Family physician vs public health physician

The differences between family physicians and public health physicians can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 2-4 years to become both a family physician and a public health physician. Additionally, a family physician has an average salary of $215,471, which is higher than the $199,316 average annual salary of a public health physician.

The top three skills for a family physician include patients, family medicine and primary care. The most important skills for a public health physician are patients, primary care, and patient care.

Family physician vs public health physician overview

	Family Physician	Public Health Physician
Yearly salary	$215,471	$199,316
Hourly rate	$103.59	$95.83
Growth rate	7%	7%
Number of jobs	47,352	93,090
Job satisfaction	-	-
Most common degree	Doctoral Degree, 36%	Bachelor's Degree, 31%
Average age	48	48
Years of experience	4	4

What does a family physician do?

A family physician specializes in providing health care services to an entire family, regardless of age, health condition, or gender. Aside from conducting regular check-ups and consultations, they serve as a family's primary contact when health problems occur. Among their responsibilities include maintaining a family's health records, helping families navigate through the healthcare system, coordinating with insurance companies, and referring them to other specialists when necessary. Moreover, a family physician builds positive relationships with clients, helping them feel comfortable every step of the way.

What does a public health physician do?

A public health physician provides health services in communities, treating and diagnosing illnesses and injuries, referring patients to other services when necessary. Besides providing direct health care, they also spearhead various programs focusing on disease and injury prevention, help local communities in dealing with natural disasters and outbreaks, and facilitating seminars and information drives. Moreover, a public health physician may also utilize their health care expertise by participating in various studies and research programs meant to help communities.

Family physician vs public health physician salary

Family physicians and public health physicians have different pay scales, as shown below.

	Family Physician	Public Health Physician
Average salary	$215,471	$199,316
Salary range	Between $135,000 And $342,000	Between $103,000 And $382,000
Highest paying City	Mount Vernon, WA	Santa Ana, CA
Highest paying state	Vermont	California
Best paying company	Oregon Medical Group	Alameda Health System
Best paying industry	Health Care	Health Care

Differences between family physician and public health physician education

There are a few differences between a family physician and a public health physician in terms of educational background:

	Family Physician	Public Health Physician
Most common degree	Doctoral Degree, 36%	Bachelor's Degree, 31%
Most common major	Medicine	Medicine
Most common college	University of Virginia	University of Virginia

Family physician vs public health physician demographics

Here are the differences between family physicians' and public health physicians' demographics:

	Family Physician	Public Health Physician
Average age	48	48
Gender ratio	Male, 42.2% Female, 57.8%	Male, 32.1% Female, 67.9%
Race ratio	Black or African American, 5.2% Unknown, 4.5% Hispanic or Latino, 9.7% Asian, 19.1% White, 61.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2%	Black or African American, 5.4% Unknown, 4.5% Hispanic or Latino, 10.1% Asian, 18.9% White, 60.9% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2%
LGBT Percentage	13%	13%

Differences between family physician and public health physician duties and responsibilities

Family physician example responsibilities.

Manage complicated and often difficult to control chronic medical conditions in patients with limit resources.
Examine patients, using medical instruments and equipment; elicit and record information about patient's medical history.
Perform hematology, chemistry and immunology screen test to provide immediate results for diagnosis.
Provide overall quality prenatal health care, gynecological services, patient triage, refer patients with complications, provide patient education service
Case, endotracheal intubation and artificial mechanical ventilation to which it require, bladder catheterizations rectal and nasogastric.

Public health physician example responsibilities.

Develop skills in managing diabetes, hyperlipidemia, and hypertension.
Educate employees about the prevention of hypertension, diabetes and hyperlipidemia.
Develop, administer, and follow up on new to EHR competency assessments complete by new hires during EMR training.
Work and supervise patients with severe emotional problems.
Provide overall quality prenatal health care, gynecological services, patient triage, refer patients with complications, provide patient education service
Scan and upload patient documentation into eClinicalWorks system.

Family physician vs public health physician skills

Common family physician skills

Patients, 28%
Family Medicine, 26%
Primary Care, 15%
Urgent Care, 8%
EMR, 7%
Internal Medicine, 3%

Common public health physician skills

Patients, 39%
Primary Care, 13%
Patient Care, 10%
Urgent Care, 7%
Family Practice, 5%
Medical Care, 4%

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Family Physician
Family Physician vs Public Health Physician

Updated January 8, 2025

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