Physician
Career Description
Physicians diagnose, treat and work to prevent human illness, disease or injury. They perform many functions, including but not limited to patient examinations, analyses of patient histories and interpretation of diagnostic tests. Physicians use accepted methods of medical treatment, including pharmaceutical agents and surgical procedures. There are two types of physicians: allopathic physicians, better known as M.D.s (medical doctor), and osteopathic physicians, better known as D.O.s (doctor of osteopathic medicine). Although both M.D.s and D.O.s are physicians who may specialize, perform surgery and prescribe medication, they differ in their health care philosophies and attend separate training schools. Osteopathic physicians (D.O.) believe musculoskeletal manipulation is the key to patient diagnosis and treatment. D.O.s relate the supportive structures of the body, such as bones, muscles, ligaments and nerves, to body function.
Annual Salary
| Entry: $40,830 | Mean: $114,920 | Experienced: $151,944 |
| Source: Missouri Economic Research and Information Center, November 2004 | ||
Hourly Wage
| Entry: $19.63 | Mean: $55.25 | Experienced: $73.05 |
| Source: Missouri Economic Research and Information Center, November 2004 | ||
Academic Requirements
Students seeking a medical degree usually obtain a bachelor’s degree and must submit Medical College Admission Test (MCAT) scores, along with transcripts from undergraduate institutions. Competition is fierce for admission to the 125 allopathic medical schools in the United States, where a four-year curriculum is followed by a three- to eight-year residency, depending on the doctor’s area of specialization. Doctors are licensed by the state after passing an examination.
Schools
Kansas City University of Medicine & Biosciences
800/234-4847
University of Kansas School of Medicine (Kansas City, Kan.)
913/588-5200
University of Missouri-Kansas City
816/235-1700
Professional Associations
National
American Association of Colleges of Osteopathic Medicine
American Medical Association
American Osteopathic Association
Association of American Medical Colleges
State
Metropolitan Medical Society of Kansas City
Missouri Association for Osteopathic Physicians and Surgeons
Missouri State Board of Registration for the Healing Arts
Missouri State Medical Association
