Become A Family Medicine Physician
Where do you want to work?
Working As A Family Medicine Physician
- Documenting/Recording Information
- Getting Information
- Making Decisions and Solving Problems
- Assisting and Caring for Others
- Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge
Deal with People
Unpleasant/Angry People
Unpleasant/Hazardous Environment
Stressful
Make Decisions
$144,207
Average Salary
What Does A Family Medicine Physician Do
How To Become A Family Medicine Physician
Physicians and surgeons have demanding education and training requirements. Almost all physicians complete at least 4 years of undergraduate school, 4 years of medical school, and, depending on their specialty, 3 to 7 years in internship and residency programs.
EducationMost applicants to medical school have at least a bachelor's degree, and many have advanced degrees. Although no specific major is required, all students must complete undergraduate work in biology, chemistry, physics, math, and English. Students also take courses in the humanities and social sciences. In addition, some students volunteer at local hospitals or clinics to gain experience in a healthcare setting.
Medical schools are highly competitive. Most applicants must submit transcripts, scores from the Medical College Admission Test (MCAT), and letters of recommendation. Schools also consider an applicant’s personality, leadership qualities, and participation in extracurricular activities. Most schools require applicants to interview with members of the admissions committee.
A few medical schools offer combined undergraduate and medical school programs that last 6 or 7 years.
Students spend most of the first 2 years of medical school in laboratories and classrooms, taking courses such as anatomy, biochemistry, pharmacology, psychology, medical ethics, and the laws governing medicine. They also gain practical skills, learning to take medical histories, examine patients, and diagnose illnesses.
During their last 2 years, medical students work with patients under the supervision of experienced physicians in hospitals and clinics. Through rotations in internal medicine, family practice, obstetrics and gynecology, pediatrics, psychiatry, and surgery, they gain experience in diagnosing and treating illnesses in a variety of areas.
Important QualitiesCommunication skills. Physicians and surgeons need to be excellent communicators. They must be able to communicate effectively with their patients and other healthcare support staff.
Compassion. Physicians and surgeons deal with patients who are sick or injured and may be in extreme pain or distress. Physicians and surgeons must be able to treat patients and their families with compassion and understanding.
Detail oriented. Physicians and surgeons must ensure that patients are receiving appropriate treatment and medications. They must also monitor and record various pieces of information related to patient care.
Dexterity. Physicians and surgeons must be good at working with their hands. They may work with very precise and sometimes sharp tools, and mistakes can have serious consequences.
Leadership skills. Physicians who work in their own practice need to be effective leaders. They must be able to manage a staff of other professionals to run their practice.
Organizational skills. Some physicians own their own practice. Strong organizational skills, including good recordkeeping, are critical in both medical and business settings.
Patience. Physicians and surgeons may work for long periods with patients who need special attention. Persons who fear medical treatment may require more patience.
Physical stamina. Physicians and surgeons should be comfortable performing physical tasks, such as lifting or turning disabled patients. Surgeons may spend a great deal of time bending over patients during surgery.
Problem-solving skills. Physicians and surgeons need to evaluate patients’ symptoms and administer the appropriate treatments. They need to do this quickly if a patient’s life is threatened.
TrainingAfter medical school, almost all graduates enter a residency program in their specialty of interest. A residency usually takes place in a hospital and varies in duration, generally lasting from 3 to 7 years, depending on the specialty.
Licenses, Certifications, and RegistrationsAll states require physicians and surgeons to be licensed; requirements vary by state. To qualify for a license, candidates must graduate from an accredited medical school and complete residency training in their specialty.
All physicians and surgeons also must pass a standardized national licensure exam. M.D.s take the U.S. Medical Licensing Examination (USMLE). D.O.s take the Comprehensive Osteopathic Medical Licensing Examination (COMLEX-USA). For specific state information about licensing, contact your state’s medical board.
