physicians and surgeons significant points

Physicians and SurgeonsPhysicians and Surgeons

Significant Significant PointsPoints Formal education Formal education

and training and training requirements are requirements are among the most among the most demanding of any demanding of any occupation, but occupation, but earnings are earnings are among the highest. among the highest.


Nature of the Nature of the WorkWork Physicians and Physicians and

surgeons surgeons diagnose illnessesdiagnose illnesses prescribe and administer prescribe and administer

treatmenttreatment This is accomplished This is accomplished

by : by : obtaining medical obtaining medical

historieshistories Performing and Performing and

interpreting diagnostic interpreting diagnostic teststests


Two Types of Two Types of PhysiciansPhysicians M.D.-Doctor of Medicine- M.D.-Doctor of Medicine- D.O.-Doctor of Osteopathic D.O.-Doctor of Osteopathic

Medicine. Medicine. M.D.s also are known as M.D.s also are known as

allopathic physicians.allopathic physicians. D.O.s place special emphasis on D.O.s place special emphasis on

the body's musculoskeletal the body's musculoskeletal system, preventive medicine, system, preventive medicine, and holistic patient care. and holistic patient care.

About a third of M.D.s-and more About a third of M.D.s-and more than half of D.O.s-are primary than half of D.O.s-are primary care physicians. care physicians.


Distribution of Physicians by SpecDistribution of Physicians by Specialtyialty


Working ConditionsWorking Conditions Many physicians work in small Many physicians work in small

private offices or clinics.private offices or clinics. Increasingly, physicians Increasingly, physicians

practice in groups or practice in groups or healthcare organizations. They healthcare organizations. They are less independent than solo are less independent than solo practitioners of the past.practitioners of the past.

Almost one-third of physicians Almost one-third of physicians work 60 hours or more a week. work 60 hours or more a week.

Physicians and surgeons often Physicians and surgeons often have to take call, and may have to take call, and may make emergency visits to make emergency visits to hospitals. hospitals.


EmploymentEmployment Currently about Currently about

598,000 jobs in the U.S. 598,000 jobs in the U.S. About 7 out of 10 were About 7 out of 10 were

in office-based practicein office-based practice About 2 out of 10 were About 2 out of 10 were

employed by hospitals.employed by hospitals. Others practiced in the Others practiced in the

Federal GovernmentFederal Government


Undergraduate Undergraduate TrainingTraining Academic:Academic:

Physics, biology, Physics, biology, mathematics, english, and mathematics, english, and inorganic and organic inorganic and organic chemistry. Students also chemistry. Students also take courses in the take courses in the humanities and the social humanities and the social sciences. sciences.

Non-AcademicNon-Academic Volunteer workVolunteer work Community ServiceCommunity Service ShadowingShadowing Other clinical Exposure Other clinical Exposure


Medical School Medical School Training, Training, Minimum educational Minimum educational

requirement for entry into a requirement for entry into a medical school is 3 years of medical school is 3 years of college.college.

Most applicants, however, have Most applicants, however, have at least a bachelor's degree, at least a bachelor's degree, and many have advanced and many have advanced degrees. degrees.

There are 144 medical schools There are 144 medical schools in the United Statesin the United States

125 teach allopathic medicine 125 teach allopathic medicine and award a Doctor of and award a Doctor of Medicine (M.D.) degree; Medicine (M.D.) degree;

19 teach osteopathic medicine 19 teach osteopathic medicine and award the Doctor of and award the Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine (D.O.) Osteopathic Medicine (D.O.) degree. degree.


Medical School TrainingMedical School Training First 2 yearsFirst 2 years

Courses in anatomy, Courses in anatomy, biochemistry, physiology, biochemistry, physiology, pharmacology, psychology, pharmacology, psychology, microbiology, pathology, microbiology, pathology, medical ethics, and laws medical ethics, and laws governing medicine.governing medicine.

Last 2 yearsLast 2 years Students work with patients Students work with patients

under the supervision of under the supervision of experienced physicians in experienced physicians in hospitals and clinics. hospitals and clinics.

Following medical schoolFollowing medical school M.D.s enter a residency which M.D.s enter a residency which

may last 3 to 9 years. may last 3 to 9 years. Most D.O.s serve a 12-month Most D.O.s serve a 12-month

rotating internship after rotating internship after graduation before entering a graduation before entering a residency which may last 2 to 6 residency which may last 2 to 6 years. years.


