Careers in Medicine: Specialty Information

Family Medicine

Nature of the work

A family physician is concerned with the total health care of the individual and the family and is trained to diagnose and treat a wide variety of ailments in patients of all ages. The family physician receives a broad range of training that includes adult medicine and care of the aged, the care of children, women's health, maternity care, preventive medicine, and behavioral science. Special emphasis is placed on the primary care of families, utilizing consultants, and community resources when appropriate.¹

Family physicians can receive training in the following subspecialties:

• Adolescent Medicine- a family physician with multidisciplinary training the unique physical, psychological, and social characteristics of adolescents and their healthcare problems and needs.
• Geriatric Medicine - special knowledge of the aging process and special skills in the diagnostic, therapeutic, preventive and rehabilitative aspects of illness in the elderly.
• Hospice and Palliative Medicine - prevent and relieve the suffering experienced by patients with life-limiting illnesses.
• Sleep Medicine - diagnoses and manages the clinical conditions that occur during sleep, that disturb sleep or that are affected by disturbances.
• Sports Medicine - trained to be responsible for continuous care related to the enhancement of health and fitness as well as the prevention of injury and illness.

Training/residency information

The residency training for family practice is three years. An additional year of training is required to be certified in a subspecialty.

Salary information

The annual salary ranges from approximately $150,763 to $204,370.²

For more information

• American Board of Family Medicine
• American Academy of Family Physicians
• American Geriatrics Society
• American College of Sports Medicine

References
1 The American Board of Medical Specialties. Guide to Physician Specialties. Evanston, IL: American Board of Medical Specialties; February 2008.
2 2008 Physician Compensation Survey [special feature]. Modern Healthcare. July 14, 2008: 28-32.

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