I have long time before I head to any college and even longer for medical school. But if your were to major as an Orthopedic surgeon and complete. Could I work as just primary care doctor or would I have to go back and specialize in it?

Which do you want to be? You want to earn the specialty but then work in primary care?

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Originally Posted by Wondergirl

Which do you want to be? You want to earn the specialty but then work in primary care?

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Let me rephrase. If I were to go so many years to become a doctor, do I have the option to work as just a plain old doctor? Or am I stuck in that specialized field as a surgeon?

Edit: Saying that 3 years working as a surgeon and I wanted experience working in the E.R. could I? Or would I have to go back to specialize in that field?

No, you aren't stuck. You still have the option to be in primary care and would probably be a very good one with that extra knowledge. For instance, I have a master's in counseling psychology and did some counseling, but used that education when I was a librarian, working with staff, patrons, volunteers, and court-ordered community service workers.

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Originally Posted by Wondergirl

No, you aren't stuck. You still have the option to be in primary care and would probably be a very good one with that extra knowledge. For instance, I have a master's in counseling psychology and did some counseling, but used that education when I was a librarian, working with staff, patrons, volunteers, and court-ordered community service workers.

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Thank you.

First you don't "Major" in Orthopedic surgery or any specific type of surgery. After you graduate from medical school you start an internship in a hospital. During that internship you do several "rotations" in different areas. At that point you start to pick your specialty. But even if you complete your residency in Orthopedic surgery, you could change.

You might have to go back to complete additional training as an internist or general practitioner to hang out a shingle as a primary care physician.

The point is you have several years of medical school then internships and residency before you have to choose your specialty.