Medical Professional Designations

Orthopaedic Surgeons

An orthopaedic surgeon is a physician with extensive training in the diagnosis and non-surgical as well as surgical treatment of the musculoskeletal system including bones, joints, ligaments, tendons, and nerves.

Education

Following completion of undergraduate school and receiving a bachelor's degree from an accredited university, orthopaedic surgeons then attend medical school for four years, studying all facets of medicine including basic and clinical sciences, surgery, internal medicine, pediatrics, family medicine and all other medical specialties. They graduate with either a Doctor of Medicine (M.D.) or Doctor of Osteopathy (D.O.) degree. Following medical school, the educational process continues to post-graduate training, commonly referred to as internship and residency. This program lasts between five and six years. At this point an orthopaedic surgeon is trained and licensed to practice orthopaedic surgery. Many surgeons then elect to specialize in one particular type of surgery or part of the body by completing a fellowship in their area of interest. Fellowship training is an additional year which focuses specifically on the area of interest. Fellowships are performed at many teaching programs as well as well-established practices around the country.

Accreditation

Accreditation for orthopaedic surgeons requires an active medical license in the state where the practice activity occurs. To maintain an active medical license the requirements include a diploma from an accredited medical school, satisfactory completion of a national licensing examination (which is taken in three parts), a rigorous application process in each state which the license is being applied for, and a specified amount of continuing medical educational credits over a specific time period.

For orthopaedic surgery, a board certification process is in place that is administered by the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgery (AAOS). This requires the orthopaedic surgeon to pass a series of examinations with very stringent criteria which allow him/her to gain board certification status. This includes a written examination as well as an oral examination which evaluates the physician's surgical practice and outcomes. Source: American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgery.

Physiatrist - Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Physician

A physiatrist is a medical doctor specializing in physical medicine and rehabilitation. Physiatrists treat a wide range of problems from sore shoulders to spinal cord injuries. They see patients in all age groups and treat problems that touch upon all the major systems in the body. These specialists focus on restoring function to people.

To become a physiatrist, individuals must successfully complete four years of graduate medical education and four additional years of postdoctoral residency training. Residency training includes one year spent developing fundamental clinical skills and three additional years of training in the full scope of the specialty.

To become board-certified in physical medicine and rehabilitation, physiatrists are required to pass both a written and oral examination administered by the American Board of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation. Source: American Board of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation.

Preventive and Occupational Medicine Physician

A physician specializing in preventive and occupational medicine treats a wide range of problems generally arising from injuries in the workplace. These medical doctors have in-depth knowledge of the inter-relationship of the muscular and skeletal systems, and the mechanisms of injury. These specialists focus on factors that contribute to injuries and to declines in health caused by environmental forces and by aging.

To become a specialist in preventive/occupational medicine, individuals must successfully complete four years of undergraduate college, four years of medical school and an additional four years of postdoctoral residency training. They then must complete a Master's Degree in Public Health and an additional year of fellowship training in occupational medicine.

To become board-certified by the American Board of Preventive Medicine with a specialty in occupational medicine, physicians are required to pass both a written and an oral examination administered by the American Board of Preventive Medicine (ABPM). Source: American Board of Preventive Medicine.

Podiatrist

All podiatrists certified by the American Board of Podiatric Surgery (ABPS) have completed the Doctor of Podiatric Medicine (DPM) degree at an accredited college of podiatric medicine. Most podiatric medical students have completed a baccalaureate degree before admission to podiatric medical school. The DPM curriculum includes four years divided between basic and clinical sciences.

ABPS certification indicates that the podiatrist has completed a credentialing process including required postdoctoral education, at least four years of postdoctoral clinical experience, approval of documented surgeries on all areas of the foot and ankle, and successful completion of written and oral examinations. Source: American Board of Podiatric Surgery.

Physician's Assistant (PA)

Physician assistants are health care professionals licensed to practice medicine with physician supervision. PAs employed by the federal government are credentialed to practice. As part of their comprehensive responsibilities, PAs conduct physical exams, diagnose and treat illnesses, order and interpret tests, counsel on preventive health care, assist in surgery, and in virtually all states can write prescriptions. Within the physician-PA relationship, physician assistants exercise autonomy in medical decision making and provide a broad range of diagnostic and therapeutic services. A PA's practice may also include education, research, and administrative services.

PAs are trained in intensive education programs accredited by the Accreditation Review Commission on Education for the Physician Assistant (ARC-PA) .

Because of the close working relationship the PAs have with physicians, PAs are educated in the medical model designed to complement physician training. Upon graduation, physician assistants take a national certification examination developed by the National Commission on Certification of PAs in conjunction with the National Board of Medical Examiners. To maintain their national certification, PAs must log 100 hours of continuing medical education every two years and sit for a recertification every six years. Graduation from an accredited physician assistant program and passage of the national certifying exam are required for state licensure. Source: American Academy of Physician's Assistants.

Nurse Practitioner (NP)

A nurse practitioner (NP) is a registered nurse with advanced academic and clinical experience, which enables him or her to diagnose and manage most common and many chronic illnesses, either independently or as part of a health care team. A nurse practitioner provides some care previously offered only by physicians and in most states has the ability to prescribe medications. Working in collaboration with a physician, a nurse practitioner provides high-quality, cost-effective and individualized care for the lifespan of patient's special needs.

NPs focus largely on health maintenance, disease prevention, counseling and patient education in a wide variety of settings. With a strong emphasis on primary care, nurse practitioners are employed within several specialties, including neonatology, nurse-midwifery, pediatrics, school health, family and adult health, women's health, mental health, home care, geriatrics and acute care.

Nurse practitioners are educated through programs that grant either a certificate or a master's degree. A registered nurse is recommended to have extensive clinical experience before applying to a nurse practitioner program. An intensive preceptorship under the direct supervision of a physician or an experienced nurse practitioner, as well as instruction in nursing theory, are key components to most NP programs. Source: American College of Nurse Practitioners.