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3 Health occupations > Specialist Physicians (NOC 3111)

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Specialist Physicians (NOC 3111)


Description

This unit group includes specialist physicians in clinical medicine, in laboratory medicine and in surgery. 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.

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Example Titles

Specialists in clinical medicine:

  • anesthetist
  • cardiologist
  • clinical immunologist-allergist
  • dermatologist
  • diagnostic radiologist
  • emergency physician
  • endocrinologist
  • gastroenterologist
  • geriatrician
  • hematologist
  • nephrologist
  • neurologist
  • oncologist
  • orthopedist
  • pneumologist
  • pediatrician
  • physiatrist
  • psychiatrist
  • radiation oncologist
  • respirologist
  • rheumatologist

Specialists in laboratory medicine:

  • anatomical pathologist
  • general pathologist
  • hematopathologist
  • medical biochemist
  • medical microbiologist
  • neuropathologist

Specialists in surgery:

  • cardiac surgeon
  • general surgeon
  • neurosurgeon
  • obstetrician-gynaecologist
  • ophthalmologist
  • orthopedic surgeon
  • otolaryngologist
  • pediatric surgeon
  • plastic surgeon
  • thoracic surgeon
  • urologist
  • vascular surgeon

      >> View all titles

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Classified Elsewhere

  • Chiropractors (3122)
  • General Practitioners and Family Physicians (3112)
  • Managers in Health Care (0311)
  • Naturopathic physicians and osteopathic physicians (in 3123 Other Professional Occupations in Health Diagnosing and Treating)

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Duties

Specialists in clinical medicine perform some or all of the following duties:

  • 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 perform some or all of the following duties:

  • 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 perform some or all of the following duties:

  • 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.

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Skills

Specialist physicians need the following skills and abilities:

Essential skills:

  • ability to relate well to a wide range of people and gain their confidence
  • ability to work independently and as a member of a team
  • good problem-solving and decision-making skills
  • emotional stability, maturity, integrity, reliability, and realistic self appraisal
  • ability to cope with stressful situations
  • physical stamina and manual dexterity
  • good listening and observational skills
  • good verbal and written communication skills
  • knowledge of computers

Technical skills:

  • supervisory skills in directing and instructing staff
  • administrative skills such as basic accounting, human resources and materials management may be required for physicians operating their own offices

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Employment Requirements

  • In Manitoba, following a medical degree from an approved medical school a specialty residency training program, which may vary in duration usually from 4-6 years (these are paid positions), is required. Some specialties may also require an additional 2 years of subspecialty training.
  • The College of Physicians and Surgeons of Manitoba is the licensing and regulatory body in Manitoba. To obtain a full license, all applicants must hold a license from the Medical Council of Canada. In addition, specialist physicians must hold a separate certificate from the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada in their area of specialization, and family physicians must hold a separate certificate from the College of Family Physicians of Canada.

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Terms & Conditions

Specialist physicians work in hospitals, clinics, laboratories, medical offices, and/or universities depending on their specialty and interest. Most work long irregular hours and may travel frequently between office and hospital to look after their patients. Specialist physicians often combine two or more roles where the work settings are quite different, such as patient care, research, and teaching. Although they work in controlled environments, they may be exposed to infectious agents.

In Manitoba, the majority of professionals in this group work full time (91%). There is a slighter higher percentage of women in specialty positions than in general practice. More than half of this group (55%) is self employed.

Specialist physicians are compensated for their services in different ways. The majority are paid on a contract or fee-for-service basis; however, some derive a portion or all of their income from salaried employment.

Incomes vary greatly depending on factors such as: specialization, contractual agreements, number of hours worked, location, number of years in practice, and the cost of operating a clinic or office. Due to the scope and type of employment during the resident phase (mandatory training and education phase), the potential compensation is narrower than for fully licensed specialist physicians. The average annual starting wage for residents and interns is approximately $45,000 to $50,000.

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Earnings

$166,400 per annum - starting

$240,100 per annum - average

$313,700 per annum - high

Earnings are reviewed annually or more frequently if new information becomes available.

