Preventive medicine physicians are concerned with the health and well-being of individuals, communities, and defined populations. They treat and diagnose people to help reduce and prevent disease, disability, and death and to help patients maintain good health. Preventive medicine physicians hold a license as either medical doctors (M.D.) or doctors of osteopathy (D.O.).
According to the American College of Preventive Medicine, preventive medicine "has three sub-specialty areas: public health and general preventive medicine, occupational medicine, and aerospace medicine." Public health and general preventive medicine physicians are skilled in population-based public health and have knowledge of clinical practice in a variety of settings.
Preventive medicine physicians are responsible for identifying groups that are vulnerable to specific disease or injuries that can be prevented. They direct or manage prevention programs in specialty areas, such as infectious disease and environmental medicine. They may also direct health programs to educate the public about topics such as preventable diseases and injuries, nutrition, immunizations, food service sanitation, water supply safety, disposing of waste and sewage, and insect control. Preventive medicine physicians review prescribed risk-reduction measures and other types of interventions to determine if they are effective or if these measures need to be altered. They work closely with other physicians, nurses, statisticians, and other health care professionals.
The job requires strong technology skills. In addition to e-mail and spreadsheet software, preventive medicine physicians frequently use analytical and scientific software in their work. The most common programs used in preventive medicine practice include OpenEpi; SAS; The MathWorks MATLAB; and Tidepool Scientific Software ToxCalc. They also use patient electronic medical record (EMR) software, and database interface and query software, such as Microsoft Access and Tidepool Scientific Software Comprehension Environmental Toxicity Information System Software (CETIS).
- Addiction Therapists
- Advanced Practice Nurses
- Aerospace Medicine Physicians
- Agricultural Scientists
- Allergists/Immunologists
- Anesthesiologist Assistants
- Anesthesiologists
- Animal Behaviorists
- Animal Breeders and Technicians
- Aquaculturists
- Arborists
- Astrobiologists
- Behavioral Health Technicians
- Biochemical Engineers
- Biochemists
- Bioinformatics Specialists
- Biologists
- Biomedical Engineers
- Biomedical Equipment Technicians
- Biophysicists
- Biosecurity Monitors
- Biotechnology Production Workers
- Biotechnology Research Assistants
- Botanists
- Cancer Exercise Specialists
- Cardiologists
- Cardiovascular Technologists
- Child Life Specialists
- Chiropractors
- Climate Scientists
- Clinical Applications Specialists
- Clinical Nurse Specialists
- Clinical Pharmacist Practitioners
- Community Health Nurses
- Community Health Workers
- Contact Tracers
- Cosmetic Surgeons
- Creative Arts Therapists
- CRISPR Scientists
- Critical Care Nurses
- Cytogenetic Technologists
- Cytotechnologists
- Dental Assistants
- Dental Hygienists
- Dental Laboratory Technicians
- Dental Therapists
- Dentists
- Dermatologists
- Diagnostic Medical Sonographers
- Dialysis Technicians
- Dietetic Technicians
- Dietitians
- Directors of Telehealth
- Dispensing Opticians
- Drug Developers
- Ear, Nose, and Throat Specialists
- Electroneurodiagnostic Technologists
- Emergency Medical Technicians
- Emergency Nurses
- Endocrinologists
- Endodontists
- Endoscopy Technicians
- Environmental Scientists
- Epidemiologists
- Epigenetics Researchers
- Ergonomists
- Gastroenterologists
- General Practitioners
- Genetic Counselors
- Genetic Engineers
- Genetic Genealogists
- Genetic Scientists
- Geriatric Nurses
- Geriatric Psychiatrists
- Geriatric Social Workers
- Geriatricians
- Grief Therapists
- Health Advocates
- Health Educators
- Health Informaticists
- Hematologists
- Histologic Technicians
- Holistic Physicians
- Home Health Care Aides
- Home Health Care and Hospice Nurses
- Hospice Workers
- Hospitalists
- Industrial-Organizational Psychologists
- Informatics Nurse Specialists
- Kinesiologists
- Laboratory Technicians and Technologists
- Laboratory Testing Technicians
- Licensed Practical Nurses
- Marine Biologists
- Medical Assistants
- Medical Laboratory Technicians
- Medical Scientists
- Medical Screeners
- Medical Scribes
- Medical Technologists
- Microbiologists
- Molecular and Cellular Biologists
- Music Therapists
- Naturalists
- Neonatal Nurses
- Neurologists
- Neuropsychologists and Clinical Neuropsychologists
- Neuroscientists
- Nuclear Medicine Physicians
- Nuclear Medicine Technologists
- Nurse Anesthetists
- Nurse Assistants
- Nurse Managers
- Nurse Practitioners
- Nurse-Midwives
- Nutritionists
- Obstetricians/Gynecologists
- Occupational Health Nurses
- Occupational Therapists
- Occupational Therapy Assistants and Aides
- Oncological Nurses
- Oncologists
- Ophthalmic Laboratory Technicians
- Ophthalmic Medical Technologists
- Ophthalmologists
- Optometrists
- Oriental Medicine Practitioners
- Orientation and Mobility Specialists
- Orthodontists
- Orthoptists
- Orthotic and Prosthetic Technicians
- Orthotists and Prosthetists
- Osteopathic Physicians
- Pathologists
- Pediatricians
- Pedorthists
- Perfusionists
- Periodontists
- Pharmacists
- Pharmacologists
- Pharmacy Technicians
- Phlebotomy Technicians
- Physiatrists
- Physical Therapists
- Physical Therapy Assistants
- Physician Assistants
- Physicians
- Podiatrists
- Prosthodontists
- Psychiatric Nurses
- Psychiatric Technicians
- Psychiatrists
- Psychologists
- Radiologic Technologists
- Radiologists
- Recreational Therapists
- Registered Nurses
- Remote Health Care Engineers
- Respiratory Technicians
- Respiratory Therapists
- School Nurses
- Senior Care Pharmacists
- Social Workers
- Special Procedures Technologists
- Speech-Language Pathologists and Audiologists
- Speech-Language Pathology Assistants
- Sports Physicians
- Sports Psychologists
- Surgeons
- Surgical Technologists
- Toxicologists
- Transplant Coordinators
- Urologists
- Veterinarians
- Zoologists