I am a

student

institution

career professional

Breaking News

I Want to Become

Doctor

Doctors or Physicians examine patients; take medical histories; prescribe medications; and order, perform, and interpret diagnostic tests. They often counsel patients on diet, hygiene, and preventive healthcare.


Doctor

doctor is a professional who practices medicine, which is concerned with promoting, maintaining, or restoring human health through the study, diagnosis, and treatment of disease, injury, and other physical and mental impairments.

Doctors may focus their practice on certain disease categories, types of patients, or methods of treatment known as specialist medical practitioners or assume responsibility for the provision of continuing and comprehensive medical care to individuals, families, and communities known as general practitioners.

Medical practice properly requires both a detailed knowledge of the academic disciplines (such as anatomy and physiology) underlying diseases and their treatment—the science of medicine—and also a decent competence in its applied practice—the art or craft of medicine.

Also known as: Physician, Medical officer

Duties

Doctors typically do the following:

1. Take a patient’s medical history

2. Update charts and patient information to show current findings and treatments

3. Order tests for nurses or other healthcare staff to perform

4. Review test results to identify any abnormal findings

5. Recommend and design a plan of treatment

6. Address concerns or answer questions that patients have about their health and well-being

7. Help patients take care of their health by discussing topics such as proper nutrition and hygiene.

Important Qualities

Communication skills. Physicians need to be excellent communicators. They must be able to communicate effectively with their patients and other healthcare support staff.

Compassion. Physicians deal with patients who are sick or injured and may be in extreme pain or distress. Physicians and surgeons must be able to treat patients and their families with compassion and understanding.

Detail oriented. Physicians must ensure that patients are receiving appropriate treatment and medications. They must also monitor and record various pieces of information related to patient care.

Dexterity. Physicians must be good at working with their hands. They work with very precise and sometimes sharp tools, and mistakes can have serious consequences.

Leadership skills. Physicians who work in their own practice need to be effective leaders. They must be able to manage a staff of other professionals to run their practice.

Organizational skills. Some physicians own their own practice. Strong organizational skills, including good recordkeeping, are critical in both medical and business settings.

Patience. Physicians may work for long periods with patients who need special attention. Children and adult patients who fear medical treatment may require more patience.

Physical stamina. Physicians should be comfortable performing physical tasks, such as lifting or turning disabled patients. Surgeons may spend a great deal of time bending over patients during surgery.

Problem-solving skills. Physicians need to evaluate patients’ symptoms and administer the appropriate treatments. They often need to do this quickly in order to save a patient’s life.

Key Knowledge Areas

Medicine and Dentistry — Knowledge of the information and techniques needed to diagnose and treat human injuries, diseases, and deformities. This includes symptoms, treatment alternatives, drug properties and interactions, and preventive health-care measures.

Biology — Knowledge of plant and animal organisms, their tissues, cells, functions, interdependencies, and interactions with each other and the environment.

Psychology — Knowledge of human behavior and performance; individual differences in ability, personality, and interests; learning and motivation; psychological research methods; and the assessment and treatment of behavioral and affective disorders.

English Language — Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.

Therapy and Counseling — Knowledge of principles, methods, and procedures for diagnosis, treatment, and rehabilitation of physical and mental dysfunctions, and for career counseling and guidance.

Customer and Personal Service — Knowledge of principles and processes for providing customer and personal services. This includes customer needs assessment, meeting quality standards for services, and evaluation of customer satisfaction.

Education and Training — Knowledge of principles and methods for curriculum and training design, teaching and instruction for individuals and groups, and the measurement of training effects.

Computers and Electronics — Knowledge of circuit boards, processors, chips, electronic equipment, and computer hardware and software, including applications and programming.

Sociology and Anthropology — Knowledge of group behavior and dynamics, societal trends and influences, human migrations, ethnicity, cultures and their history and origins.

Chemistry — Knowledge of the chemical composition, structure, and properties of substances and of the chemical processes and they undergo. This includes uses of chemicals and their interactions, danger signs, production techniques, and disposal methods

Medical specialties and subspecialties for doctors

The following specialists are some of the most common examples:

1. Allergists (specialists in diagnosing and treating hay fever and other allergies)

2. Cardiologists (heart specialists)

3. Dermatologists (skin specialists)

4. Gastroenterologists (digestive system specialists)

5. Ophthalmologists (eye specialists)

6. Pathologists (specialists who study body tissue to see if it is normal or abnormal)

7. Radiologists (specialists who review and interpret x-ray pictures and deliver radiation treatments for cancer and other illnesses)

