MEDICINE
Physician
To be a successful Physician you should...
care deeply about other people, their problems, and their pain, be interested in how the human body functions, be intrigued by the ways medicine can be used to improve life.
What will my job be like?
Physicians diagnose illnesses, prescribe, and administer treatment for people suffering from injury or disease. Physicians examine patients; obtain medical histories; and order, perform, and interpret diagnostic tests. They counsel patients on diet, hygiene, and preventive health care.
There are two types of physicians: The Doctor of Medicine – MD and the Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine – DO. MDs are also known as allopathic physicians. While both MDs and DOs may use all accepted methods of treatment, including drugs and surgery, DOs place special emphasis on the body’s musculoskeletal system, preventive medicine, and holistic patient care.
Specialties
- Internal Medicine
- Family Practice
- Pediatric Medical Specialties
- Cardiovascular Diseases
- Dermatology
- Gastroenterology
- Obstetrics and Gynecology
- Pediatric Cardiology
- Pulmonary Diseases
- Surgical Specialties – General Surgery, Neurological, Ophthalmolic, Orthopedic, Otolaryngology, Plastic Surgery, Thoracic, Urological
Where could I work?
Most physicians travel frequently between office and hospital to care for their patients. Increasingly, physicians practice in groups or health care organizations that provide back-up coverage and allow for more time off.
Many physicians work long, irregular hours. More than one-third of all full-time physicians work 60 hours or more a week. Physicians on call deal with many patients’ concerns on the phone, and they may make emergency visits to hospitals or nursing homes.
Other workplace settings:
- Armed Forces
- Community Health Centers
- Clinics
- Medical Schools
- Prisons
- Public Health Departments
- Research Facilities
- Urgent Care Centers
Average Annual Salary
$239,200 per year
What is the future of this career?
Overall employment of physicians and surgeons is projected to grow 4 percent from 2023 to 2033, about as fast as the average for all occupations.
About 23,600 openings for physicians and surgeons are projected each year, on average, over the decade. Many of those openings are expected to result from the need to replace workers who transfer to different occupations or exit the labor force, such as to retire.
Type of Education/Training
Medical school applicants must take the MCAT, a national examination, before applying to start medical school.
To practice as a physician, one must earn a college degree followed by a 4-year degree for a Doctor of Medicine (MD) or a Doctor of Osteopathy (DO) from an accredited school and pass an examination for state licensure. At least one year of post-medical school experience is required, but most graduates of medical and osteopathy schools complete a longer period of specialty training called a residency, which lasts from three to five years.
Where could I get the education/training?
- All colleges in Connecticut offer pre-med training
- Quinnipiac University – Frank H. Netter MD School of Medicine
- University of Connecticut School of Medicine
- Yale University School of Medicine
Licensing/Certification
Licensure is required in the state of Connecticut. Prerequisite: Connecticut requires graduation from an approved medical school, two years acceptable progressive graduate residency training; USMLE, NBME, FLEX or a State Board Licensing Examination; Current ECFMG certification or completed Fifth Pathway program if foreign trained.
Please visit the State of Connecticut Department of Public Health website for more information.
More Information
American Medical Association
AMA Plaza, 330 N Wabash Ave, Suite 39300
Chicago, IL 60611
800-262-3211
American Osteopathic Association
142 East Ontario Street
Chicago, IL 60611
312-202-8000
National Medical Association
1010 Wayne Avenue, Suite 800
Silver Spring, Maryland 20910
202-347-1895
