Internal Medicine
A general internist specializes in the prevention, detection and treatment of illnesses in adults and is not trained in a subspecialty of internal medicine. The general internist is well trained in the diagnosis of puzzling medical problems, in the ongoing care of complex and chronic illnesses, and in caring for patients with more than one disease. Most general internists provide care for their patients in an ambulatory setting (office or outpatient), and some follow their patients when hospitalized (inpatient setting). Other general internists are known as "hospitalists" and care for patients only in the hospital.
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Key Facts
Core Focus: Diagnosis and treatment of adult diseases
Number of Physicians: Very Large (~120,000+)
Training Length: 3 years residency + optional fellowship
Subspecialties: Cardiology, endocrinology, nephrology, infectious diseases
Job Progression: Specialist, academic roles, hospitalist leadership
Gender Distribution: 50% female, 50% male
Job Outlook: Growing
Work Environment: Hospitals, outpatient clinics, academic centers
Patient Relationship: Long-term, especially for chronic conditions
Schedule: Mostly regular, can include inpatient rounds or night call
Common Procedures: Lumbar puncture, paracentesis, central line placement
Residency Length: 3 years
Fellowship Required: No
Average Annual Income: ~$287,000
Average Weekly Hours: 55 hours/week
Burnout Percentage: 48%
Match Competitiveness: Moderate
Common Work Settings: Hospitals, outpatient clinics, academic centers
❤️ Values and Personality Comparison
Internal Medicine Top Values
- Independence
- Taking care of people
- Working with my mind
- Working with people
Internal Medicine Do Not Value
- Working with my hands
🧠 Internal Medicine Personality Traits
- Like complex problem solving
- Become bored with repetitive activity
- Accept long-term outcomes
- Be thinkers rather than 'doers'
- Be thorough and deliberate
- Be interested in people
- Have good listening skills / interested in listening
- Enjoy long-term relationships with people
- Be good coordinators
- Value independence highly
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