I first look at my schedule for the day and note how many meetings I have. Then I go to my office and start seeing patients. I see patients three days a week and have internal meetings with my staff two days a week. I also have meetings with sales reps, which often happen during lunch. I'll see more patients until around 6 p.m. I have more meetings from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. and fit in dinner whenever I can. I spend a couple of hours with my family and then cap off the night by responding to emails.
CAREER
Family Medicine Physicians
Overview
Salary Median (2020)
$207,380
Projected Job Growth (2019-2029)
+6.1% (as fast as the average)
Most Common Level of Education
Doctoral or professional degree
Career
Roadtrip Nation Leaders in This Career
What Family Medicine Physicians Do
Physicians who diagnose, treat, and help prevent diseases and injuries that commonly occur in the general population. May refer patients to specialists when needed for further diagnosis or treatment.
Other Job Titles Family Medicine Physicians May Have
Board Certified Family Physician, Family Medicine Physician, Family Physician, Family Practice Medical Doctor (FP MD), Family Practice Physician (FP Physician), Family Practitioner, Medical Doctor (MD), Medical Staff Physician, Physician, Primary Care Physician
How Leaders Describe a Typical Day at Work
As a doctor, I look at the list of patients I have scheduled for the day to prepare for the conditions and challenges I may face. I have to review their histories prior to meeting with them so I can speak knowledgeably and be efficient. I interview and examine the patients. Sometimes I perform procedures for them. I order studies, diagnose and prescribe medications and treatments as needed. As a Department Head of Family Medicine in my clinic, I will also perform many administrative duties.
Tasks & Responsibilities May Include
- Prescribe or administer treatment, therapy, medication, vaccination, and other specialized medical care to treat or prevent illness, disease, or injury.
- Order, perform, and interpret tests and analyze records, reports, and examination information to diagnose patients' condition.
- Collect, record, and maintain patient information, such as medical history, reports, or examination results.
- Monitor patients' conditions and progress and reevaluate treatments as necessary.
- Explain procedures and discuss test results or prescribed treatments with patients.
Education
Level of Education Attained by Family Medicine Physicians
Most common level of education among people in
this career: Doctoral or professional degree (100%)
Master's degree
Doctoral or professional degree
Majors Related to Career
Educational Paths Suggested by Leaders
Suggested Path
Bachelor
Behavioral Neuroscience
Suggested Path
High School
Graduate
MD
Additional Skills & Experiences That Can Help You Excel
Hard work and integrity go hand-in-hand with being a doctor. The rest of your skills, experience, and education can be learned in medical school, but hard work and integrity are critical characteristics for a doctor to enter this field with and maintain throughout.
Any health-related skills: phlebotomy, EMS, research, community service, another language (especially Spanish).
Getting Started
Recommended First Step for:
High School Students
Deciding you want to become a doctor. The earlier the better as it helps you organize a plan of study and preparation which can make it a little more smoother process.
Commitment. A life in Medicine is a life of sacrifice, and as a foreign doctor, I came to realize that is very dependent on the place you practice. If you are thinking about it, ask yourself if you have the passion for it, that comes as a form of feeling for most of us, if you don't love this and don't feel passionate about the idea of it, you won't be successful.
College Students
Everyone
This page includes information from theO*NET 26.1 Databaseby the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under theCC BY 4.0license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA.
