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What is an internal medicine physician and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025
4 min read
Quoted expert
Dr. Eric Ayars
introduction image

An internal medicine physician specializes in the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of adult diseases. They provide comprehensive care for patients with complex medical conditions, including chronic diseases such as diabetes and heart disease. Internal medicine physicians also manage patients with acute illnesses and injuries, providing hospital care when necessary. They are trained to recognize and manage the interactions between different systems in the body and often work closely with specialists in other fields.

What general advice would you give to an internal medicine physician?

Dr. Eric Ayars

Professor and Chair of Physics, California State University, Chico

There is no one way to success, nor is there one definition of success. At each "fork in the road", look as far down each path as you can, pick the path that seems best given the information you have available, and be content with your decision. It may not be the shortest route to where you thought you were going, or even be the same direction, but roll with it and make the best of wherever it takes you.
ScoreInternal Medicine PhysicianUS Average
Salary
10.0

Avg. Salary $215,014

Avg. Salary $59,228

Stability level
8.9

Growth rate 7%

Growth rate 0.3%

Diversity
1.7
Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 0.17%

Asian 19.16%

Black or African American 5.14%

Hispanic or Latino 9.49%

Unknown 4.45%

White 61.59%

Gender

female 54.25%

male 45.75%

Age - 48
Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 3.00%

Asian 7.00%

Black or African American 14.00%

Hispanic or Latino 19.00%

White 57.00%

Gender

female 47.00%

male 53.00%

Age - 48
Stress level
8.9

Stress level is very high

7.1 - high

Complexity level
9.7

Complexity level is advanced

7 - challenging

Work life balance
5.4

Work life balance is fair

6.4 - fair

What are the pros and cons of being an internal medicine physician?

Pros

  • Variety of work settings available (hospital, clinic, private practice)

  • Opportunities for research and academic pursuits

  • High demand for internal medicine physicians

  • Potential for career advancement and leadership roles

  • Continual learning and professional growth

Cons

  • Risk of burnout and compassion fatigue

  • Exposure to contagious diseases and occupational hazards

  • Potential for malpractice lawsuits

  • Difficulty balancing work and personal life

  • Limited control over healthcare system policies and insurance reimbursement

Internal medicine physician career paths

Key steps to become an internal medicine physician

  1. Explore internal medicine physician education requirements

    Most common internal medicine physician degrees

    Doctorate

    38.3 %

    Bachelor's

    29.1 %

    Certificate

    15.6 %
  2. Start to develop specific internal medicine physician skills

    SkillsPercentages
    Patients40.74%
    Critical Care16.78%
    Epic6.73%
    Family Practice5.14%
    Internal Medicine Practice2.80%
  3. Complete relevant internal medicine physician training and internships

    Accountants spend an average of 1-3 months on post-employment, on-the-job training. New internal medicine physicians learn the skills and techniques required for their job and employer during this time. The chart below shows how long it takes to gain competency as an internal medicine physician based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real internal medicine physician resumes.
  4. Research internal medicine physician duties and responsibilities

    • Rotate in cardiology, pulmonology, gastroenterology, infectious disease, nephrology, hematology, endocrinology, neurology and ICU.
    • Work in ICU, ER, surgery, OB/GYN, and internal medicine.
    • Lecture in the field of geriatrics.
    • Perform injections such as antibiotics, flu shots and hormones.
  5. Prepare your internal medicine physician resume

    When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your internal medicine physician resume.

    You can use Zippia's AI resume builder to make the resume writing process easier while also making sure that you include key information that hiring managers expect to see on an internal medicine physician resume. You'll find resume tips and examples of skills, responsibilities, and summaries, all provided by Zippi, your career sidekick.

    Choose from 10+ customizable internal medicine physician resume templates

    Build a professional internal medicine physician resume in minutes. Browse through our resume examples to identify the best way to word your resume. Then choose from 10+ resume templates to create your internal medicine physician resume.
    Internal Medicine Physician Resume
    Internal Medicine Physician Resume
    Internal Medicine Physician Resume
    Internal Medicine Physician Resume
    Internal Medicine Physician Resume
    Internal Medicine Physician Resume
    Internal Medicine Physician Resume
    Internal Medicine Physician Resume
    Internal Medicine Physician Resume
  6. Apply for internal medicine physician jobs

    Now it's time to start searching for an internal medicine physician job. Consider the tips below for a successful job search:

    1. Browse job boards for relevant postings
    2. Consult your professional network
    3. Reach out to companies you're interested in working for directly
    4. Watch out for job scams

How did you land your first internal medicine physician job

Zippi

Are you an internal medicine physician?

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Average internal medicine physician salary

The average internal medicine physician salary in the United States is $215,014 per year or $103 per hour. Internal medicine physician salaries range between $142,000 and $325,000 per year.

Average internal medicine physician salary
$215,014 Yearly
$103.37 hourly

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Updated January 8, 2025

Zippia Research Team
Zippia Team

Editorial Staff

The Zippia Research Team has spent countless hours reviewing resumes, job postings, and government data to determine what goes into getting a job in each phase of life. Professional writers and data scientists comprise the Zippia Research Team.

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