Physicians and Surgeons

What Physicians and Surgeons Do

Physicians and surgeons diagnose and treat injuries or illnesses.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qdVM5aDfbjU

Work Environment

Many physicians and surgeons worked in physicians’ offices. Others worked in hospitals, in academia, or for the government.

How to Become a Physician or Surgeon

Physicians and surgeons have demanding education and training requirements. Physicians typically need a bachelor’s degree, a degree from a medical school, which takes 4 years to complete, and, depending on their specialty, 3 to 7 years in internship and residency programs.

Pay

Wages for physicians and surgeons are among the highest of all occupations, with a median wage equal to or greater than $208,000 per year.

Job Outlook

Overall employment of physicians and surgeons is projected to grow 4 percent from 2019 to 2029, about as fast as the average for all occupations.

Physicians and surgeons diagnose and treat injuries or illnesses. Physicians examine patients; take medical histories; prescribe medications; and order, perform, and interpret diagnostic tests. They often counsel patients on diet, hygiene, and preventive healthcare. Surgeons operate on patients to treat injuries, such as broken bones; diseases, such as cancerous tumors; and deformities, such as cleft palates.

There are two types of physicians, with similar degrees: M.D. (Medical Doctor) and D.O. (Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine). Both use the same methods of treatment, including drugs and surgery, but D.O.s place additional emphasis on the body’s musculoskeletal system, preventive medicine, and holistic (whole-person) patient care. D.O.s are most likely to be primary care physicians, although they can be found in all specialties.

Duties

Physicians and surgeons typically do the following:

• Take a patient’s medical history
• Update charts and patient information to show current findings and treatments
• Order tests for nurses or other healthcare staff to perform
• Review test results to identify any abnormal findings
• Recommend and design a plan of treatment
• Address concerns or answer questions that patients have about their health and well-being
• Help patients take care of their health by discussing topics such as proper nutrition and hygiene

Physicians and surgeons work in one or more specialties. The following are examples of types of physicians and surgeons:

Anesthesiologists focus on the care of surgical patients and pain relief. They administer drugs (anesthetics) that reduce or eliminate the sensation of pain during an operation or another medical procedure. During surgery, they are responsible for adjusting the amount of anesthetic as needed, and monitoring the patient’s heart rate, body temperature, blood pressure, and breathing. They also work outside of the operating room, providing pain relief for patients in the intensive care unit, for women in labor and delivery of babies, and for patients who suffer from chronic pain. Anesthesiologists work with other physicians and surgeons to decide on treatments and procedures before, during, and after surgery.

Family and general physicians assess and treat a range of conditions that occur in everyday life. These conditions include sinus and respiratory infections to broken bones. Family and general physicians typically have regular, long-term patients.

General internists diagnose and provide nonsurgical treatment for a range of problems that affect internal organ systems such as the stomach, kidneys, liver, and digestive tract. Internists use a variety of diagnostic techniques to treat patients through medication or hospitalization. They work mostly with adult patients.

General pediatricians provide care for infants, children, teenagers, and young adults. They specialize in diagnosing and treating problems specific to younger people. Most pediatricians treat common illnesses, minor injuries, and infectious diseases, and administer vaccinations. Some pediatricians specialize in pediatric surgery or serious medical conditions that commonly affect younger patients, such as autoimmune disorders or chronic ailments.

Obstetricians and gynecologists (OB/GYNs) provide care related to pregnancy, childbirth, and the female reproductive system. They treat and counsel women throughout their pregnancy and deliver babies. They also diagnose and treat health issues specific to women, such as breast cancer, cervical cancer, hormonal disorders, and symptoms related to menopause.

Psychiatrists are primary mental health physicians. They diagnose and treat mental illnesses through a combination of personal counseling (psychotherapy), psychoanalysis, hospitalization, and medication. Psychotherapy involves regular discussions with patients about their problems. The psychiatrist helps them find solutions through changes in their behavioral patterns, explorations of their past experiences, or group and family therapy sessions. Psychoanalysis involves long-term psychotherapy and counseling for patients. Psychiatrists may prescribe medications to correct chemical imbalances that cause some mental illnesses.

Surgeons treat injuries, diseases, and deformities through operations. Using a variety of instruments, a surgeon corrects physical deformities, repairs bone and tissue after injuries, or performs preventive or elective surgeries on patients. Although a large number perform general surgery, many surgeons choose to specialize in a specific area. Specialties include orthopedic surgery (the treatment of the musculoskeletal system), neurological surgery (treatment of the brain and nervous system), cardiovascular surgery, and plastic or reconstructive surgery. Like other physicians, surgeons examine patients, perform and interpret diagnostic tests, and counsel patients on preventive healthcare. Some specialist physicians also perform surgery.

