Internists are personal physicians who provide long-term comprehensive care, managing both common and complex illnesses in adolescents, adults, and the elderly. They are trained in the essentials of internal medicine, which incorporates an understanding of disease prevention, wellness, substance abuse, mental health, and effective treatment of common problems of the eyes, ears, skin, nervous system, and reproductive organs.

An internal medicine physician’s primary responsibilities include health maintenance and disease screening, the diagnosis and care of acute and chronic medical conditions, management of patients with multiple complex medical problems, and serving as consultants to other disciplines such as surgery, obstetrics, and family medicine. An internist’s work is characterized by extensive knowledge and skill in diagnosis and treatment.