Physician
Save Lives Daily
Practice Advanced Medicine
Lead Clinical Decisions
Undergraduate
Graduate
Doctor of Medicine, Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine
Post-Graduate
No degrees available
This is the educational pathway. There may be additional tests or licensure requirements necessary before begining to practice in the field. Consult your state guidelines for more. information.
Popular Titles
Core Areas of Impact
Is this career right for you?
What is the role of a physician?
A physician is a licensed medical doctor who diagnoses illnesses, prescribes treatment, performs procedures, and manages patient care across a wide range of medical conditions.
What does a typical day look like?
A typical day includes evaluating patients, ordering and interpreting diagnostic tests, prescribing medications, performing procedures depending on specialty, documenting care, and coordinating with healthcare teams.
Where do physicians work?
Physicians work in hospitals, private practices, outpatient clinics, specialty centers, and academic medical institutions.
What are the common job titles and career paths?
Common roles include Primary Care Physician, Pediatrician, and Surgeon. Career paths may lead to subspecialty practice, hospital leadership, research, or academic teaching.
Who is this career a good fit for?
This career suits individuals who are strong in science, resilient, decisive under pressure, and committed to long-term medical training.
What are the biggest rewards of this career?
Rewards include high earning potential, strong professional autonomy, leadership in patient care decisions, and meaningful impact on health outcomes.
What does long-term growth look like?
Long-term growth may include subspecialization, leadership within healthcare systems, private practice ownership, or academic and research positions.
What is the educational pathway to become a physician?
To become a physician, you must complete a bachelor’s degree with required pre-med science coursework, attend medical school to earn a Doctor of Medicine or Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine degree, complete a residency program in a chosen specialty, and obtain state medical licensure. Many physicians also complete fellowship training for subspecialization and obtain board certification.
Sara Schenirer offers a comprehensive Pre-Med Track within the BA in Psychology that embeds common pre-med prerequisites such as biology, chemistry, physics, and related sciences. This structured undergraduate pathway accelerates preparation for competitive medical school applications.
The standard pathway is completion of undergraduate pre-med requirements, graduation from medical school, residency training, and state licensure.
