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Whether the focus is on delivering babies, treating illnesses, sharing ways to stay healthy or discovering new treatments, a career in medicine offers a multitude of rewards, challenges and opportunities to improve the lives of patients.
Most medical professionals care for patients in clinics and hospitals, but they also work for public health organizations, insurance companies, medical device and equipment manufacturers, pharmaceutical companies, and research institutions and universities. With the growing and aging population in the United States, professionals in Physician occupations are in great demand.
We feature the following Physician occupations on this site:
Physicians
Physicians diagnose and treat illnesses, diseases, and injuries. They examine patients, take medical histories, order and interpret tests, and perform procedures and surgeries depending on their specialty. They also counsel patients on healing and preventative care. While there are other Physicians such as naturopaths, podiatrists and chiropractors, this profile focuses on Medical Doctors (MDs) and Doctors of Osteopathy (DOs).
According to the American Medical Association (AMA), about one-third of the nation's doctors are generalists, or Primary Care Physicians, who provide life-long care to their patients. Primary Care Physicians include internists, family doctors and pediatricians. When patients require specific treatment, generalists refer them to specialist Physicians who are trained to treat a particular system or part of the body.
The ten largest Physician practice areas in the United States are:
- Internal medicine
- Family medicine
- Pediatrics
- Obstetrics-gynecology
- Psychiatry
- Anesthesiology
- Surgery
- Emergency medicine
- Orthopedic surgery
- Diagnostic radiology
In general, Physicians have major responsibility for patients and many work long and irregular hours. Characteristics of a Physician include compassion, ability and willingness to work hard, self-motivation, attention to detail, good bedside manner, emotional stability and excellent judgment.
Video Descriptions of Selected Physician Specialties
Source: CareerOneStop (U.S. Department of Labor)
To me, anesthesia is the ultimate in critical care medicine. We care for people when they are at their most vulnerable and take responsibility for every vital function of their bodies. I get great satisfaction from taking a person from being scared or in pain to feeling safe and comfortable.
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Ken Abbey, JD, MD
Anesthesiologist, OHSU
Where Physicians Work
More and more Physicians work in a group or health care organization rather than the solo practices of yesteryear. The variety of settings include:
- Physicians' Offices
- Hospitals
- Clinics
- Educational Institutions
- Research Facilities
- Government Facilities
Educational Requirements
The usual route to Physician practice is 8 years of education after high school followed by 3 to 8 years of paid on-the-job training in the form of an internship and residency.
You can learn more about the educational path for a career in medicine at:
Schools
Licensure Requirements
A license is required to practice as a Physician. See:
Physician Earnings
Salaries for Physicians are among the highest of any occupation and vary widely depending on specialty, setting and geographical area. For national salary ranges, see:
Employment Outlook for Physicians
The OED estimates that between 2008 and 2018, there will be 3,294 job openings for Physicians in Oregon.
Occupations with Skills Similar to Physicians:
- Dentists
- Registered Nurses
- Physician Assistants
- Chiropractors
- Naturopaths
- Podiatrists
- Optometrists
Explore the following sources for this page for more information:
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Physician Assistants
A Physician Assistant, or PA, practices as a member of a health care team and works under the supervision of a physician. From basic primary care to specialty procedures, a PA's realm of responsibilities is broad and is determined by state law and the supervising physician. As a PA, you would educate your patients on preventative care, conduct physicals, diagnose and treat illnesses and minor injuries, order tests, and prescribe medication. PAs who specialize in surgery may be the first or second assistants during operations and provide pre- and postoperative care.
I have been the primary care provider in rural Oakridge, a town of 3,500 people, since 1992 and provide the full spectrum of primary care with a strong emphasis on emergency medicine. This profession gives me the opportunity to solve scientific puzzles and help people on a daily basis. The best aspect of my job is getting to know my families. I now have patients who I have been seeing since they were 2 years old and are ready to graduate from college. This is incredibly rewarding.
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H. Edwin Weih, P.A.
Owner of Five Rivers Family Practice
PAs practice in almost every medical and surgical specialty. From hospitals to private practices, community centers and other provider institutions, PAs are employed to increase the quality and quantity of health services. PAs may be the main care provider where it is difficult to attract a full-time physician such as rural and underserved areas. They also may make house calls or see patients at nursing facilities, then report back to their team physician. PAs should demonstrate an excellent bedside manner, emotional stability, desire to help patients and good judgment, including in emergency situations.
Video Description of PAs
Source: CareerOneStop (U.S. Department of Labor)
Where PAs Work
PAs work in a variety of settings including:
- Clinics
- Physicians' Offices
- Hospitals
- Community Health Centers
- Nursing Homes
- Educational Institutions
- Government facilities
In rural primary care, I take care of my patients, who are also my fellow community members, from birth to death during a number of healthy and ill times. I have the responsibility of diagnosing, treating, and counseling patients. I also have the unique opportunity to participate in promoting the health of the community.
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Kristin Kimmel Dunlap, MPH, MPAS, PA-C
Pendleton Family Medicine
Educational Requirements
PA educational programs are usually two years and many require at least two years of college and health care experience. Every state requires that PAs graduate from an accredited program and pass a national exam to obtain licensure. For educational programs, see the Oregon Employment Department's (OED) page on PAs:
Licensure Requirements
A license is required to practice as a PA. See:
PA Earnings
The OED reports that in 2009 in Oregon the average hourly wage for PAs was $42.98 and the average annual salary was $89,405.
Employment Outlook for PAs
The OED estimates that between 2008 and 2018, there will be 302 job openings for PAs in Oregon.
I was drawn to the PA career for its flexibility and also liked the idea of practicing medicine with the supervision of physician colleagues. The partnership between patient and provider — working together to improve health and quality of life — is the reason I wanted to practice medicine. Every morning I look forward to seeing who is coming in. And, it is very satisfying watching my patients become empowered to improve their own health.
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Danny Martino PA-C, MPAS
OHSU, Family Medicine Physician Assistant
Virginia Garcia Memorial Health Clinics
Many health establishments are increasingly employing PAs to help physicians by taking on routine duties. In addition, rural and underserved areas such as inner cities usually have good prospects for PAs. Telemedicine, used by physicians and PAs to communicate when they are not in the same place, is also a contributing factor to the overall increase in PA jobs.
Occupations with Skills Similar to PAs:
- Physicians
- Registered Nurses
- Podiatrists
- Dentists
- Chiropractors
- Respiratory Therapists
- Optometrists
Explore the following sources for this page for more information:
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