Getting into Getting into Acceptance to medical school Acceptance to medical school

is very competitive. is very competitive. Applicants must submit Applicants must submit

transcripts, scores from the transcripts, scores from the Medical College Admission Medical College Admission Test, and letters of Test, and letters of recommendation. recommendation.

Schools also consider Schools also consider character, personality, character, personality, leadership qualities, and leadership qualities, and participation in extracurricular participation in extracurricular activities. Most schools activities. Most schools require an interview with require an interview with members of the admissions members of the admissions committee. committee.

Physicians and SurgeonsPhysicians and Surgeons Practicing MedicinePracticing Medicine

To be a licensed physicianTo be a licensed physician One must graduate from an accredited One must graduate from an accredited

medical school, pass a licensing medical school, pass a licensing examination, and complete 1 to 7 years of examination, and complete 1 to 7 years of graduate medical education.graduate medical education.

A physician's training is costlyA physician's training is costly 80 percent of medical students leave 80 percent of medical students leave

medical school with over $120,000 in debt. medical school with over $120,000 in debt.


Earnings Earnings Physicians have among Physicians have among

the highest earnings of the highest earnings of any occupation.any occupation.

Median income for Median income for allopathic physicians is allopathic physicians is about $160,000about $160,000

Link to table 2Link to table 2


Related Related Occupations Occupations Physicians work to Physicians work to

prevent, diagnose, and prevent, diagnose, and treat diseases, disorders, treat diseases, disorders, and injuries. Professionals and injuries. Professionals in other occupations in other occupations requiring similar skills requiring similar skills and critical judgment and critical judgment include:include:

ChiropractorsChiropractors DentistsDentists OptometristsOptometrists physician assistantsphysician assistants PodiatristsPodiatrists Veterinarians Veterinarians

Physicians and SurgeonsPhysicians and Surgeons Additional Information Additional Information

Association of American Medical Colleges Association of American Medical Colleges http://http://www.aamc.orgwww.aamc.org

American Association of Colleges of Osteopathic American Association of Colleges of Osteopathic Medicine Medicine http://http://www.aacom.orgwww.aacom.org

American Medical Association: American Medical Association: http://www.ama-assn.orghttp://www.ama-assn.org

American Osteopathic Association: American Osteopathic Association: http://www.aoa-net.orghttp://www.aoa-net.org

DentistsDentists

Significant PointsSignificant Points Although employment Although employment

growth will provide some growth will provide some job opportunities, most job opportunities, most jobs will result from the jobs will result from the need to replace the large need to replace the large number of dentists number of dentists projected to retire.projected to retire.

Dental care will Dental care will increasingly focus on increasingly focus on prevention, which involves prevention, which involves teaching people how better teaching people how better to care for their teeth. to care for their teeth.

DentistsDentists

Nature of the WorkNature of the Work Dentists diagnose, prevent, Dentists diagnose, prevent,

and treat teeth and tissue and treat teeth and tissue problems.problems.

Dentists use a variety of Dentists use a variety of equipment, including x-ray equipment, including x-ray machines, drills, and machines, drills, and instruments such as mouth instruments such as mouth mirrors, probes, forceps, mirrors, probes, forceps, brushes, and scalpels. brushes, and scalpels.

Dentists in private practice Dentists in private practice oversee a variety of oversee a variety of administrative tasks, including administrative tasks, including bookkeeping, and buying bookkeeping, and buying equipment and supplies. equipment and supplies.

DentistsDentists

Working Working ConditionsConditions Most full-time Most full-time

dentists work about dentists work about 40 hours a week.40 hours a week.

Most dentists are Most dentists are solo practitionerssolo practitioners

Some dentists have Some dentists have partnerspartners

A few work for A few work for other dentists as other dentists as associate dentists. associate dentists.

DentistsDentists

EmploymentEmployment Currently about Currently about

152,000 jobs in the 152,000 jobs in the U.S. U.S.

Most new jobs will Most new jobs will grow out of grow out of retirement of retirement of dentists and aging dentists and aging population.population.

