Physician

A person qualified to practice medicine. The term physician is traditional and still commonly used in the United States, but in Australia the term is not used -- instead they are called 'doctors (a term used in the US also). Often also called a medical doctor. Related titles are veterinarian, one who cures diseases in animals, and biologist, one who studies the life sciences, in general.

In most jurisdictions nowadays, physicians need government permission to practice their profession. This is known as licensing in the United States and as registration in Australia.

Titles for specialized physicians include:

• neurologist
• dermatologist
• gynecologist
• obstetrician
• cardiologist
• ophthalmologist
• psychiatrist
• surgeon
• internist
• general practitioner