PHYSICIAN (MD or DO)

Physicians are also known as medical doctors. They diagnose medical problems and provide treatments to improve the health of their patients. Physicians first ask questions to determine medical history. Then they examine patients, give tests and interpret test results. Physicians also advise their patients on good health practices such as diet, exercise and preventive health care. There are two types of physicians: Doctor of Medicine (MD) and Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine (DO). MDs are also called allopathic physicians. DOs are called osteopathic physicians. Doctors of Osteopathy practice a "whole person" approach to medicine. Osteopathic medicine emphasizes the inter-relationship of the body's nerves, muscles, bones and organs, focusing special attention on the musculoskeletal system. Both MDs and DOs can use all methods of treatment, perform surgery and prescribe medications.

Education

There are two routes students may take to becoming physicians. One is the traditional route of medical school. The other is the route of osteopathic school. Students who are Kentucky residents usually go to medical school in Kentucky because it is extremely difficult to get admitted to a medical school outside your state of official residence. To be considered for admission to a medical school, applicants typically have a bachelors degree. An undergraduate major in premedical studies is suggested, but students may enter medical school with any major, provided they have the required background courses, including biological sciences, physics and chemistry. Applicants must also take the Medical College Admissions Test (MCAT). The basic training of a physician specialist includes four years of premedical education in a college or university, four years of medical school, and after receiving the M.D. or D.O. degree, at least three years of specialty training under supervision (called a residency). The first two years of medical school curriculum focus on basic sciences, with time spent mainly in classrooms and laboratories. The third and fourth years emphasize clinical work, with much of the teaching in community hospitals, major medical centers and doctors' offices. Students rotate through hospital departments including internal medicine, family practice and surgery. Many receive additional training in specialty areas such as psychiatry, pediatrics, obstetrics, surgery, ophthalmology and cardiology. Because of the complexity of the body's structure and function and the high levels of skill needed, most physicians choose to specialize. Specialists are physicians who have chosen a specific knowledge area of medicine and have completed a residency in that field. A subspecialist is a physician who has completed training in a general medical specialty and then takes additional training in a more specific sub-area of that specialty called a subspecialty. The training of a subspecialist within a specialty requires an additional one or more years of full-time education.

Registration/Certification/Licensure

Physicians must take a licensing exam recognized by the Kentucky Board of Medical Licensure. The exam includes basic and clinical material. In addition to the basic license examination, there are written and oral exams for those who wish to be certified in a specialty. There are 43 specialties recognized by the Kentucky Board of Medical Licensure. Due to the increase in scientific and technical knowledge, there are also many subspecialties. Choices are extensive.

Salary

$60,000-300,000

Employment Opportunities

Physicians may work in private practice, group practices, hospitals, clinics, nursing homes, public health departments, military, health maintenance organizations and industry. Physicians are much more likely to work as salaried employees of group practices, clinics or health care networks than in the past. Amid reports of oversupply of physicians, opportunities will be best in primary care fields of family medicine, internal medicine, obstetrics and general pediatrics. Many DOs practice in small towns and rural areas, where they often care for entire families and whole communities.

Programs

Many universities and colleges in the state offer the basic courses for a pre-medical program.

University of Kentucky College of Medicine	(859) 323-6161
University of Louisville School of Medicine	(502) 852-5193
Pikeville College of Osteopathic Medicine	(606) 218-5250

Professional Associations

Kentucky Medical Association 4965 US Hwy 42, Suite 2000 Louisville, KY 46222 (502) 426-6200	Kentucky Osteopathic Medical Association 1501 Twilight Trail Frankfort, KY 40601 (502) 223-5322
American Medical Association 515 North State Street Chicago, IL 60610 (703) 684-2782	American Osteopathic Association 142 East Ontario Street Chicago, Illinois 60611-2864 (800) 621-1773

Physician Specialties and Subspecialties (partial listing)

Allergy & Immunology - Diagnose and treat allergic conditions and diseases of the immune system. Education requirements: undergraduate degree, medical school, three year residency in Internal Medicine or Pediatrics and two year Allergy & Immunology residency, for a total of 13 years following high school.

Anesthesiology - Administer anesthesia to achieve temporary, partial or complete loss of sensation to a patient undergoing surgery. Education requirements: undergraduate degree, medical school, residency consists of three years of anesthesiology training plus one year of clinical training, for a total of 12 years following high school.

