A medical doctor is defined as someone who trained in the healing arts and is licensed to practice medicine. There are a number of areas that doctors are able to practice in, which can be done independently or through a medical facility (such as a hospital). Depending on the type of medical doctor, the time that it takes to achieve licensing varies and continuing education is required to keep up with changes in the healthcare industry. Becoming a doctor is not just about diagnosing conditions or performing medical procedures, it's also about caring for and consulting patients. People go to doctors for advice, treatment and support. It's important for doctors to have a genuine compassion for people and the many problems that they face, in addition to giving proper care in order to be successful in this career.
Time Frame
To become general medical doctor, it can take up to 12 years to completely finish the primary portion of obtaining the title of M.D. This does not include additional schooling to specialize in any particular area, or the continuing education that is required to stay current. There are four years of undergraduate school required and then an additional four years of medical school. After this time, there are a few years required to complete the pre-med and med internships. A doctor is never actually done with "schooling" because there are yearly CME's (continuing medical education) required of medical doctors.
Types
The type of doctor that cares for patients is divided into four general specialties: general medicine, Internal medicine, surgery and radiology. Of these four sections are additional specialties. General primary care physicians are the doctors who you would typically see for annual checkups and basic care. Pediatricians are an example of a type of primary care physician that specifically cares for infants and children. There are also obstetricians who are considered primary care physicians for pregnant woman and unborn babies. Specialty doctors are those who deal with specific disorders or conditions that a person may have. An example of a specialist is an orthopedic doctor. These doctors treat conditions directly related to the bones and muscles of the human body. A person who breaks a wrist would be referred to an orthopedic doctor by the primary care physician for treatment. Another example of a specialist would be a cardiologist, which is a doctor who cares for issues affecting the heart. Those with heart conditions would go to this particular doctor. Pediatric specialists are those doctors that care for specific parts of the body or certain conditions but only for infants and children. These would include pediatric dermatologists and pediatric orthopedic surgeons.
Function
On any typical day, a medical doctor can expect to see patients either for actual care or consultation. The doctor may also have to have consultations with other doctors as well as complete tons of paperwork for each patient. Some doctors who work out of standard offices may have additional hours of hospital rotations to complete. Certain doctors, such as OB/GYN's may need to be available 24 hours a day in the event that a patient goes into labor or has other medical emergencies. Doctors who have patients that are hospitalized must do visits daily and update records on their progress regularly. In addition to what may go on during a regular work day for a doctor, they may also be scheduled for medical conferences or classes to keep up with their required training. Medical surgeons may have to perform multiple surgeries in one day in addition to being available for emergency surperies in some cases (such as will hospital surgeons). A doctor such as an anesthesiologist may have to participate and sit in on multiple surgeries in one day to ensure medical protocol is followed and patient health is maintained while under anesthesia.
Benefits
Being a doctor is both a stressful, yet rewarding career. There are many situations that occur that are heartbreaking and sad for a medical doctor such as in a death or when they have to inform a patient of a disease. But, on the other hand, doctors are healers. They are able to help people live a better quality of life, and they are looked to for help. When they are able to do something to benefit the patient or even save their life, it makes all the stress and schooling worth the time that it took to complete. Doctor's are looked at as heroes because of the things that they are able to do for patients, both medically and emotionally.
Salary
Depending on the field of practice that the medical doctor is into, their salary can be anywhere from $120,000 to $256,539 a year according to the U.S. Department of Labor, or more if their specialty is more advanced. General pediatricians are on the lower side of the payscale, whereas an anesthesiologist is at the higher end. Pay can also vary depending on if the doctor has a private practice, or if they work out of larger medical companies.
Expert Insight
The American Osteopathic Medical Degree D.O. also entitles a person to practice medicine and is equivalent to the M.D. Those who go to school to obtain the Osteopathic degree must complete the same type of residencies and CME's that MD students and professionals must complete. At one time in contrast to MD professionals, doctors of Osteopathic medicine place emphasis on returning the body as close as possible to normal functioning. Today's practices however are identical to their MD counterparts, the only difference is the titile behind their name.
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