Certification is not required for physicians and surgeons; however, it may increase their employment opportunities. M.D.s and D.O.s seeking board certification in a specialty may spend up to 7 years in residency training; the length of time varies with the specialty. To become board certified, candidates must complete a residency program and pass a specialty certification exam from the American Board of Medical Specialties (ABMS), the American Osteopathic Association (AOA), or the American Board of Physician Specialties (ABPS).
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Family Medicine Physician jobs
Family Medicine Physician Typical Career Paths
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Physician Assistant 6.0 years
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Family Physician 5.1 years
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Family Practice Physician 4.3 years
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Certified Physician Assistant 4.2 years
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Physician Assistant, Internal Medicine 3.0 years
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Family Medicine Physician 3.0 years
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Professor Of Family Medicine 2.8 years
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Physician 12.2%
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Internship 10.3%
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Physician Assistant 8.8%
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Medical Director 7.5%
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Resident Physician 4.7%
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Research Assistant 4.1%
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Family Physician 4.1%
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Attending Physician 3.8%
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Chief Resident 3.1%
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Medical Assistant 2.8%
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Resident 2.8%
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Assistant Professor 2.5%
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Volunteer 2.2%
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Medical Director 14.1%
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Physician 13.8%
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Physician Assistant 11.5%
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Family Physician 5.2%
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Assistant Professor 3.3%
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Staff Physician 3.3%
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Medical Assistant 3.0%
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Team Physician 3.0%
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Personal Assistant 2.6%
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Clinical Instructor 2.6%
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Registered Nurse 2.6%
Average Length of Employment
Top Careers Before Family Medicine Physician
Top Careers After Family Medicine Physician
Family Medicine Physician Demographics
Gender
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Female
54.1% -
Male
41.2% -
Unknown
4.7%
Ethnicity
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White
68.0% -
Asian
14.1% -
Hispanic or Latino
12.5% -
Unknown
4.6% -
Black or African American
0.9%
Languages Spoken
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Spanish
60.9% -
Hindi
13.0% -
Urdu
8.7% -
Portuguese
4.3% -
Nepali
4.3% -
Telugu
4.3% -
Russian
4.3%
Family Medicine Physician
Unfortunately we don’t have enough data for this section.
Family Medicine Physician Education
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Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine
10.0% -
Temple University
6.0% -
Kansas City University of Medicine and Biosciences
6.0% -
University of Southern California
6.0% -
University of Phoenix
6.0% -
University of Pittsburgh -
6.0% -
Duke University
6.0% -
Nova Southeastern University
6.0% -
Ohio University -
4.0% -
University of Washington
4.0% -
Emory University
4.0% -
New York University
4.0% -
Harvard University
4.0% -
Saint Louis University-
4.0% -
Stanford University
4.0% -
University of Texas Health Science San Antonio
4.0% -
Michigan State University
4.0% -
University of Oklahoma
4.0% -
Walden University
4.0% -
University of California - Irvine
4.0% -
Medicine 33.7%
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Physician Assistant 15.8%
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Biology 7.9%
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Public Health 6.9%
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Osteopathic Medicine 6.4%
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Business 4.0%
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Nursing 3.5%
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Management 1.5%
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English 1.5%
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Education 1.5%
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Medical Technician 1.0%
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Political Science 1.0%
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Food And Nutrition 1.0%
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Health And Wellness 1.0%
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Biomedical Sciences 1.0%
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Masters
34.3% -
Other
26.6% -
Doctorate
22.3% -
Bachelors
10.3% -
Certificate
3.4% -
Associate
1.3% -
Diploma
1.3% -
License
0.4%
Schools
Majors
Degrees
Family Medicine Physician
Unfortunately we don’t have enough data for this section.
