A physician is concerned primarily with the diagnosis and treatment of disorders, including diseases and injuries. They may also be responsible for the supervision of other medical staff, but the majority of the time they will be dealing with patients.
A large number of people in this profession work in private practices where they will come face to face with a variety of health problems. It is their job to diagnose and treat the patient or to refer them to a specialist. Others will find jobs in hospitals. The majority of physicians end up choosing an area of medicine in which to specialize, such as surgery, psychiatry, ophthalmology or dermatology.
Those wishing to pursue a career as a physician will need to obtain a primary degree, preferably in the sciences, and then a medical degree. This is then followed by a number of years’ residency in a hospital where further training is given. The profession is hard work but can be diverse and extremely rewarding. There are also the opportunities to move into research or teaching. Pay levels vary but average out at around C
$170,000 per year.