Companies that hire
  • Indian Government Scholarships for 2024-2025 Academic Year Study in India on Full Scholarship
    Know more
  • Government Allied Health Training Institutions in Uganda Licensed Government Allied Health Training Institutions
    Know more
  • Government Nursing and Midwifery Training Institutions offering Diploma and Certificate Programs Licensed Government Institutions
    Know more
  • Ministry of Education And Sports United Kingdom Common Wealth Scholarships 2024-2025 Masters and Phd Scholarships
    Know more
  • JAB Admission to other tertiary institutions in Uganda for academic year 2023-2024 on government sponsorship Government Sponsored students for other Tertiary Institition
    Know more
  • Makerere University and Makerere University Business School Private Sponsorship Admission List 2023-2024 Private Sponsorship
    Know more
  • 2023 Uganda Nursing Schools Interviews For Admissions Into Certificates Programs Suitable candidates are invited to attend ORAL interviews into CERTIFICATE programs in Health Training Institutions
    Know more
  • Ministry of Education and Sports Algerian Government Scholarships Scheme for 2023-2024 Academic Year Study in Algeria on Full Scholarship
    Know more
  • African Palliative Care Education Scholarship Fund Scholarship for Nurses, Social Workers, Physiotherapists
    Know more
  • Master of Medicine (MMed), scholarship opportunity at Mbarara University of Science and Technology Apply for the First Mile Program
    Know more
  • 2023-24 GSK Scholarships for Future Health Leaders Scholarship to study a Masters at the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine
    Know more
  • DAAD Masters of Science in International Health Scholarships 2023-2024 Applications for the Masters of Science in International Health Programme  at the University of Heidelberg and Charité Berlin with scholarship funding from the DAAD EPOS programme are open until 15 Oct 2022.
    Know more
  • Ugandan Doctor Wins 2 billion shillings for research Dr Kwizera is doing the respiratory failure research
    Know more
  • Commonwealth Distance Learning Scholarships 2022 at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine Full Scholarships for Distance Learning
    Know more
  • Merch Foundation Call for Application for Scholarships in Critically Underserved Specialties for Medical Graduates Postgraduate Scholarships in the Medical Field
    Know more
  • INTERVIEWS FOR ADMISSION INTO POST-BASIC HEALTH TRAINING INSTITUTIONS FOR ACADEMIC YEAR 2020-2021 ORAL interviews for admission into Post-Basic Health Training Institutions
    Know more
  • INTERVIEWS FOR ADMISSIONS INTO CERTIFICATE PROGRAMS IN HEALTH TRAINING INSTITUTIONS 2020-2021 ORAL interviews into CERTIFICATE programs in Health Training Institutions
    Know more
  • Commonwealth Medical Fellowships 2020 for Students in Developing Countries The UK Department for International Development (DFID) funds the 2020 Commonwealth Medical Fellowships for mid-career medical staff from developing countries
    Know more
  • These 9 African healthcare startups have raised at least $1M in total venture funding Amazing innovations in the health sciences to watch out for
    Know more
  • Makerere researchers design Ebola test Innovations amidst adversity
    Know more
  • Ugandans invent technology that diagnoses pneumonia faster than any doctor Necessity is the mother of Invention
    Know more
  • Meet first Ugandan pharmacist to hold patent Innovations in Health Care
    Know more
  • Extension of deadline of call for student loan application academic year starting 2016 Another opportunity to make it to University for your dream course
    Know more
  • Mom Inspires Daughter To Be A Doctor Who Really Makes People Better Helping HIV people cope with depression
    Know more
Draw Inspiration from time tested individuals
  • A Day In The Life Of a Medical Intern
    Watch Interview
  • Meet Dr Nandi, The Founder of The Clinic At The Mall
    Watch Interview
  • Meet Dr Gladys Atto, Uganda's Doctor of the year 2023
    Watch Interview
  • Meet Juliet Nalwanga, Uganda’s first female neurosurgeon
    Watch Interview
  • Grazing goats inspired Innocent to pursue a career in Medicine and Surgery
    Watch Interview
  • Meet Joyce Wamala, A 4th Year Medicine student at Makerere poised to make a difference in Mental Health
    Watch Interview
  • Despite hardships in the health sector, Mutono Samson is determined to stay
    Watch Interview
  • Responding to the noble Call to save lives, Meet Dr Ssemuwemba Mark
    Watch Interview
Careers that are in the same career field as Doctor
Online Training in Health Science

Trending Opportunities

Did this page help you? Yes No Feedback

Don't let your career dreams wait. Join our Career Mentorship Program