and residency, depending on the area of specialty. But there are a few medical schools that offer combined undergraduate and medical school programs that last for six years. Premedical students must complete undergraduate work in courses such as physics, biology, mathematics, and chemistry. Medical students spend most of their first two years in laboratories and classrooms taking courses in anatomy, biochemistry, physiology, pharmacology, psychology, microbiology, pathology, medical ethics and law. They also learn to take medical histories, examine patients, and diagnose illnesses.During the last two years of medical school, students work with patients under the supervision of licensed physicians in hospitals and clinics to learn about acute, chronic, preventive, and rehabilitative care. They make rotations within internal medicine, family practice, obstetrics and gynecology, pediatrics, psychiatry, and surgery in order to gain experience in various areas and to help determine their interests and skills. All medical students must be licensed in order to begin practicing medicine. Physicians must graduate from an accredited medical school , pass a licensing examination, and complete one to seven years of graduate medical education to obtain licensure. Physicians licensed in one State can usually get a license to practice in other states with relative ease. Physicians must be involved in continuous career education to keep up with medical advances and to best serve their patients. This will help them respond to the changing demands of todays rapidly developing health care environment.Job outlookAccording to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment of physicians will grow about as fast as the average for all occupations through the year 2010. fruchtwein employment will be due to the expansion of the health care industry as a whole. And the growing and aging population will also cause growth in the demand for physicians. While job prospects may be better for primary care physicians such as general and family practitioners and pediatricians, a substantial number of jobs for specialists will also be created because of t he growing demand for specialty care. The number of physicians entering the field has begun to slow, and will likely decline over the next few years. Opportunities are expected to be best in rural and low-income areas, because many physicians find these areas unattractive due to such factors as lower income potential and isolation from the medical society.Related occupations Nursingis the clearest related profession to physicians. Although the educational demands are less rigorous, the responsibilities and work duties can be just as demanding.Nurse practitioners in particular hold related responsibilities, as they prescribe medicines and play a key role in patient care. Other related careers includelab technicians, pharmacology, biology, biochemistry, biophysics, chiropractor, dentistry, optometrists, physician assistants, podiatrists, speech-language pathologistsand audiologists, andveterinarians.Related Salary.com Content 5 Resume Strategies That Will Get You Hired The Im portance of Job Descriptions 7 Signs Your Employees Hate You From our trusted Partners From our trusted Partners Home Articles Career Development Physician Career Education and AdvancementPhysician Career Education and Advancement Search Physician Career Education and Advancement Share this articleTwitterLinkedinFacebookemailJob descriptionPhysicians serve an essential role in our society. They diagnose and treat sick and injured people through examinations and tests. They also advise their patients on such matters as preventative care and personal hygiene.Doctors can be general practitioners or choose a specialty, such as internal medicine, cardiology, endocrinology, neurology, oncology, obstetrics, gynecology, or sports medicine. Primary care physicians tend to see the same patients on a regular grund for preventive care and to treat a variety of ailments. General and family practitioners emphasize comprehensive healthcare for patients of all ages and for the family as a group.People who wish to become physicians must have a desire to help people, be self-motivated, and be able to withstand the pressures and long hours of medical education and practice. Physicians must also be emotionally strong and have good people and communication skills. They must also be able to relate to their patients as people and work to cure not only the illness but the person as whole. In general, doctors should have a high degree of patience and great compassion for human beings. A day in the lifeMany physicians work in small private offices or clinics, with assistance from a staff of nurses and administrative personnel. Many physicians work long, irregular hours, and must travel frequently between their offices and hospitals to care for their patients. Many physicians are on call, and must therefore deal with patient concerns either over the phone or at their patients homes, and make emergency visits to hospitals or nursing homes. Being a doctor can be a very physically and mentally trying occupation, as they must often be the bearers of bad news, breaking painful news to patients and their families. But it can also be very rewarding to heal people and continuously improve human lives.Education and trainingIt takes many years of education and training to become a physician. Typically, three to four years of undergraduate school and four years of medical school are required, with three to eight years of internships and residency, depending on the area of specialty. But there are a few medical schools that offer combined undergraduate and medical school programs that last for six years. Premedical students must complete undergraduate work in courses such as physics, biology, mathematics, and chemistry. Medical students spend most of their first two years in laboratories and classrooms taking courses in anatomy, biochemistry, physiology, pharmacology, psychology, microbiology, pathology, medical ethics and law. They also l earn to take medical histories, examine patients, and diagnose illnesses.During the last two years of medical school, students work with patients under the supervision of licensed physicians in hospitals and clinics to learn about acute, chronic, preventive, and rehabilitative care. They make rotations within internal medicine, family practice, obstetrics and gynecology, pediatrics, psychiatry, and surgery in order to gain experience in various areas and to help determine their interests and skills. All medical students must be licensed in order to begin practicing medicine. Physicians must