What does a Doctor do?
Published 3 min read
A doctor is a medical professional who treats patients for their illnesses.
Doctor job duties include:
- Examines patients and takes their medical histories
- Orders and interprets diagnostic tests
- Makes diagnoses when patients have common illnesses
- Provides treatments for common illnesses and injuries
- Refers patients to specialists when necessary
- Counsels patients on diet, exercise, and hygiene
- Educates patients and their families on preventive care
- Admits patients to the hospital when necessary
- Makes rounds to check on patients in the hospital
Doctor Job Requirements
A Doctor is required to have a minimum of an MD degree from an accredited medical school. They must also be certified by the American Board of Medical Specialties in their specialty area. In addition, Doctors must have completed a residency program and have at least 3 years of experience.
Doctor Skills
- Listening
- Empathy
- Communication
- Critical thinking
- Observation
- Patience
- Detail oriented
- Problem solving
- Multi-tasking
- Stress management
- Flexibility
Related: Top Doctor Skills: Definition and Examples
How to become a Doctor
There are many steps to becoming a doctor. The first step is to get a bachelor’s degree. A student must then attend medical school and complete a residency program. After completing a residency program, a doctor must obtain a license to practice medicine.
The first step to becoming a doctor is to get a bachelor’s degree. A student must complete an undergraduate program at a college or university. During their undergraduate years, students take classes such as biology, chemistry, and physics. These classes provide the foundation for medical knowledge. In addition to academic coursework, students also participate in clinical experiences. Clinical experiences expose students to patients and allow them to begin developing skills such as taking histories and performing physical examinations.
After completing an undergraduate program, students must attend medical school. Medical school lasts four years. During the first two years of medical school, students take classes such as anatomy, physiology, and biochemistry. These classes provide students with the basic knowledge necessary to understand the human body and disease processes. The last two years of medical school are spent completing clinical rotations in various specialties such as surgery, pediatrics, and psychiatry. These rotations allow students to gain hands-on experience caring for patients.
After graduating from medical school, students must complete a residency program. Residency programs last three to seven years depending on the specialty chosen. During residency, doctors receive training in their chosen specialty area. They also learn how to manage patients with chronic illnesses and how to perform procedures such as surgeries and deliveries.
After completing a residency program, doctors must obtain a license to practice medicine. In order to be licensed, doctors must pass exams that test their knowledge of medicine. Once licensed, doctors can begin practicing medicine in hospitals, clinics, or private practices.
Related: Doctor Resume Example