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Physicians, or Doctors, diagnose and treat human diseases and injuries as well as practice preventive medicine. Some combine medical practice with research or teaching in medical schools. Those Physicians receiving M.D. degrees are Doctors of Allopathic Medicine; those receiving D.O. degrees are Doctors of Osteopathic Medicine.

JOB DUTIES 

Physicians, depending on the occupational specialty, may:

Examine patients using medical equipment, instruments, and tests

Order or perform various tests, analyses, and x-rays to provide information on the patient's condition

Diagnose the patient's condition on the basis of examination, tests, and reports

Prescribe and administer and prescribe treatments, medications, and other remedial measures

Advise patients on diet, exercise, hygiene, and general health

Explain procedures and discuss test results on prescribed treatments with patients

Inoculate and vaccinate patients to immunize them from communicable disease

Provide prenatal and postnatal care to women

Deliver babies

Refer patients to other medical specialists and exchange relevant medical details

Direct and coordinate activities of nurses, students, assistants, specialists, therapists, and other medical staff

Perform surgery (including robotic  and/or laser ) and related procedures

Instruct people and organizations in ways to preserve health and prevent disease

Do research to aid in the control and cure of disease

Develop and test new medical techniques

Investigate new drugs and medications

Report births, deaths, and outbreaks of contagious diseases to governmental authorities

Osteopathic Physicians diagnose, prescribe for, and treat diseases of the human body relying not only on accepted medical and surgical procedures but also, when deemed beneficial, on manipulative therapy.

They are particularly concerned with symptoms which may be attributed to impairments of the musculoskeletal system.

Tools and equipment used depend on the occupational specialty. Some of these are:

• Stethoscope

• X-ray and laser equipment

• Electrocardiograph

• Medical laboratory equipment

• Surgical equipment

• CT (Computer Tomography) scanners

• Magnetic resonance imaging equipment

• Oto-ophthalmoscope (ear/eye exam device)

• Sphygmomanometer (blood pressure exam device)

• Computers (with Internet access)

OCCUPATIONAL SPECIALTIES

Physicians may specialize in these areas:

070.101-022 GENERAL PRACTITIONERS practice in all areas of medicine and surgery and refer complex medical problems to specialists. Medical and surgical specialties may include the following:

070.101-014 CARDIOLOGISTS diagnose and treat diseases of the heart.

070.101-094 SURGEONS perform operations to correct deformities, repair injuries, prevent diseases, and improve functions in patients.

070.101-054 OBSTETRICIANS specialize in the care and treatment of women during and immediately following pregnancy.

071.101-010 OSTEOPATHIC PHYSICIANS diagnose, prescribe for, and treat diseases relying on medical, surgical, and manipulative therapy. They are particularly concerned with symptoms which may be attributed to impairments of the musculoskeletal system.

070.101-066 PEDIATRICIANS specialize in the diagnoses and treatment of children's diseases from birth through adolescence.

070.101-034 GYNECOLOGISTS specialize in the treatment of diseases and disorders of the female reproductive organs.

Other Physicians may specialize in radiology, pathology, family practice, anesthesiology, urology, rehabilitative medicine, internal medicine, orthopedic surgery, oncology, emergency medicine, neurology, allergy, dermatology, aerospace medicine, or other areas.

In addition to learning about these specialties, you may find it helpful to explore the following Career Exploration Scripts:

WORKING CONDITIONS AND REQUIREMENTS

Physicians may be supervised by a health administrator, or may work alone, with other Physicians, or with the nursing staff. They may supervise residents, interns, or physician's assistants. The majority of doctors work in well lighted, well ventilated hospitals, clinics, offices, nursing homes, or health maintenance organizations (HMO's). They generally work inside but may be called out in all types of weather because of an emergency or disaster. They may be exposed to infections from patients, cuts and burns from equipment, and radiation from X-ray equipment.

The average workweek for a Physician is extremely variable and usually depends on the type of practice and place of employment. Those in private practice determine their own working hours. Most Doctors try to keep a regular office schedule, but overtime or shift work may be required in hospitals or clinics. In an emergency, a Physician has no schedule and may work around the clock. In addition, a hospital Physician may be on off-duty call.

Those planning to open their own private practice must purchase expensive equipment and instruments, and hire personnel.   Overhead costs for a practice can run anywhere from $175,000 to $226,000 or more depending on location and income generated. Many become associated with an existing practice. Group practices offer such advantages as more flexible working hours, peer interaction, and the sharing of business expenses.

Physicians may belong to such professional associations as The American Medical Association or the American Osteopathic Association and their appropriate state and local chapters. Members of these associations pay annual dues.