graduate from an accredited medical school, pass a licensing examination, and complete one to seven years of graduate medical education to obtain licensure. Physicians licensed in one State can usually get a license to practice in other states with relative ease. Physicians must be involved in continuous career education to keep up with medical advances and to best serve their patients. This wil l help them respond to the changing demands of todays rapidly developing health care environment.Job outlookAccording to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment of physicians will grow about as fast as the average for all occupations through the year 2010. fruchtwein employment will be due to the expansion of the health care industry as a whole. And the growing and aging population will also cause growth in the demand for physicians. While job prospects may be better for primary care physicians such as general and family practitioners and pediatricians, a substantial number of jobs for specialists will also be created because of the growing demand for specialty care. The number of physicians entering the field has begun to slow, and will likely decline over the next few years. Opportunities are expected to be best in rural and low-income areas, because many physicians find these areas unattractive due to such factors as lower income potential and isolation from the medical soc iety.Related occupations Nursingis the clearest related profession to physicians. Although the educational demands are less rigorous, the responsibilities and work duties can be just as demanding.Nurse practitioners in particular hold related responsibilities, as they prescribe medicines and play a key role in patient care. Other related careers includelab technicians, pharmacology, biology, biochemistry, biophysics, chiropractor, dentistry, optometrists, physician assistants, podiatrists, speech-language pathologistsand audiologists, andveterinarians.Related Salary.com Content 5 Resume Strategies That Will Get You Hired The Importance of Job Descriptions 7 Signs Your Employees Hate You From our trusted Partners From our trusted Partners Home Articles Career Development Physician Career Education and AdvancementPhysician Career Education and Advancement Search Physician Career Education and Advancement Share this articleTwitterLinkedinFacebooke mailJob descriptionPhysicians serve an essential role in our society. They diagnose and treat sick and injured people through examinations and tests. They also advise their patients on such matters as preventative care and personal hygiene.Doctors can be general practitioners or choose a specialty, such as internal medicine, cardiology, endocrinology, neurology, oncology, obstetrics, gynecology, or sports medicine. Primary care physicians tend to see the same patients on a regular fundament for preventive care and to treat a variety of ailments. General and family practitioners emphasize comprehensive healthcare for patients of all ages and for the family as a group.People who wish to become physicians must have a desire to help people, be self-motivated, and be able to withstand the pressures and long hours of medical education and practice. Physicians must also be emotionally strong and have good people and communication skills. They must also be able to relate to their patients a s people and work to cure not only the illness but the person as whole. In general, doctors should have a high degree of patience and great compassion for human beings. A day in the lifeMany physicians work in small private offices or clinics, with assistance from a staff of nurses and administrative personnel. Many physicians work long, irregular hours, and must travel frequently between their offices and hospitals to care for their patients. Many physicians are on call, and must therefore deal with patient concerns either over the phone or at their patients homes, and make emergency visits to hospitals or nursing homes. Being a doctor can be a very physically and mentally trying occupation, as they must often be the bearers of bad news, breaking painful news to patients and their families. But it can also be very rewarding to heal people and continuously improve human lives.Education and trainingIt takes many years of education and training to become a physician. Typically, three to four years of undergraduate school and four years of medical school are required, with three to eight years of internships and residency, depending on the area of specialty. But there are a few medical schools that offer combined undergraduate and medical school programs that last for six years. Premedical students must complete undergraduate work in courses such as physics, biology, mathematics, and chemistry. Medical students spend most of their first two years in laboratories and classrooms taking courses in anatomy, biochemistry, physiology, pharmacology, psychology, microbiology, pathology, medical ethics and law. They also learn to take medical histories, examine patients, and diagnose illnesses.During the last two years of medical school, students work with patients under the supervision of licensed physicians in hospitals and clinics to learn about acute, chronic, preventive, and rehabilitative care. They make rotations within internal medicine, family practice, obste trics and gynecology, pediatrics, psychiatry, and surgery in order to gain experience in various areas and to help determine their interests and skills. All medical students must be licensed in order to begin practicing medicine. Physicians must graduate from an accredited medical school, pass a licensing examination, and complete one to seven years of graduate medical education to obtain licensure. Physicians licensed in one State can usually get a license to practice in other states with relative ease. Physicians must be involved in continuous career education to keep up with medical advances and to best serve their patients. This will help them respond to the changing demands of todays rapidly developing health care environment.Job outlookAccording to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment of physicians will grow about as fast as the average for all occupations through the year 2010. fruchtwein employment will be due to the expansion of the health care industry as a whole. A nd the growing and aging population will also cause growth in the demand for physicians. While job prospects may be better for primary care physicians such as general and family practitioners and pediatricians, a substantial number of jobs for specialists will also be created because of the growing demand for specialty care. The number of physicians