What is a geriatric physician and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025
3 min read
Quoted Expert
John Colclough

The number of elderly people in the country is increasing each year, and a geriatric physician is needed more than ever. A geriatric physician is a medical doctor specializing in the treatment and diagnosis of disease ailments among elderly patients.

A geriatric physician is trained in the aging process to be able to educate patients on how to become actively and physically healthy. They can also plan the transfers of patients from the hospital and ensure that patients are updated with the necessary tips to improve their health.

More than half of the population of geriatric physicians obtained a bachelor's degree since having only a high school degree or GED does not qualify one to become a geriatric physician. In addition, a geriatric physician is expected to have good communication skills, compassion, and should be detail oriented.

The average salary of a geriatric physician is $200,714, and the job growth rate is 7%.

What general advice would you give to a Geriatric Physician?

J

John Colclough

Professor, Marshall University

Be patient and stay informed. Many performers think their career is about the work in the rehearsal hall or in performance-not so, the real work is in the management of your business. Being an authority of WHO, WHAT and WHERE is key. WHO are the players in your market? The directors, actors, casting people, producing organizations, etc...these are who you need to know-your network. WHAT opportunities exist in your market? The theatres, video companies, universities (if you have an MFA you may be able to teach a class or two), Improvisation groups, any opportunity that allows you to grow your brand is worth your attention. And finally, WHERE are the opportunities-knowing your community and having a sense of how each company fits into the fabric of the community. Having a sense of where the company resides both geographically and virtually (web sites) and having a solid knowledge base of details of each company can inform your marketing tactics as well as provide you with specific details unique to each organization. Careers develop over time and keeping expectations realistic over the first year can be challenging. Be practical and methodical in your approach: save money (there's never enough), find a place to live (the best you can afford), find a side hustle (you're going to need money and routine), find out the lay of the land (WHO, WHAT, and WHERE), develop your skill set (take a class and meet colleagues), go to productions, screenings, workshops, document your growth (keep a journal or calendar to track your progress), celebrate your successes and be patient with your stumbles-Hard knocks are the best teachers!
ScoreGeriatric PhysicianUS Average
Salary
10.0

Avg. Salary $210,898

Avg. Salary $59,228

Stability Level
10.0

Growth Rate 7%

Growth Rate 0.3%

Diversity
1.7
Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 0.16%

Asian 20.39%

Black or African American 3.92%

Hispanic or Latino 6.52%

Unknown 4.11%

White 64.90%

Gender

female 78.95%

male 21.05%

Age - 48
Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 3.00%

Asian 7.00%

Black or African American 14.00%

Hispanic or Latino 19.00%

White 57.00%

Gender

female 47.00%

male 53.00%

Age - 48
Stress Level
10.0

Stress level is very high

7.1 - high

Complexity Level
10.0

Complexity Level is advanced

7 - challenging

Work Life Balance
7.1

Work Life balance is good

6.4 - fair

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Key steps to become a geriatric physician

  1. Explore geriatric physician education requirements

    Most common geriatric physician degrees

    Bachelor's

    35.3 %

    Doctorate

    35.3 %

    Certificate

    11.8 %
  2. Start to develop specific geriatric physician skills

    Skills
    ascdesc
    Percentages
    ascdesc
    Patient Care29.76%
    EMR28.49%
    Nursing Home22.05%
    Medical Care8.34%
    Epic8.17%
  3. Complete relevant geriatric physician training and internships

    Accountants spend an average of 4-10 years on post-employment, on-the-job training. New geriatric physicians learn the skills and techniques required for their job and employer during this time. The chart below shows how long it takes to gain competency as a geriatric physician based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real geriatric physician resumes.
  4. Research geriatric physician duties and responsibilities

    • Initiate new treatment protocols for managing complex patients with co-morbid psychiatric and medical illnesses.
    • Provide overall quality prenatal health care, gynecological services, patient triage, refer patients with complications, provide patient education service
    • Assist physician with minor office surgeries and other various procedures ECG's and immunizations.
  5. Apply for geriatric physician jobs

    Now it's time to start searching for a geriatric physician job. Consider the tips below for a successful job search:

    1. Browse job boards for relevant postings
    2. Consult your professional network
    3. Reach out to companies you're interested in working for directly
    4. Watch out for job scams

How Did You Land Your First Geriatric Physician Job

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Average geriatric physician salary

The average Geriatric Physician salary in the United States is $210,898 per year or $101 per hour. Geriatric physician salaries range between $104,000 and $423,000 per year.

Average Geriatric Physician Salary
$210,898 Yearly
$101.39 hourly

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Updated January 8, 2025

Zippia Research Team
Zippia Team

Editorial Staff

The Zippia Research Team has spent countless hours reviewing resumes, job postings, and government data to determine what goes into getting a job in each phase of life. Professional writers and data scientists comprise the Zippia Research Team.

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