Cardiology - Diagnose and treat the diseases of the heart. Education requirements: undergraduate degree, medical school, three year residency in Internal Medicine and three year Cardiology residency, for a total of 14 years following high school.

Critical Care B Involved in care and treatment of seriously ill patients. Education requirements: undergraduate degree, medical school, three year residency in Internal Medicine and one to two year Critical Care residency, for a total of 12-13 years following high school.

Dermatology - Diagnose and treat the diseases and disorders of the skin. Education requirements: undergraduate degree, medical school, one year in an accredited program and three years Dermatology residency, for a total of 12 years following high school.

Emergency Medicine - Treat trauma and injuries on an emergency basis - usually based at the hospital. Education requirements: undergraduate degree, medical school, three to four year residency in Emergency Medicine, for a total of 12-13 years following high school.

Endocrinology - Diagnose and treat the diseases and disorders of the endocrine glands (thyroid, pituitary, pancreas, ovaries and testes). Education requirements: undergraduate degree, medical school, three year residency in Internal Medicine and two year Endocrine residency, for a total of 13 years following high school.

Family Practice - Diagnose and treat general medical conditions for people of all age groups.
Education requirements: undergraduate degree, medical school and three year residency in Family Medicine, for a total of 11 years following high school.

Gastroenterology - Diagnose and treat the diseases and disorders of the digestive organs like the stomach, intestines, liver and gallbladder. Education requirements: undergraduate degree, medical school, three year residency in Internal Medicine and two year Gastroenterology residency, for a total of 13 years following high school.

General Practice - Diagnose and treat general medical conditions for people of all age groups. No residency is required but a one-year internship is required before one may practice. The number of General Practitioners is becoming increasingly less because most hospitals will give hospital privileges only to board eligible physicians. A person who chooses to practice after one year is not board eligible. Education requirements: undergraduate degree, medical school and one year internship, for a total of nine years following high school.

Geriatric Medicine - Diagnose and treat the diseases of the elderly. Education requirements: undergraduate degree, medical school, three year residency in Family Practice or Internal Medicine and one year residency in Geriatrics, for a total of 12 years following high school.

Gynecology/Obstetrics B Concerned with medical and surgical care of the female reproductive system and associated disorders and the management of care during pregnancy and childbirth. Education requirements: undergraduate degree, medical school and four year residency in Gynecology & Obstetrics, for a total of 12 years following high school.

Hematology - Diagnose and treat the diseases and disorders of the blood and blood forming tissues, such as the spleen and lymph glands. Education requirements: undergraduate degree, medical school, three year residency in Internal Medicine and two year Hematology residency, for a total of 13 years following high school.

Infectious Disease - Diagnose and treat the diseases and disorders of adult internal organs. Education requirements: undergraduate degree, medical school, three year residency in Internal Medicine and two year Infectious Disease residency, for a total of 13 years following high school.

Internal Medicine - Diagnose and treat the diseases and disorders of adult internal organs. Education requirements: undergraduate degree, medical school and three year residency in Internal Medicine, for a total of 11 years following high school.

Medical Genetics - Diagnose and treat birth defects and genetic diseases. Education requirements: undergraduate degree, medical school, two year residency in an accredited specialty and two year Medical Genetics residency, for a total of 12 years following high school.

Nephrology - Diagnose and treat the diseases and disorders of the kidney, high blood pressure and fluid and mineral balance. Education requirements: undergraduate degree, medical school, three year residency in Internal Medicine and two year Nephrology residency, for a total of 13 years following high school.

Neurology - Diagnose and treat the diseases and disorders of the brain and central nervous system. Education requirements: undergraduate degree, medical school, one year internship in Primary Care and three year Neurology residency, for a total of 12 years following high school.

Nuclear Medicine - Uses radio nuclides in diagnostic imaging, laboratory procedures and treatment of disease. Education requirements: undergraduate degree, medical school, one year internship in Clinical Primary Care and two year Nuclear Medicine residency, for a total of 11 years following high school.

Obstetrics & Gynecology - See Gynecology.

Occupational Medicine - Diagnose and treat physical and chemical trauma and injuries resulting from industrial accidents. Education requirements: undergraduate degree, medical school, three year training as part of Preventive Medicine residency, for a total of 11 years following high school.

Oncology - Diagnose and treat tumors and cancer. Education requirements: undergraduate degree, medical school, three year residency in Internal Medicine and two year Oncology residency, for a total of 13 years following high school.

