Medicine is many things to many people.
New opportunities are rapidly developing with each advance in medical knowledge and with each development in the organization of medical services. The physician's responsibilities cover a wide range of functions in the maintenance of health. These include diagnosing disease, supervising the care of patients, prescribing treatment, and participating in improved delivery of health care. Although most physicians provide direct care, some MD degree recipients concentrate on basic or applied research, become teachers or administrators, or combine various elements of these activities. Often, medical students make their final decision when near completion of medical school.