Becoming a General Internist

Internal medicine physicians are specialists who apply scientific knowledge and clinical expertise to the diagnosis, treatment, and compassionate care of adults across the spectrum from health to complex illness.

1. The general internist is the “quarterback” of care, coordinating a patient’s care among specialists while building life-long relationships with patients.

2. Internists are leading the charge into the future of health care by innovating new health care delivery systems that serve our patients better.

3. Internists are the primary care doctors you turn to throughout the life-cycle, when you’re young and healthy, when you confront health difficulties, and the trusted advisor you turn to after receiving advice from specialists.

GIM Fact Sheet

1. Attain a Doctor of Medicine (MD) or Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine (DO) Degree

2. Undergo at least 3 years of special study and training (called a general internal medicine residency) in a program accredited by the American Council for Graduate Medical Education

Career Options as a General Internist Slide Deck

• Why Aren’t More Primary Care Residents Going into Primary Care? A Qualitative Study 
• Past SGIM Annual Meeting Handouts on General Internal Medicine
• Why I'm Becoming a Primary Care Doctor 
• Upward Creep in Primary Care Slots 
• Where can I find a list of institutions with Divisions of General Internal Medicine? 
• How can I build a research career in General Internal Medicine? 
• Where can I find information about residency and fellowship programs in General Internal Medicine?
• Projecting the Supply and Demand for Primary Care Practitioners through 2020 
• Perspectives of Physicians and Nurse Practitioners on Primary Care Practice 
• Principles supporting dynamic clinical care teams: an American College of Physicians position paper