Ophthalmology - Diagnose and treat diseases and disorders of the eye. Education requirements: undergraduate degree, medical school, three year Ophthalmology residency and one year Internal Medicine, Neurology, Pediatrics, General Surgery, Family Practice or Emergency Medicine or Transitional year (including six months primary care) for a total of 12 years following high school.

Orthopedics - Diagnose, treat and repair disorders involving the bones, joints and muscles. Education requirements: undergraduate degree, medical school, five year Orthopedics residency, for a total of 13 years following high school.

Otolaryngology - Diagnose and treat the diseases of the ears, head and neck. Education requirements: undergraduate degree, medical school, one year training in General Surgery and four year Otolaryngology residency, for a total of 13 years following high school.

Pathology - Diagnose the structural and functional changes caused by disease in tissue, organs and body fluids. Education requirements: undergraduate degree, medical school and a four year residency in Pathology, for a total of 12 years following high school.

Pediatrics - Diagnose and treat the diseases of children and management of their health. After graduating from medical school, pediatricians must complete an additional three-year residency, learning about medicine for newborn babies up through adolescents. Education requirements: undergraduate degree, medical school and three year residency in Pediatrics, for a total of 11 years following high school.

Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation (Physiatrist) - Treatment of injuries and diseases using physical medicine and equipment. Education requirements: undergraduate degree, medical school, one year training in Primary Care and three year Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation residency, for a total of 12 years following high school.

Plastic Surgery - Operative treatment to repair and restore external physical defects or injuries. Education requirements: undergraduate degree, medical school, three year General Surgery residency or equivalent and two year Plastic Surgery residency; three year residency in General Surgery or equivalent and three year Plastic Surgery residency; or five year Plastic Surgery residency with no prerequisite; or six years Plastic Surgery residency with no prerequisite, for a total of 13-14 years following high school.

Preventive Medicine - Treatment to arrest the threatened onset of disease. Education requirements: undergraduate degree, medical school, at least one year internship in a primary care specialty such as Internal Medicine, Family Medicine, Pediatrics, Obstetrics/Gynecology or General Surgery and two year Preventive Medicine residency, for a total of 11 years following high school.

Proctology - Diagnose and treat diseases and conditions originating in or affecting the anus, rectum and colon. Education requirements: undergraduate degree, medical school, one year approved internship and two year Proctology residency, for a total of 11 years following high school.

Psychiatry - Diagnose and treat patients who have mental, behavioral or emotional problems. Education requirements: undergraduate degree, medical school, four year residency in Psychiatry; or one year internship in Internal Medicine, Pediatrics, Family Practice or clinical specialty and three year Psychiatry residency, for a total of 12 years following high school.

Pulmonary Medicine - Diagnose and treat the diseases and disorders of the lung and airways. Education requirements: undergraduate degree, medical school, three year residency in Internal Medicine and two year Pulmonary residency; or four year Pulmonary residency with one year prior internship, for a total of 13 years following high school.

Radiologist, Diagnostic - Deals with the utilization of all modalities of radiant energy in medical diagnosis and therapeutic procedures utilizing radiologic guidance, such as x-rays, nuclides, ultrasonographic devices and radio-frequency electromagnetic radiation. Education requirements: undergraduate degree, medical school and four year residency in radiology training, for a total of 12 years following high school.

Rheumatology - Diagnose and treat the diseases and disorders of the joints and associated structures such as arthritis and degenerative disease. Education requirements: undergraduate degree, medical school, three year Internal Medicine residency and two year Rheumatology residency, for a total of 13 years following high school.

Surgery - Diagnose, treat and repair disease, injuries and disorders. Education requirements: undergraduate degree, medical school and five year General Surgery residency, for a total of 13 years following high school. Surgery subspecialties require additional training.

Sports Medicine - Prevention and treatment of sports injuries. Education requirements: undergraduate degree, medical school, three year Emergency Medicine, Family Practice, Internal Medicine, Pediatrics or Orthopedics residency and one year Sports Medicine residency, for a total of 12 years following high school.

Urology - Diagnose and treat the diseases and disorders of the urinary organs. Education requirements: undergraduate degree, medical school, three year Urology residency with one year General Surgery; or three year Urology residency with two years of General Surgery; or four year Urology residency with one year of General Surgery; or four years Urology residency with two years of General Surgery, for a total of 12-14 years following high school.

Last updated: May 30, 2001