Physician

What is a physician?

A physician is a doctor who has earned their medical degree. They may diagnose an illness or medical condition, provide a treatment plan and advise a patient on overall wellness. They can specialize in a certain type of medicine or provide general healthcare.

Duties

Physicians and surgeons have different responsibilities depending on their specialty. A physician's duties can include:

• Assessing a patient's health

• Recording information about a patient's medical history

• Maintaining records detailing a patient's health, medications and treatments

• Prescribing medicine or other treatments

• Ordering tests for a patient such as an x-ray or a blood test

• Evaluating a test and reviewing the information with a patient

• Discussing treatment options and recommendations for a patient

• Referring patient's to a specialist or surgeon when necessary

A surgeon's duties can vary depending on their area of focus. Some common responsibilities include:

• Analyzing patient records and health history

• Prescribing certain treatments to assist with surgery

• Overseeing a medical team of nurses and specialists during a surgery

• Examining a patient to evaluate their health before, during and after surgery

• Performing surgery on patients to help repair an injury or treat an illness

• Referring patients to additional specialists

• Providing a patient with post-operation instructions and a treatment plan

Education

Becoming a surgeon or a physician requires specialized education. Aspiring doctors, including physicians and surgeons, first earn a bachelor's degree in pre-medicine or a relevant field. After earning a bachelor's, they can enter medical school and earn a medical degree, either a Doctor of Medicine degree or an Osteopathic Doctor degree.

During medical school, doctors choose an area of focus. After graduating, they complete a residency in their field. An aspiring physician typically completes a three-year residency program in general medicine where they train and develop technical skills. The residency type and length may vary depending on their area of specialty. Aspiring surgeons typically complete a five-year residency where they study surgery. They may complete an additional residency in their specialized field. In total, they may work as residents for five to eight years.

After completing their education and residency programs, surgeons and physicians must pass a medical licensing exam to earn their medical license. Each state sets their own guidelines for earning these licenses. Medical professionals may also need an additional license to practice their area of medicine.