Physicians in the United States include both ones trained by medical education in the United States and ones that are international medical graduates who have progressed through the necessary steps to acquire a medical license to practice in a state. They US physicians are an important part of the health care in the United States.
The American College of Physicians, uses the term physician to describe all medical practitioners holding a professional medical degree. The American Medical Association as well as the American Osteopathic Association both currently use the term physician to describe members.
Medical Education
The US medical education for physicians includes participation in a US medical school that eventually grants a Doctor of Medicine degree, or Osteopathic Medicine degree. United States osteopathic medical schools have a curriculum almost identical to MD schools with the addition of osteopathic manipulative medicine which focuses on extra instruction in the musculoskeletal system. After graduating from a first-professional school, physicians who wish to practice in the U.S. usually take standardized exams, such as the USMLE or the COMLEX-USA. In addition, the United States requires residency before granting a medical license to practice independently.
Specialists
There are three agencies or organizations in the United States which collectively oversee physician board certification of MD and DO (allopathic and osteopathic) physicians in the United States in the 26 approved medical specialties recognized in the country. These organizations are the American Board of Medical Specialties and the American Medical Association; the American Osteopathic Association Bureau of Osteopathic Specialists and the American Osteopathic Association; the American Board of Physician Specialties and the American Association of Physician Specialists. Each of these agencies and their associated national medical organization functions as its various specialty academies, colleges and societies. Wikipedia.org
