Internal Medicine

Internal Medicine: a physician who provides long-term care in both the office and hospital, who manages basic and complex illnesses of adolescents, adults and the elderly.

They are trained in the basics of primary care which includes having a sound understanding of disease prevention, wellness, substance abuse, mental health and treating common ailments of the eyes, ears, skin, nervous and reproductive systems.

Quick Facts

Competitiveness: low to moderate

Length of training: 3 years

Number of residency programs: 390

Number in U.S. currently Board Certified in specialty: 153,743

First year median compensation: $120,000

Mean number of hours per week in patient care activities: 52.9

Residency Information

The residency training period for internal medicine is 3 years. After completing this residency it is possible to gain additional training in over 17 subspecialties.

Why Choose

Many physicians are attracted to the specialty because of the variety of diseases which they encounter on a daily basis. Many of these doctors were also positively influenced by their medical school professors and peers, which they describe as great role models.

Typical Schedule

The day generally begins and ends with hospital rounds, where internist are checking in on their patients. In this specialty you are primarily office-based and will work about 10 to 12 hours each day. Your on-call schedule will vary depending on the particulars of your practice.

Your patient population will be mostly adults and more likely elderly patients who have multiple chronic illnesses.

If You're Interested

One good piece of advice for this specialty is to care for as many patients as possible while in medical school, so that you gain a better understanding of the diversity of practicing this type of medicine. You will also want to take electives in cardiac, pulmonary, and critical care because these systems will make up the foundation of your career. Lastly, be comfortable and actually have an appreciation for caring for older people.

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