DentistsDentists

Undergraduate Undergraduate TrainingTraining Minimum of 2 years of college-Minimum of 2 years of college-

level predental education.level predental education. Most dental students have at Most dental students have at

least a bachelor's degree.least a bachelor's degree. Predental education Predental education

emphasizes coursework in the emphasizes coursework in the sciences. sciences.

All dental schools require All dental schools require applicants to take the Dental applicants to take the Dental Admissions Test (DAT). Admissions Test (DAT).

Dental schools consider scores Dental schools consider scores earned on the DAT, applicants' earned on the DAT, applicants' grade point average, and grade point average, and information gathered through information gathered through recommendations and recommendations and interviews.interviews.

DentistsDentists

Dental School Dental School TrainingTraining First 2 years. First 2 years.

Instruction and laboratory Instruction and laboratory work in basic sciences, work in basic sciences, including anatomy, including anatomy, microbiology, biochemistry, microbiology, biochemistry, and physiology. Beginning and physiology. Beginning courses in clinical sciences, courses in clinical sciences, including laboratory including laboratory techniques, also are techniques, also are provided at this time. provided at this time.

Last 2 YearsLast 2 Years During the last 2 years, During the last 2 years,

students treat patients, students treat patients, usually in dental clinics, usually in dental clinics, under the supervision of under the supervision of licensed dentists. licensed dentists.

DentistsDentists

Postgraduate Postgraduate TrainingTraining

Most schools award the Most schools award the degree of Doctor of Dental degree of Doctor of Dental Surgery (DDS). The rest Surgery (DDS). The rest award a Doctor of Dental award a Doctor of Dental Medicine (DMD) degree. Medicine (DMD) degree.

About one-fourth to one-About one-fourth to one-third of new graduates enroll third of new graduates enroll in postgraduate training in postgraduate training programs to prepare for a programs to prepare for a dental specialty.dental specialty.

DentistsDentists

EarningsEarnings

Median annual Median annual earnings of salaried earnings of salaried dentists is $129,030. dentists is $129,030.

Self-employed dentists Self-employed dentists in private practice tend in private practice tend to earn more than do to earn more than do salaried dentists. salaried dentists.

DentistsDentists Additional InformationAdditional Information

American Dental Association American Dental Association http://http://www.ada.orgwww.ada.org

American Dental Education Association American Dental Education Association http://http://www.adea.orgwww.adea.org

OptometristsOptometrists

Significant Significant PointsPoints Competition for Competition for

admission to optometry admission to optometry school is high.school is high.

Because optometrists Because optometrists usually remain in usually remain in practice until they practice until they retire, replacement retire, replacement needs arise almost needs arise almost entirely from entirely from retirements. retirements.


Nature of the WorkNature of the Work Optometrists provide primary Optometrists provide primary

vision care to the 50% of vision care to the 50% of Americans who were Americans who were corrective lenses.corrective lenses.

Optometrists examine people's Optometrists examine people's eyes to diagnose vision eyes to diagnose vision problems and eye diseases.problems and eye diseases.

Optometrists prescribe Optometrists prescribe eyeglasses and contact lenseseyeglasses and contact lenses

Optometrists provide Optometrists provide preoperative and preoperative and postoperative care to cataract, postoperative care to cataract, laser vision correction, and laser vision correction, and other eye surgery patients. other eye surgery patients.


Nature of the WorkNature of the Work Don’t confuse Optometrists with Don’t confuse Optometrists with

ophthalmologists or opticians. ophthalmologists or opticians. Ophthalmologists are physicians Ophthalmologists are physicians

who perform eye surgery, and who perform eye surgery, and diagnose and treat eye diseases diagnose and treat eye diseases and injuries. Like optometrists, and injuries. Like optometrists, they also examine eyes and they also examine eyes and prescribe eyeglasses and prescribe eyeglasses and contact lenses. contact lenses.

Opticians fit and adjust Opticians fit and adjust eyeglasses and in some States eyeglasses and in some States may fit contact lenses according may fit contact lenses according to prescriptions written by to prescriptions written by ophthalmologists or ophthalmologists or optometrists.optometrists.

Most optometrists are in Most optometrists are in general, private practice. general, private practice.


Working Working ConditionsConditions Optometrists usually Optometrists usually

work in their own work in their own offices.offices.

