Exploring Health Professions

Allopathic Medicine

The allopathic physician (M.D.) has many career options available and new opportunities emerge with each advance in medical knowledge and with each development in the organization of medical services. The physician's responsibilities cover a wide range of functions in the maintenance of health. These include diagnosing disease, supervising the care of patients, prescribing treatment, and participating in improving the delivery of health care. Although most physicians provide direct patient care, some concentrate on basic or applied research, become teachers or administrators, or combine various elements of these activities.

Students planning to pursue M.D. study should refer to subsequent sections of this handbook for discussion of the preparation and application process. There are 126 allopathic medical schools in the U.S. Once matriculated, a medical student studies for four years before earning the M.D. degree. Graduating students select one of 24 general medical specialties for residency training after completion of medical school. Residency training can require three to twelve years to complete, depending on the choice of specialty.

New patterns of practice are emerging. A physician may work in a private office, group practice, a managed care system, clinic, hospital, laboratory, industry, military, university, government, or combination of the above. Managed care is probably the most significant change in the delivery of health care in the last decade. Students planning a career in medicine should be well-informed concerning this.

For more information, contact the American Association of Medical Schools, 2450 N St., NW, Washington,D.C. 20037-1126, (202) 828-0400, www.aamc.org or www.tomorrowsdoctors.org.