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Education / Training

The University of Manitoba, Faculty of Medicine, offers a Doctor of Medicine M.D. program (3 or 4 year undergraduate degree, 4 year Doctor of Medicine Program, 2-8 years residency program), http://www.umanitoba.ca/medicine/ :

  • The Doctor of Medicine program is a quota program, therefore not all applicants that fulfill entrance requirements are accepted.
  • To apply to the medical school program students must have any 3-year or honours undergraduate degree. There are several courses that students are required to have in order to be considered for the program including, English, Biochemistry, and for students applying with a 3-year degree, social sciences and humanities courses.
  • All Applicants must take the Medical College Admissions Test (MCAT) before applying to any medical program. A personal interview is also required by most medical schools prior to admission.
  • Following the undergraduate degree, the Doctor of Medicine M.D, program is 4 years.
  • A residency program, through the College of Family Physicians of Canada or The Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada, between 2-8 years is required.
  • The University of Manitoba offers the Special Pre-Medical Studies Program (SPSP). This is a two to four year program preparing Aboriginal students for entrance into medical, dental, pharmacy, physiotherapy or occupational therapy programs.
  • Manitoba residents of Aboriginal ancestry are invited to apply to Medicine at the University of Manitoba through the special consideration category.

Most universities in Manitoba offer pre-professional programs:

  • Brandon University, Canadian Mennonite University, University of Manitoba, Continuing Education Division, and the University of Winnipeg offer Pre-professional programs in Medicine.

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Career Paths

Students in general medicine may develop an interest in a particular specialty or even a specific area within a specialty. Specialists do not often change fields.

Specialist physicians may work in clinical practice or in medical research. Specialists find employment with hospitals, community health centres, clinics, medical laboratories, or in private practice.

With experience, specialist physicians may progress to management positions, such as director of laboratory medicine or chief of surgery, or to executive positions in clinics, hospitals or research institutions.

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Outlook

Employment prospects for specialist physicians are expected to be good in the period 2010-2014. Employment in Manitoba in 2010 is estimated at 1,125. There are reported shortages of specialist physicians in various fields. Some specialty areas experiencing shortages are anaesthesia, psychiatry, radiology, and radiation oncology and orthopaedics.

An aging population and technological advances contributes to increasing the need for health services as patients expect high levels of care using the latest technologies, diagnostic tests, and therapies. Technological advances have created a need for highly trained specialized physicians. Specialist physicians tend to concentrate in urban areas.

A doctor retention program has been in existence in Manitoba since 2001 to help retain physicians once their medical training is completed. The Educational Assistance program is designed to encourage new medical graduates to practice in Manitoba by providing a financial incentive during medical training. Conditional grants are available to medical students in their third and fourth years as well as medical specialty residents. Upon completion of their residency program, they are required to work for one full year in Manitoba. The province also offers an enhanced Practice Assistance program for graduates of a Manitoba medical residency program or Manitoba medical graduates who have completed an approved postgraduate medical training program in another Canadian province and set up practice in Manitoba.

The northern physician placement initiative was developed to provide financial incentives to medical students and residents who must subsequently return service by establishing a family medicine practice in a designated area.

In addition to the medical student financial assistance program, the provincial government has introduced a specialist recruitment program that offers a $15,000 signing bonus to specialists who come to Manitoba. The program has been able to attract specialist physicians to practise in the province. As Manitoba is in competition with other provinces in attempting to recruit more specialist physicians, a continuing demand is forecast over the next four years.

Specialist physicians are located throughout the Province, although employment is concentrated in Winnipeg. Almost all jobs are in the Health Care and Social Assistance sector, with the remainder in Public Administration.

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Employment by Age Group

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Employment by Industry

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Employment by Region

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Employment by Gender

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Employment by Aboriginal Self-Identification

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Employment by Visible Minority

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Please Note - The source for above charts is the 2006 Census.



Professional Associations, Unions, and Regulatory Bodies...

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Other Related Information...

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Service Canada Province of Manitoba