Real Family Medicine Physician Salaries
Job Title
|
Company
|
Location
|
Start Date
|
Salary
|
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Maternal Fetal Medicine Physician | Renaissance Medical Foundation | Edinburg, TX | Sep 18, 2015 | $468,000 |
| Maternal Fetal Medicine Physician | Renaissance Medical Foundation | Edinburg, TX | Aug 25, 2016 | $468,000 |
| Maternal Fetal Medicine Physician | Renaissance Medical Foundation | Edinburg, TX | Aug 03, 2016 | $468,000 |
| Maternal Fetal Medicine Physician | Renaissance Medical Foundation | Edinburg, TX | Jul 31, 2015 | $468,000 |
| Maternal-Fetal Medicine Physician | Marshfield Clinic | Marshfield, WI | Jul 01, 2015 | $441,000 |
| Maternal Fetal Medicine Physician | Orlando Health, Inc. | Orlando, FL | Jan 19, 2015 | $425,000 |
| Physician, Pulmonology/Critical Care Medicine | San Juan Regional Medical Center | Farmington, NM | Feb 11, 2015 | $400,000 |
| Physician, Critical Care Medicine | Rapid City Regional Hospital | Rapid City, SD | Sep 20, 2016 | $390,000 |
| Critical Care Medicine Physician | Aurora Medical Group, Inc. | Milwaukee, WI | Jun 20, 2016 | $380,000 |
| Critical Care Medicine Physician | Mercy Clinic Fort Smith Communities | Fort Smith, AR | Jul 01, 2015 | $375,000 |
| Critical Care Medicine Physician | Mercy Clinic Fort Smith Communities | Fort Smith, AR | Jul 23, 2015 | $375,000 |
| Critical Care Medicine Physician | Aurora UW Academic Medical Group, Inc. | Milwaukee, WI | Apr 01, 2016 | $374,976 |
| Maternal and Fetal Medicine Physician | Providence Health & Services-Wa | Spokane, WA | Jan 01, 2016 | $364,000 - $640,000 |
| Family Medicine Physician | WVP Medical Group, LLC | Keizer, OR | Sep 15, 2016 | $202,500 |
| Family Medicine Physician | Peacehealth | Eugene, OR | Jan 25, 2016 | $200,597 |
| Family Medicine Physician | Peacehealth | Springfield, OR | Jan 25, 2016 | $200,597 |
| Family Medicine Physician | Regional West Physicians Clinic | Scottsbluff, NE | Sep 05, 2016 | $200,013 |
| Family Medicine Physician | Regional West Physicians Clinic | Gering, NE | Jun 09, 2016 | $200,013 |
| Family Medicine Physician | Regional West Physicians Clinic | Scottsbluff, NE | May 09, 2016 | $200,013 |
| Family Medicine Physician | Regional West Physicians Clinic | Gering, NE | Sep 06, 2016 | $200,013 |
| Family Medicine Physician | Providence Health & Services-Oregon | Medford, OR | Aug 23, 2015 | $200,000 |
| Physician-Family Medicine | Family Healthcare Network | Ivanhoe, CA | Jul 27, 2015 | $178,000 |
| Physician-Family Medicine | Family Healthcare Network | Goshen, CA | Aug 24, 2015 | $178,000 |
| Family Medicine Physician | Medical Aids Outreach of Alabama, Inc. | Montgomery, AL | Sep 17, 2016 | $177,450 |
| Family Medicine Physician | Lane County Oregon | Springfield, OR | Aug 10, 2015 | $176,425 |
| Family Medicine Physician | Lane County Oregon | Springfield, OR | Jul 01, 2015 | $176,425 |
| Physician Family Medicine Faculty | Sparrow Ionia Hospital | Mason, MI | Apr 01, 2015 | $175,579 |
| Family/Geriatric Medicine Physician | Hannibal Regional Healthcare System, Inc. | Hannibal, MO | Jan 09, 2016 | $175,074 - $250,000 |
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Top Skills for A Family Medicine Physician
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Top Family Medicine Physician Skills
- Family Medicine
- Outpatient Clinic
- Primary Care Setting
- General Integral Medicine (Family Medicine).
- Conducted diagnosis, treatment and multidisciplinary management of patients in hospital, ICU ward, ER and outpatient clinic.
- Assessed, Diagnosed and managed patients in primary care setting.
- Perform history and physical examinations on all new patients admitted.
- Experience with NextGen electronic medical records system.
Top Family Medicine Physician Employers
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