Specialist Physicians - What They Do
Specialists in clinical medicine diagnose and treat diseases and physiological or psychiatric disorders and act as consultants to other physicians. Specialists in laboratory medicine study the nature, cause and development of diseases in humans. Specialists in surgery perform and supervise surgical procedures. Specialists in clinical medicine usually work in private practice or in a hospital while those in laboratory medicine and in surgery usually work in hospitals. Residents in training to become specialist physicians are included in this unit group.
Job duties
This group performs some or all of the following duties:
Specialists in clinical medicine
- Diagnose and treat diseases and physiological or psychiatric disorders
- Order laboratory tests, X-rays and other diagnostic procedures
- Prescribe medication and treatment and refer patients for surgery
- Act as consultants to other physicians
- May conduct medical research.
Specialists in laboratory medicine
- Study the nature, cause and development of diseases in humans and the structural and functional changes caused by diseases
- Conduct microscopic and chemical analyses of laboratory samples and specimens
- Supervise laboratory activities
- Act as consultants to other physicians.
Specialists in surgery
- Assess patients' diseases or disorders to determine appropriate surgical procedures
- Perform and supervise surgical procedures to correct physical abnormalities and deficiencies and repair injuries
- Act as consultants to other physicians.
Job titles
- thoracic surgeon
- urologist
- vascular surgeon
- medical biochemist - physician
- cardiac surgeon
- general surgeon
- neurosurgeon
- obstetrician-gynecologist
- ophthalmologist
- orthopedic surgeon
- otorhinolaryngologist
- pediatric surgeon
- plastic surgeon
- anesthetist
- cardiologist
- clinical immunologist-allergist
- dermatologist
- diagnostic radiologist
- emergency physician
- endocrinologist
- gastroenterologist
- geriatrician
- hematologist
- nephrologist
- neurologist
- oncologist
- orthopedist
- pediatrician
- physiatrist
- pneumologist
- radiation oncologist
- psychiatrist
- respirologist
- rheumatologist
- general pathologist
- anatomical pathologist
- hematopathologist
- medical microbiologist
- neuropathologist
This is what you typically need for the job:
Specialist physicians
- A bachelor of science degree or In Quebec, completion of a college program and one year of pre-medicine university studies is usually required.
- Graduation from an approved medical school and specific specialty training are required.
- Completion of the certifying examinations of the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada and Licensing by the provincial or territorial licensing authority are required.
Specialists in clinical medicine
- Four to five years of specialty residency training are required.
- Two years of subspecialty training may also be required.
Specialists in laboratory medicine
- Four to five years of specialty residency training are required.
Specialists in surgery
- Five to six years of specialty residency training are required.
- Two years of subspecialty training may also be required.
Working with Technological Equipment and Machinery
- Using Specialized Instrumentation and Equipment
Service and Care
- Treating People/Animals
Management
- Supervising
Analysis
- Analyzing Information
- Examining and Diagnosing
- Projecting Outcomes
- Researching and Investigating
Communication
- Advising and Consulting
- Interviewing
- Liaising and Networking
- Professional Communicating
- Teaching and Training
Information Handling
- Processing Information
