Medical doctor vs public health physician

The differences between medical doctors 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 medical doctor and a public health physician. Additionally, a public health physician has an average salary of $199,316, which is higher than the $181,967 average annual salary of a medical doctor.

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

Medical doctor vs public health physician overview

	Medical Doctor	Public Health Physician
Yearly salary	$181,967	$199,316
Hourly rate	$87.48	$95.83
Growth rate	7%	7%
Number of jobs	60,642	93,090
Job satisfaction	-	-
Most common degree	Doctoral Degree, 56%	Bachelor's Degree, 31%
Average age	48	48
Years of experience	4	4

What does a medical doctor do?

A Medical Doctor, also known as a physician, is a healthcare professional who diagnoses and treats patients from injuries and illnesses. As a Medical Doctor, your day-to-day duties will typically include assessing a patient's symptoms, prescribing and administering treatment to patients, and providing follow-up medical care to patients. You will be responsible for interpreting patients' laboratory results and referring them to other providers when needed. Also, you will need to work closely with other healthcare professionals and promote health education.

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.

Medical doctor vs public health physician salary

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

	Medical Doctor	Public Health Physician
Average salary	$181,967	$199,316
Salary range	Between $95,000 And $347,000	Between $103,000 And $382,000
Highest paying City	Brownsville, TX	Santa Ana, CA
Highest paying state	New Jersey	California
Best paying company	Pacific Medical Centers	Alameda Health System
Best paying industry	Transportation	Health Care

Differences between medical doctor and public health physician education

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

	Medical Doctor	Public Health Physician
Most common degree	Doctoral Degree, 56%	Bachelor's Degree, 31%
Most common major	Medicine	Medicine
Most common college	Duke University	University of Virginia

Medical doctor vs public health physician demographics

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

	Medical Doctor	Public Health Physician
Average age	48	48
Gender ratio	Male, 46.9% Female, 53.1%	Male, 32.1% Female, 67.9%
Race ratio	Black or African American, 5.3% Unknown, 4.5% Hispanic or Latino, 9.9% Asian, 19.0% White, 61.2% 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 medical doctor and public health physician duties and responsibilities

Medical doctor example responsibilities.

Partner with team to achieve overall well-being patients and contribute to successful department research accreditation.
Perform selection and interpretation of labs including EKG readings, diagnostic imaging, blood work, and urinalyses.
Batch to clearing house, upload files from insurance, data entry answer phones, collect payments over phone, EMR.
Examine patients, order laboratory test and other diagnostic procedures and follow up with acute and chronic diseases
Provide overall quality prenatal health care, gynecological services, patient triage, refer patients with complications, provide patient education service
Perform and interpret ECG test.

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.

Medical doctor vs public health physician skills

Common medical doctor skills

Patients, 30%
Patient Care, 9%
Internal Medicine, 7%
Primary Care, 7%
Diagnosis, 4%
Medical History, 4%

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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Medical Doctor vs Public Health Physician

Updated January 8, 2025

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