If you have an interest in a health care career, a job as a doctor could be fulfilling. Also known as physicians, doctors are medical practitioners who assist individuals in enhancing and maintaining their health.
Understanding the responsibilities of a doctor and the path to becoming one can help you determine if this profession aligns with your skills and career objectives.
In this post, we cover the duties of a doctor, the steps to becoming a doctor, and we provide responses to commonly asked questions about pursuing this profession.
Doctor Responsibilities: Doctors are medical professionals who aid individuals in preventing, improving, and maintaining their health.
They engage with patients regarding their health issues, assess their health status, and assist them in developing healthy habits. Doctors diagnose and treat illnesses and injuries, conduct tests, and provide medical condition diagnoses and treatments.
There are various types of doctors who may refer patients to other specialists when necessary.
A doctor’s area of practice is known as a specialty, which enables them to offer quality care by focusing on specific body systems and functions.
Some common specialties include: Family Physician: Provides care to children and adult patients for preventive care or treatment of minor illnesses or injuries.
Internal Medicine Physician: Offers primary care to adult patients, often within a hospital setting or as a general practitioner.
Pediatrician: Focuses on the medical needs of children, offering checkups, vaccinations, and treatment for minor conditions.
Obstetrician/Gynecologist (OB/GYN): Specializes in reproductive and sexual health, providing contraception, wellness exams, infertility treatments, and pregnancy care.
Surgeon: Performs surgeries to assess internal conditions, collect samples for testing, or remove damaged tissues to restore health. Surgeons may specialize in areas such as cardiac surgery or neurosurgery.
Steps to Become a Doctor:
1. Obtain a bachelor’s degree: Earn a bachelor’s degree, complete prerequisite courses, and consider majors like biological sciences or chemistry.
2. Pass the Medical College Admission Test (MCAT): Take the MCAT during your undergraduate program to assess your readiness for medical school.
3. Enroll in medical school: Apply to medical schools via the American Medical College Application Service (AMCAS) and complete a four-year program that includes classroom and clinical work.
4. Pass the first two parts of the U.S. Medical Licensing Examination (USMLE): Take the USMLE during medical school to demonstrate your knowledge and skills.
5. Choose a specialty and start a residency program: Select a specialty during medical school to prepare for a residency program in your chosen field.
An experienced doctor specializing in your field. Residency programs typically last from three to seven years, depending on the chosen medical area. During your residency, you will provide direct patient care by evaluating patients, making diagnoses, conducting tests and procedures, and treating illnesses and injuries.
Supervisory physicians will offer feedback to help you identify your strengths and enhance skills for better patient care. Passing part three of the USMLE exam and obtaining your state’s medical license are essential steps.
This section assesses your ability to practice medicine effectively and prioritize patient care. It can be taken during your residency to prepare for independent practice in your state.
The USMLE step three exam spans two days, comprising multiple-choice questions and case simulations, and requires 16 hours to complete. Every state mandates that doctors pass all USMLE sections to acquire licensure.
Additional state medical board criteria may include a minimum of one year of postgraduate training, physical and mental health assessments, and evaluations of character fitness.