Physician

WHY PHYSICIAN?

Physicians and surgeons diagnose and treat injuries or illnesses. Physicians examine patients; take medical histories; prescribe medications; and order, perform, and interpret diagnostic tests. They counsel patients on diet, hygiene, and preventive healthcare. Surgeons operate on patients to treat injuries, such as broken bones; diseases, such as cancerous tumors; and deformities, such as cleft palates.  About half of physicians and surgeons worked in physicians’ offices in 2016. Others worked in hospitals, in academia, or for the government.  Many physicians and surgeons work long, irregular, and overnight hours. Physicians and surgeons may travel between their offices and hospitals to care for their patients. While on call, a physician may need to address a patient’s concerns over the phone or make an emergency visit to a hospital or nursing home.

You may earn an Associate’s degree at Muskegon Community College to transfer to a four-year college/university.  Physicians and surgeons have demanding education and training requirements. Physicians typically need a bachelor’s degree, a degree from a medical school, which takes 4 years to complete, and, depending on their specialty, 3 to 7 years in internship and residency programs.

Overall employment of physicians and surgeons is projected to grow 13 percent from 2016 to 2026, faster than the average for all occupations. Job growth is projected due to increased demand for healthcare services by the growing and aging population. 

Wages for physicians and surgeons are among the highest of all occupations, with a median wage equal to or greater than $208,000 per year. Median wages showing the differences in pay between types of physicians and surgeons are not available, but mean (average) annual wages for physicians and surgeons in May 2017 were as follows:

Anesthesiologists -$265,990
Surgeons – $251,890
Obstetricians and gynecologists – $235,240
Psychiatrists – $216,090
Physicians and surgeons, all other – $211,390
Family and general practitioners – $208,560
Internists, general – $198,370
Pediatricians, general – $187,540

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