Internal Medicine Doctor

Nature of the work

A personal physician who provides long-term comprehensive care in the office and the hospital, managing both common and complex illness of adolescents, adults, and the elderly. Internists are trained in the diagnosis and treatment of of cancer, infections, and diseases affecting the heart, blood, kidneys, joints and digestive, respiratory, and vascular systems. They are also trained in the essentials of primary care internal medicine which incorporates an understanding of disease prevention, wellness, substance abuse, mental health, and effective treatment of common problems of the eyes, ears, skin, nervous system, and reproductive organs.¹

Internists can receive training in the following subspecialties:

adolescent medicine cardiovascular disease clinical cardiac electrophysiology critical care medicine endocrinology, diabetes & metabolism gastroenterology geriatric medicine hematology hospice and palliative medicine

infectious disease interventional cardiology medical oncology nephrology pulmonary disease rheumatology sleep medicine sports medicine transplant hepatology

Training/residency information

The residency for general internal medicine is three years. To practice in an internal medicine subspecialty requires from one to three years of additional training.

References
1 The American Board of Medical Specialties. Guide to Physician Specialties. Evanston, IL: American Board of Medical Specialties; February 2008.
2 2010 Physician Compensation Survey [special feature]. Modern Healthcare . July 19, 2010: 20-26.