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Physician

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Overview

Physicians are what most people refer to as doctors. They practice medicine and help patients maintain good health. Physicians care for people by performing physical examinations and tests, diagnosing illnesses, treating injuries and diseases, prescribing medication and providing patient education. Because of the changing needs of society and the continued advancement of modern medicine, physicians must be dedicated to lifelong learning to stay on top of their craft.

There are two types of physicians: doctors of medicine (MDs) and doctors of osteopathic medicine (DOs). Both MDs and DOs receive the same basic education and training, but they differ on their approach to medicine. DOs believe in disease prevention and treating the whole patient, while MDs emphasize treating disease symptoms with drugs and surgery. There are significantly more MDs than DOs working in the United States.

Work Environment

Doctors are the leaders of the healthcare team. While they may refer patients to other health professionals for tests and services, they interpret results and make decisions on treatments. They oversee a staff of nurses, assistants and other healthcare providers. Physicians can work in private practice on their own or in a group or work in hospitals, clinics, nursing homes, medical schools and public health agencies. They work long hours and are needed around the clock.

Areas of Specialization

There are many different kinds of physicians. With 145 specialties and subspecialties of medicine that focus on different aspects of health, doctors have many career options. The major medical specialties are:

Allergy and immunology – treat conditions involving the immune system, such as asthma, and reactions to food, drug and insect stings
Anesthesiology – provide pain relief to patients during and after surgeries, operations and medical procedures
Colon and rectal surgery – treat diseases in the small intestine, colon, rectum and anal canal through surgery
Dermatology – treat disorders of the skin, mouth, hair and nails, like skin cancer, acne and allergic skin disorders
Emergency medicine – focus on the immediate response to prevent further disability and death in emergency illnesses and injuries
Family medicine – deal with the total health of patients and treat a wide variety of illnesses in people of all ages
Internal medicine – provide long-term, comprehensive care in common and complex diseases that affect the major organs
Medical genetics – use modern medical testing to diagnose and treat genetically-linked diseases
Neurological surgery – manage and operate on disorders of the brain, spinal cord and the rest of the nervous system
Neurology – treat all types of diseases that affect the brain, spinal cord and nervous system
Nuclear medicine – use anatomic and molecular imaging systems to diagnose diseases and treat cancer
Obstetrics and gynecology – focus on the care for the female reproductive system
Ophthalmology – deal with the eyes and vision care for people of all ages
Orthopaedic surgery – specialize in the form and function of the extremities, spine and associated structures
Otolaryngology – treat diseases that affect the ears, nose, throat and other parts of the head and neck
Pathology – use microscopes and laboratory tests to find the causes and nature of diseases
Pediatrics – work exclusively with children from birth to young adulthood
Physical medicine and rehabilitation – focus on patients with physical disabilities
Plastic surgery – repair, reconstruct, replace or enhance parts of the body to improve physical appearance
Preventative medicine – promote health and well-being and prevent disease in individuals or specific populations in the public or workplace
Psychiatry – specialize in the mental, emotional and social disorders like schizophrenia and addiction
Radiology – uses imaging systems such as x-rays and ultrasounds to diagnose medical issues and provide therapy
Surgery – operate on general disorders and critical injuries or illnesses like hernias, appendicitis and cancers
Thoracic surgery – repair conditions of the chest, including the heart, arteries and lungs
Urology – uses surgical procedures to manage conditions of the urinary system and reproductive organs

Preparation

Training

Physicians hold a doctorate and receive over a decade of training before they can practice medicine. This includes four years of undergraduate school, four years of medical school and at least three years of residency. In medical school, students spend the first two years in the classroom studying basic medical science and the last two years gaining clinical experience through rotations in different specialties. After med school, doctors choose a specialty and go into a residency program in that area, where they receive in-depth training in a hospital or clinic. Residencies can last three to five years, depending on the specialty. Upon completion of the residency requirement, physicians either apply for certification in their specialty or continue their training in a fellowship by studying a subspecialty for another two or three years.

Schools

Des Moines University and The University of Iowa have the two medical schools in the state. DMU has an osteopathic medicine program while Iowa has an MD program.

Licensure and Certification

After one year of post-graduate training, physicians can obtain their medical license by passing a national licensing exam. However, they are not board-certified in their field of study until they complete their residency program and pass the specialty board exam.

Education

Locations

Career Outlook Map of Iowa

The outlook for physicians is excellent. The job growth rate is 20%, but even that does not fully explain the need. Much of the state has been designated as a primary healthcare shortage area by the federal government, meaning there are not enough family doctors to serve the population.