In clinical practiceHospital medicine and surgery
Internal medicine
The detective work of adult medicine, across every organ system.
At a glance
- Training after MBBS
- Three years after MBBS; about six including a DM.
- Time and predictability
- Heavy on-call in training; more control later in consulting practice.
- Geographic flexibility
- Needed everywhere; moving countries means re-qualifying or registering.
- Room to build your own
- Private consulting practice is a well-trodden route.
- AI exposure
- Decision support and documentation will change parts of the day; diagnostic judgement remains central.
Contents · 9 sections
The work
Diagnosing and managing adult illness, often in patients with several conditions at once. General medicine is also the gateway to most medical super-specialities.
Where you might work
- Hospital wards and outpatient clinics
- Private consulting practice
- Teaching hospitals
Getting there
MBBS, then MD General Medicine or the DNB equivalent. Super-speciality (DM) training follows for cardiology, nephrology, gastroenterology and others.
How long: Three years after MBBS; about six including a DM.
Skills that matter
- Diagnostic reasoning
- Managing several conditions together
- Clear explanation for patients and families
- Stamina for busy wards
The life it gives you
Ward work and on-call are demanding during training. After it, outpatient and consulting practice can be more predictable.
Needed everywhere; moving countries means re-qualifying or registering. Private consulting practice is a well-trodden route.
Money
A wide range. Super-specialisation, setting and city shape income more than the MD alone.
What shapes income most
- Super-speciality or general practice
- Hospital or private consulting
- City and reputation
Weighing it up
What it offers
- Intellectual breadth
- Many onward specialty options
- Long relationships with patients
What it costs
- A heavy workload during training
- A long road to a super-speciality
- Complexity that can feel relentless
On AI: decision support and documentation will change parts of the day; diagnostic judgement remains central.
Who may enjoy it
You may find this path suits you if:
- you enjoy diagnostic puzzles
- you like knowing patients over time
- you want to keep options open for later
Related paths
- Family medicine and general practiceFirst contact, whole person, for years.
- Critical careKeeping the sickest patients alive, one organ system at a time.
- PsychiatryMedicine of the mind, practised through conversation and care over time.
- Medical educationTeaching the next generation of doctors.
Further reading
- Choosing a specialty with your eyes openIn preparation
- Choosing a specialty: the RICH DOCTOR guideIn preparation