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Subspecialty Careers: General Internal Medicine
Subspecialty Careers: General Internal Medicine
The Discipline
Internal medicine is a specialty that relies on the basic sciences
and a diverse breadth of knowledge to form the foundation for a
successful career in a variety of fields, including general
internal medicine, hospital medicine, or any of the internal
medicine subspecialties. Specialists in general internal medicine
("general internists") are crucial in filling a vital need in our
health care system, serving as the primary or principal providers
of care in outpatient (ambulatory) and /or inpatient (hospital)
settings.
General internists handle the broad and comprehensive spectrum of illnesses that affect adults, and are recognized as experts in diagnosis, in treatment of chronic illness, and in health promotion and disease prevention-they are not limited to one type of medical problem or organ system.
Procedures
Common procedures for general internists include lumbar puncture,
joint aspiration and injection, central venous line placement,
paracentesis and thoracentesis.
Training
After successful completion of medical school, those interested in
becoming an internist will enter a residency program. Residency in
internal medicine usually lasts three years, and residents work in
a variety of settings, including university hospitals, community
teaching hospitals, hospital outpatient clinics, and community
physicians' offices. Residents assume progressive responsibility as
they acquire various skills in treating hospitalized patients and
gain competency in ambulatory care. The broad experience provided
by three years of internal medicine residency provides the
necessary training for practice as a general internist. For general
internists who are interested in an academic career that includes a
research component, a number of academic medical centers also offer
general internal medicine fellowships following residency
training.
Training Positions
For the 2011-2012 academic year, there are 381 ACGME-accredited
training programs with 23,034 trainees. Last year, there were 380
ACGME-accredited training programs in General Internal Medicine
with 22,925 active positions. Forty-four percent of the trainees
were female and 48% were U.S. medical graduates.
Certification
The American Board of Internal Medicine (ABIM) offers certification
for physicians interested in pursuing the field of internal
medicine.
Major Professional Societies
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American College of Physicians
190 N. Independence Mall West
Philadelphia, PA 19106-1572
Phone: 215.351.2400
Web site: www.acponline.org
Major Publications
Have questions about training and careers in internal medicine? Search the ACP Mentoring Database to find an internal medicine physician who can answer your questions.