General Practitioner By: Fernanda Garcia-Juarez

Why do I want to become a general practitioner?  Becoming a general practitioner has always been a dream of mine because I would someday want to be able to help people with their health. It is something that just really grabs my attention and interests me a lot.

What is a general practitioner?  A general practitioner is doctor who listens to the patients describe their health problems, and performs tests to determine what is wrong with the patient. They also prescribe the patient medicine and/or treatment required to improve their health.

Education  The student must have completed four years of school at an undergraduate college or university. By the end of the four years the student should have completed enough courses to obtain their Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor of Science degree.  After completing the first four years of college the student must take the Medical College Admission Test, or MCAT, in order to be accepted into a medical school.  After having been accepted into a medical school, the student must now complete 4 additional years of education at one of the medical schools of the U.S.  The student must then complete 2 to 3 years of residency (training).

Job Description  Most general practitioners see patients in a medical office.  General practitioners spend the majority of their work hours caring for patients and evaluating their health.  Patients visit a general practitioner when they have a new symptom, need care for any condition, are injured or are seeking preventive care.  Many physicians are also able to provide prenatal care and deliver babies, especial in rural or and international areas.  Regardless of the reason for the patient’s visit, a general practitioner will ask many questions in order to evaluate the overall health of the patient.  The practitioner may then create what is called a genogram in order to collect information of all of the factors that contribute to a patient’s condition.

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