You Should Prefer:

• Doing activities of a scientific and technical nature

• Helping and working with people

• Working independently

• Doing activities resulting in esteem from others

You Should Be Able To:

• Reason clearly and logically

• Visualize how drawings/pictures would look as solid objects

• Communicate effectively in speech and writing

• Perform arithmetic operations quickly and accurately

• Perceive detail in objects, pictures, or graphs

• Make evaluations/decisions based on personal judgment/verifiable data

• Work cooperatively with and direct the activities of others

Math Problem You Should Be Able to Solve:

What is the normality of a solution of NaOH which contains 50 mg in each 25ml of solution?

Reading Example You Should Be Able to Read and Comprehend:

The entire spectrum of squamous metaplasia is enormous given the differentiation of a highly specialized stratified squamous epithelium.

Writing Example You Should Be Able to Produce:

Prepare a prescription for medication for a patient who is suffering from bronchitis.

Thinking Skill You Should Be Able to Demonstrate:

Must be able to demonstrate excellent analytical and decision making skills.

The State of Michigan requires a license for this occupation.  Click here   for "Michigan Licensed Occupations," see Doctor of Medicine (also see Osteopathic Physician & Athletic Event Licenses) for specific licensing information.

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EDUCATION AND PREPARATION OP PORT UNITIES

NOTE: A Professional Degree or Doctorate, Doctor of Medicine (M.D.) degree or Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine (D.O.) degree, (Seven to Ten years of study beyond high school) may qualify a person for this occupation. M.D.s and D.O.s seeking board certification in a specialty may spend up to 7 years in residency training, depending on the specialty.

The following education and preparation opportunities are helpful in preparing for occupations in the Career Exploration Script: 

***SCHOOL SUBJECTS***

0600 BUSINESS , 0700 CAREERS , 0900 COMMUNICATIONS , 1000 COMPUTERS , 1100 ECONOMICS , 1300 ENGLISH , 1500 FOODS & NUTRITION , 1800 HEALTH & HEALTH CAREERS , 2200 MATH, 2900 SCIENCE , 3000 SOCIAL STUDIES , 3100 STUDY & WORK OPTIONS , 3300 TECHNOLOGY

***VOCATIONAL EDUCATION PROGRAMS***

There are no Vocational Education Programs related to this Career Exploration Script.

***POSTSECONDARY PROGRAMS***

102 MEDICINE

Programs in Medicine provide opportunities to gain the knowledge, skills, and attitudes needed by Physicians to meet the changing health care needs of society. Medical Programs are designed to fully utilize the scientific disciplines so that the future practice of students will be as scientifically based as possible.

Programs in medical school include clinical and laboratory work, observation, and hospital clerkships. A sampling of courses may include:

The most common requirements for entering schools of Medicine are completion of a pre-medical program or its equivalent with an acceptable grade point average, preliminary application through the centralized services of the American Medical College Application Service (AMCAS), and passing the Medical College Admissions Test (MCAT) with an acceptable, competitive score. A personal interview and additional testing may be required.

103 MEDICINE ( PRE-PROFESSIONAL)

Pre-Medicine Programs provide opportunities to gain the knowledge and skills required for admission to medical schools. Medical schools expect a thorough understanding of biology, chemistry, physics, and mathematics. Many pre-medicine students elect a major in biology or chemistry, although this is not required.

Many Michigan colleges and universities offer programs which may satisfy the prerequisites for admission to medical schools. Students should contact the medical schools of their choice for admission requirements and consult their school's pre-professional advisor to ensure that admission prerequisites are met.

Courses vary between schools and major concentrations but may include:

The most common requirements for entering a community college are a high school diploma, or GED, or being at least 18 years old and completing application forms. In addition, entering a college or university may require graduation from high school in a college preparatory program, a grade point average acceptable to the school to which you apply, and passing entrance examinations.   

Search for a College and/or Instructional Program

***APPRENTICESHIP OPPORTUNITIES***

There are no Apprenticeships related to this Career Exploration Script.

***MILITARY TRAINING PROGRAMS***

Please check the military web site at http://www.todaysmilitary.com.

PHYSICIANS AND SURGEONS

Military physicians and surgeons represent all of the major fields of medical specialization. Physicians and surgeons are the chief providers of medical services to military personnel and their dependents. They examine patients, diagnose their injuries or illnesses, and provide medical treatment.

What They Do

Physicians and surgeons in the military perform some or all of the following duties:

• Examine patients to detect abnormalities in pulse, breathing, or other body functions

• Determine presence and extent of illness or injury by reviewing medical histories. X-rays, laboratory reports, and examination reports

• Develop treatment plans that may include medication, therapy, or surgery

• Perform surgery to treat injuries or illnesses

• Advise patients on their health problems and personal habits

• Coordinate the activities of nurses, physician assistants, medical specialists, therapists, and other medical personnel

• Conduct medical research

Special Requirements

A doctor of medicine or osteopathy degree and advanced training in a medical specialty are required to enter this occupation.

