The term "physician" is often used as a more accurate version of "doctor," since the latter can mean anyone who has completed a doctorate in any discipline. A physician, or doctor of medicine (MD), is a person who has graduated from an accredited medical school and passed the state licensing examinations required to become a professional provider of medical care, including surgery.

There are different categories of physician. A resident physician has completed an internship (now called PG1, post-graduate 1) and obtained a license to practice medicine, but works full- or part-time at a hospital to learn more about his or her chosen specialty. A family or primary care physician is a specialized medical professional who provides ongoing care for all ages and both sexes, planning and carrying out a thorough health care program for all members of a family over time; this is the physician people see before going on to a specialist and who coordinates patients' care if multiple health care professionals are involved. An attending physician visits a certain hospital at specified times to supervise his or her patients' treatment and give further instructions to paramedics. An emergency physician is an expert in the particular procedures and methods used in the emergency room.