Most full-time Most full-time optometrists work optometrists work about 40 hours a about 40 hours a week. Many work week. Many work Saturdays and Saturdays and evenings to suit the evenings to suit the needs of patients. needs of patients.


EmploymentEmployment Currently about 31,000 Currently about 31,000

jobs in the U.S. jobs in the U.S. Although many Although many

optometrists practice optometrists practice alone, a growing number alone, a growing number are in a partnership or are in a partnership or group practice. group practice.

Some optometrists work Some optometrists work as salaried employees of as salaried employees of other optometrists or of other optometrists or of ophthalmologists, ophthalmologists, hospitals, health hospitals, health maintenance maintenance organizations (HMOs), or organizations (HMOs), or retail optical stores. retail optical stores.


TrainingTraining The Doctor of The Doctor of

Optometry degree Optometry degree requires completion of requires completion of a 4-year program at a 4-year program at one of the 17 one of the 17 accredited optometry accredited optometry schools preceded by at schools preceded by at least 3 years of least 3 years of preoptometric study at preoptometric study at an accredited college an accredited college or university (most or university (most optometry students optometry students hold a bachelor's or hold a bachelor's or higher degree). higher degree).


Undergraduate Undergraduate TrainingTraining Prerequisite courses in Prerequisite courses in

English, mathematics, English, mathematics, physics, chemistry, and physics, chemistry, and biology.biology.

Applicants must take the Applicants must take the Optometry Admissions Optometry Admissions Test, which measures Test, which measures academic ability and academic ability and scientific comprehension.scientific comprehension.

Most applicants take the Most applicants take the test after their sophomore test after their sophomore or junior year. or junior year.


Optometry School TrainingOptometry School Training Optometry programs include classroom and Optometry programs include classroom and

laboratory study of health and visual sciences, as laboratory study of health and visual sciences, as well as clinical training in the diagnosis and well as clinical training in the diagnosis and treatment of eye disorders. Courses in treatment of eye disorders. Courses in pharmacology, optics, vision science, pharmacology, optics, vision science, biochemistry, and systemic disease are included. biochemistry, and systemic disease are included.

Business ability, self-discipline, and the ability to Business ability, self-discipline, and the ability to deal tactfully with patients are important for deal tactfully with patients are important for success. success.


Postgraduate Postgraduate TrainingTraining Optometrists wishing to teach Optometrists wishing to teach

or do research may study for or do research may study for a master's or Ph.D. degree a master's or Ph.D. degree

One-year postgraduate One-year postgraduate clinical residency programs clinical residency programs are available for optometrists are available for optometrists who wish to specialize in who wish to specialize in family practice optometry, family practice optometry, pediatric optometry, geriatric pediatric optometry, geriatric optometry, vision therapy, optometry, vision therapy, contact lenses, hospital-based contact lenses, hospital-based optometry, primary care optometry, primary care optometry, or ocular disease. optometry, or ocular disease.


Job OutlookJob Outlook Employment of optometrists Employment of optometrists

is expected to grow. is expected to grow. Baby boomers agingBaby boomers aging Growth in the oldest age Growth in the oldest age

group, with their increased group, with their increased likelihood of cataracts, likelihood of cataracts, glaucoma, diabetes, and glaucoma, diabetes, and hypertension.hypertension.

Greater recognition of the Greater recognition of the importance of vision care, importance of vision care, rising personal incomes, and rising personal incomes, and growth in employee vision growth in employee vision care plans.care plans.


EarningsEarnings Median annual earnings Median annual earnings

of salaried optometrists of salaried optometrists is $82,860. is $82,860.

Salaried optometrists Salaried optometrists tend to earn more initially tend to earn more initially than do optometrists who than do optometrists who set up their own set up their own independent practice. independent practice.

Median net income for Median net income for all optometrists in all optometrists in private practice rang private practice rang from about $115,000 to from about $115,000 to $120,000. $120,000.

OptometristsOptometrists Additional InformationAdditional Information

Association of Schools and Colleges of Association of Schools and Colleges of Optometry Optometry http://http://www.opted.orgwww.opted.org

American Optometric Association American Optometric Association http://http://www.aoanet.orgwww.aoanet.org

physicians and surgeons significant points

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