Types of Practices

Family physician practices vary greatly depending upon location and the interest of each individual physician.  Some doctors focus more on adults, some on children, and some on obstetrics.  However, all continue to utilize the skills and wide breadth of knowledge gained from their training.  For example, about 25% of family doctors practice obstetrics, but all use our OB knowledge when caring for patients who are pregnant, or when caring for newborns, or counseling couples on fertility issues.
 
Many family physicians have areas of special interest, such as HIV care, ADHD care, international health or women’s health.  A doctor’s area of interest may change over time or due to change in patient population.
 
There are several areas where formal fellowships can be completed: geriatrics, adolescent medicine, and sports medicine, to name a few.  There are also dual boarding programs such as Family Medicine and Psychiatry.
 
You can practice as a solo practitioner, in a small group, or in a large multi-specialty group.  You can be in private practice or be an academic physician.  You can be in the military or the National Health Service Corps.  Family Medicine, with its focus on “family”, tends to offer more flexibility in work hours.  Shared practices or part-time practices are not uncommon.  The possibilities of practice are really limitless and the demand is high.