What does a Physician do?
A Physician diagnoses illnesses and prescribes and administers treatment
for people suffering from injury or disease. Physicians examine patients,
obtain medical histories, and order, perform and interpret diagnostic
tests. Working hours for Physicians can be long and irregular especially
during their training period (residency). During the residency period
a Physician receives training in a chosen specialty such as –
- Anaesthesiologist– administers anaesthesia
- Cardiologist – treats heart disease
- Dermatologist – treats skin conditions
- Emergency Medicine – treats critical care and trauma patients
- Gastroenterologist – treats digestive problems
- Geriatrician – provides care for elderly
- Gynaecologist– treats female reproductive system problems
- Hyperbaric/Wound Care – treats diving accidents and difficult
to heal wound care patients
- Internal Medicine – provides non-surgical medical care to
adults and adolescents
- Nephrologist – treats kidney diseases
- Obstetrician – provides pregnancy care and delivers babies
- Oncologist – treats cancers
- Ophthalmologist – treats eye diseases and injuries
- Orthopedist – treats skeletal problems
- Pathologist – interprets disease in tissues
- Pediatrician – provides care for children
- Plastic Surgeon – repairs, restores or improves lost, injured
or defective body parts
- Psychiatrist – treats mental, emotional and behavioural disorders
- Radiologist – uses imaging techniques in the diagnosis and
treatment of diseases
- Surgeon – performs operations
- Urologist – treats urinary problems
What qualifications and experience does the hospital require?
- Students should take the most challenging high school courses available
in Science, Math, and English to ensure entrance to undergraduate
courses.
- 4-year medical bachelors’ degree.
- Post-graduate medical education course normally around 2 years.
- 3-8
years (dependant on specialty selected) internship/residency in
a hospital setting.