A resident doctor is a physician who has completed medical school and is enrolled in a post-graduate training program called a residency. During residency, they provide patient care under supervision while gaining specialized clinical experience in a chosen field of medicine. The duration and structure of residency vary by specialty and country, typically ranging from about 3 to 7 years, with increasing responsibilities as training progresses. The term “intern” is often used for first-year residents, and “attending physician” refers to a fully trained doctor who supervises residents. Key points
- Role and status: Resident doctors are licensed physicians in training who work under supervision to refine clinical skills, order and interpret tests, perform procedures, and manage patient care within a specialty.
- Work setting: They commonly work in hospitals, clinics, emergency departments, and operating rooms, frequently participating in rounds and outpatient clinics.
- Progression: Residency follows medical school and precedes independent practice; after completing a residency, many physicians may pursue fellowships for sub-specialization or begin independent practice as attending physicians.
- Variations by system: The exact titles, supervision levels, and duration can differ by country and medical system (for example, United States, United Kingdom, and other regions have different training pipelines and terminology).
If you’d like, I can tailor this to a specific country or medical specialty and provide a concise comparison between a resident, a fellow, and an attending physician in that context.