Physicians and surgeons may work in a number of other medical and surgical specialties and subspecialties. The following specialists are some of the most common examples:

• Allergists (specialists in diagnosing and treating hay fever or other allergies)
• Cardiologists (heart specialists)
• Dermatologists (skin specialists)
• Gastroenterologists (digestive system specialists)
• Ophthalmologists (eye specialists)
• Pathologists (specialists who study body tissue to see if it is normal or abnormal)
• Radiologists (specialists who review and interpret x rays and other images and deliver radiation treatments for cancer and other illnesses)

Physicians in healthcare establishments work daily with other healthcare staff, such as registered nurses, other physicians, medical assistants, and medical records and health information technicians.

Some physicians may choose to work in fields that do not involve patient care, such as medical research or public policy. 

Physicians and surgeons held about 752,400 jobs in 2019. Employment in the detailed occupations that make up physicians and surgeons was distributed as follows:

Physicians, all other; and ophthalmologists, except pediatric	429,500
Family medicine physicians	119,300
General internal medicine physicians	49,500
Surgeons, except ophthalmologists	39,600
Anesthesiologists	33,800
Pediatricians, general	32,500
Psychiatrists	27,900
Obstetricians and gynecologists	20,300

Many physicians and surgeons work in physicians’ offices. Others worked in hospitals, in academia, or for the government.

Increasingly, physicians are working in group practices, healthcare organizations, or hospitals, where they share a large number of patients with other doctors. The group setting allows them more time off and lets them coordinate care for their patients, but it gives them less independence than solo practitioners have.

Surgeons and anesthesiologists usually work in sterile environments while performing surgery and may stand for long periods.

Work Schedules

Most physicians and surgeons work full time. Many physicians and surgeons work long, irregular, and overnight hours. Physicians and surgeons may travel between their offices and hospitals to care for their patients. While on call, a physician may need to address a patient’s concerns over the phone or make an emergency visit to a hospital or nursing home.

This table shows a list of occupations with job duties that are similar to those of physicians and surgeons.

	Occupation	Job Duties	Entry-Level Education	Median Annual Pay, May 2019
	Chiropractors	Chiropractors treat patients with health problems of the neuromusculoskeletal system, which includes nerves, bones, muscles, ligaments, and tendons.	Doctoral or professional degree	$70,340
	Dentists	Dentists diagnose and treat problems with patients’ teeth, gums, and related parts of the mouth.	Doctoral or professional degree	$159,200
	Nurse Anesthetists, Nurse Midwives, and Nurse Practitioners	Nurse anesthetists, nurse midwives, and nurse practitioners coordinate patient care and may provide primary and specialty healthcare.	Master’s degree	$115,800
	Optometrists	Optometrists diagnose and treat visual problems and manage diseases, injuries, and other disorders of the eyes.	Doctoral or professional degree	$115,250
	Physician Assistants	Physician assistants practice medicine on teams with physicians, surgeons, and other healthcare workers.	Master’s degree	$112,260
	Podiatrists	Podiatrists provide medical and surgical care for people with foot, ankle, and lower leg problems.	Doctoral or professional degree	$126,240
	Registered Nurses	Registered nurses (RNs) provide and coordinate patient care and educate patients and the public about various health conditions.	Bachelor’s degree	$73,300
	Veterinarians	Veterinarians care for the health of animals and work to protect public health.	Doctoral or professional degree	$95,460

For more information about physicians and surgeons, visit

American Medical Association

American Osteopathic Association

For more information about various medical specialties, visit

American Academy of Family Physicians

American Board of Medical Specialties

American Board of Physician Specialties

American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists

American College of Surgeons

For a list of medical schools and residency programs, as well as for general information on premedical education, financial aid, and medicine as a career, visit

Association of American Medical Colleges

American Association of Colleges of Osteopathic Medicine

For information about licensing, visit

Federation of State Medical Boards

CareerOneStop

For a career video on anesthesiologists, visit

Anesthesiologists

For a career video on surgeons, visit

Surgeons

O*NET

Allergists and Immunologists

Anesthesiologists

Dermatologists

Family and General Practitioners

Hospitalists

Internists, General

Neurologists

Nuclear Medicine Physicians

Obstetricians and Gynecologists

Ophthalmologists

Pathologists

Pediatricians, General

Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Physicians

Physicians and Surgeons, All Other

Preventive Medicine Physicians

Psychiatrists

Radiologists

Sports Medicine Physicians

Surgeons

Urologists