Physicians and Surgeons

A physician is an occupation that requires dedication, knowledge, and consistency. There are long hours that are mandatory along with a lengthy process of education and application. A physician could find themselves in school for up to ten years of their life when they include their residency, and there is little understanding for error in the medical world. Physicians are required to complete a bachelor’s program, medical school, and two years of residency including general rounds and specialization before they can legally practice medicine. There are several exams that must be completed including the MCAT for entrance into medical school, a licensing examination, and several board examinations. Many medical students possess advance degrees, and residency can take up to eight years depending on the specialization that a student chooses.

There are many branches, or specializations, of medicine. Some of these branches include anesthesiology, cardiology, obstetrics, gynecology, pediatrics, psychiatry, ophthalmology, cosmetic surgery, and neurology. Some doctors will specialize in surgery and they are particularly interested in the corrective processes. Surgeons will repair broken bones, facial deformities, and skeletal deformities. Different specializations will require different examinations and different hours. For instance, an anesthesiology student will have less strenuous hours than an ER doctor because less people will need scheduled anesthesia in the middle of the night. However, some people choose a specialization that has less liability like an ER doctor because of the lower malpractice rates. Regardless which profession you choose to specialize in, the amount of work will all be close to the same.

The workload will always be a source of contention that will last for the whole of a career. Most doctors find that they work more than 60 hours a week. However, there are many doctors who will choose to open up their own practice after a certain amount of time, but they still will find themselves available to patients after hours. A doctor has to be aware of his or her lifestyle as well by being available to travel between the hospital and the office, or engaging in activities that could hinder their judgment while they are on call. The job will rarely end, but the monetary rewards are worth the effort for most.

Different types of doctors make different amounts of money annually. The more rare the specialization, the more money a doctor will make. Often times, an obstetrical physician will make as much as a cardiologist because of the risk that is involved when delivering a child. Many doctors, after two years of specialization, can find themselves making more than $250,000 a year. However, the numbers will vary from practice to practice and state to state.