entering the field has begun to slow, and will likely decline over the next few years. Opportunities are expected to be best in rural and low-income areas, because many physicians find these areas unattractive due to such factors as lower income potential and isolation from the medical society.Related occupations Nursingis the clearest related profession to physicians. Although the educational demands are less rigorous, the responsibilities and work duties can be just as demanding.Nurse practitioners in particular hold related responsibilities, as they prescribe medicines and play a key role in patient care. Other related careers inc ludelab technicians, pharmacology, biology, biochemistry, biophysics, chiropractor, dentistry, optometrists, physician assistants, podiatrists, speech-language pathologistsand audiologists, andveterinarians.Related Salary.com Content 5 Resume Strategies That Will Get You Hired The Importance of Job Descriptions 7 Signs Your Employees Hate You From our trusted Partners From our trusted Partners Home Articles Career Development Physician Career Education and AdvancementPhysician Career Education and Advancement Search Physician Career Education and Advancement Share this articleTwitterLinkedinFacebookemailJob descriptionPhysicians serve an essential role in our society. They diagnose and treat sick and injured people through examinations and tests. They also advise their patients on such matters as preventative care and personal hygiene.Doctors can be general practitioners or choose a specialty, such as internal medicine, cardiology, endocrinology , neurology, oncology, obstetrics, gynecology, or sports medicine. Primary care physicians tend to see the same patients on a regular fundament for preventive care and to treat a variety of ailments. General and family practitioners emphasize comprehensive healthcare for patients of all ages and for the family as a group.People who wish to become physicians must have a desire to help people, be self-motivated, and be able to withstand the pressures and long hours of medical education and practice. Physicians must also be emotionally strong and have good people and communication skills. They must also be able to relate to their patients as people and work to cure not only the illness but the person as whole. In general, doctors should have a high degree of patience and great compassion for human beings. A day in the lifeMany physicians work in small private offices or clinics, with assistance from a staff of nurses and administrative personnel. Many physicians work long, irregular h ours, and must travel frequently between their offices and hospitals to care for their patients. Many physicians are on call, and must therefore deal with patient concerns either over the phone or at their patients homes, and make emergency visits to hospitals or nursing homes. Being a doctor can be a very physically and mentally trying occupation, as they must often be the bearers of bad news, breaking painful news to patients and their families. But it can also be very rewarding to heal people and continuously improve human lives.Education and trainingIt takes many years of education and training to become a physician. Typically, three to four years of undergraduate school and four years of medical school are required, with three to eight years of internships and residency, depending on the area of specialty. But there are a few medical schools that offer combined undergraduate and medical school programs that last for six years. Premedical students must complete undergraduate work in courses such as physics, biology, mathematics, and chemistry. Medical students spend most of their first two years in laboratories and classrooms taking courses in anatomy, biochemistry, physiology, pharmacology, psychology, microbiology, pathology, medical ethics and law. They also learn to take medical histories, examine patients, and diagnose illnesses.During the last two years of medical school, students work with patients under the supervision of licensed physicians in hospitals and clinics to learn about acute, chronic, preventive, and rehabilitative care. They make rotations within internal medicine, family practice, obstetrics and gynecology, pediatrics, psychiatry, and surgery in order to gain experience in various areas and to help determine their interests and skills. All medical students must be licensed in order to begin practicing medicine. Physicians must graduate from an accredited medical school, pass a licensing examination, and complete one to seven years of graduate medical education to obtain licensure. Physicians licensed in one State can usually get a license to practice in other states with relative ease. Physicians must be involved in continuous career education to keep up with medical advances and to best serve their patients. This will help them respond to the changing demands of todays rapidly developing health care environment.Job outlookAccording to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment of physicians will grow about as fast as the average for all occupations through the year 2010. fruchtwein employment will be due to the expansion of the health care industry as a whole. And the growing and aging population will also cause growth in the demand for physicians. While job prospects may be better for primary care physicians such as general and family practitioners and pediatricians, a substantial number of jobs for specialists will also be created because of the growing demand for specialty care. The number of physicia ns entering the field has begun to slow, and will likely decline over the next few years. Opportunities are expected to be best in rural and low-income areas, because many physicians find these areas unattractive due to such factors as lower income potential and isolation from the medical society.Related occupations Nursingis the clearest related profession to physicians. Although the educational demands are less rigorous, the responsibilities and work duties can be just as demanding.Nurse practitioners in particular hold related responsibilities, as they prescribe medicines and play a key role in patient care. Other related careers includelab technicians, pharmacology, biology, biochemistry, biophysics, chiropractor, dentistry, optometrists, physician assistants, podiatrists, speech-language pathologistsand audiologists, andveterinarians.Related Salary.com Content 5 Resume Strategies That Will Get You Hired The Importance of Job Descriptions 7 Signs Your Employees Hate You From our trusted Partners From our trusted Partners Home Articles Career Development Physician Career Education and Advancement