Helpful Attributes

Helpful attributes include:

• Desire to help others

• Ability to express ideas clearly and concisely

Work Environment

Physicians and surgeons work in hospitals and clinics on land and aboard ships.

Training Provided

No initial job training is provided to officers in this occupation. However, advanced courses and programs in medical specialties are available. In addition, scholarships for advanced medical training are available in return for an obligated period of military service.

Civilian Counterparts

Civilian physicians work for hospitals or clinics or in private practice. They perform the same duties and work in the same areas of specialization as military physicians.

Opportunities

The exact number of physicians and surgeons in the military is unknown.

E-Learning Courses and Programs

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OPPORTUNITIES FOR EXPERIENCE AND METHODS OF ENTRY

Part-time employment in a Doctor's office and paid or volunteer hospital work may provide an opportunity to observe day-to-day activities of Physicians. Postsecondary studies in medicine and military service may offer opportunities as well.

School-to-Work opportunities include:

informal apprenticeships

mentorships

job shadowing experiences

touring a local Physician employer

internships

volunteer work with a Physician employer

community service work with an agency

Ways of entering the medical profession include applying directly to employers of Physicians, such as hospitals, clinics, HMO's, research organizations, and private doctors' offices. Individuals may open a new practice or join an established one. Assistance in locating positions is available from school placement offices, Michigan Health Council's placement service. Openings are often listed in professional journals. In addition, you should access and search the Internet's on-line employment service sites such as:

American Academy of Family Physicians

Medzilla.com - Doctors & Nurses

PhysicianWork.com

Physician Recruiting

AMWA Career Center

PracticeLink.com

HealthJobsUSA.com

NEJM Career Center

Michigan Jobs & Career Portal

Monster Healthcare

simplyhired.com

Indeed | one search. all jobs 

Yahoo! Careers

Michigan Talent Bank

You should also enter an electronic resume on these on-line services.

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EARNINGS AND ADVANCEMENT

A Physician's earnings may depend on the Physician's specialty and fees, personality, professional reputation, experience, whether in private practice or salaried, region of the country, and patients' income levels.

Nationally, the annual salaries of hospital-based physicians in mid 2009 were:

Nationally, the annual total compensation (late 2008) of office-based Physicians by specialty was:

*Earnings after tax-deductible expenses but before income taxes.

Physicians employed by the State of Michigan earned from $102,542 to $154,888 per year in mid 2009. 

Depending on the employer, most Physicians receive paid vacations and holidays, retirement plans, hospital and life insurance, educational leaves, and sick pay. Physicians who are self-employed must pay for these benefits themselves.

Advancement may come in the form of professional recognition within the profession and higher incomes. Some become managers of public health departments, other agencies, or programs. Others enter the teaching or research professions. Some become experts in such fields as legal medicine or industrial health. Many Physicians are involved in more than one area at a time.

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EMPLOYMENT AND OUTLOOK

Nationally, there were about 633,300 Physicians and Surgeons employed in 2006. Employment of Physicians is expected to increase faster than the average for all occupations through the year 2016. About 14.0% of them were self-employed. The industry distribution for Physicians looked like this:

To find employers, click Employer/Business Locator.

A growing and aging population will result in the need for more health services as well as Physicians. Those specializing in Geriatrics will see immediate growth and long term need.  There will be fewer Physicians (in all specialties) than demand for them.  Opportunities are likely to be best in large group practices, HMO's, clinics, outpatient facilities, inner cities, and rural areas.

There are about 23,225 Physicians employed in Michigan. Most of them worked in urban areas. The employment of Physicians in Michigan is expected to grow faster than the average for all occupations through the year 2016. An average of 670 annual openings is expected, with 250 due to growth and 420 due to replacement of those who retire, die or leave the labor force for other reasons. Additional opening will occur as workers change jobs or occupations.

Some Physicians are being trained in the growing field of laser microsurgery. There are five Michigan medical centers where lasers are being used by Physicians in surgical procedures.

The overall outlook for Physicians and surgeons is great because a growing population will need more doctors to fulfill their health care needs. Specialists will also experience a rise in employment in response to patient demand for access to specialty care. Technology will play an important role in bridging the health care providers with specialized services.  One example is Telemedicine, which is the use of medical information exchanged from one site to another via Electronic communications to improve patients' health status. Telemedicine is already being used by specialists and general practitioners in rendering a diagnosis in such field as Radiology, where images are "read" by remote providers. As Physicians are able to perform more tests and procedures, they will be able to treat conditions that were previously regarded as untreatable.

MICHIGAN 'S EMPLOYMENT OUTLOOK TO 2016

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SOURCES OF ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

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Copyright © 2009 Michigan Department of Energy, Labor & Economic Growth