What is Internal Medicine?

Doctors of internal medicine focus on adult medicine and have had special study and training focusing on the prevention and treatment of adult disease.  Internists care for their patients for life - from their teen years through old age. At least three of their seven or more years of medical school and postgraduate training are dedicated to learning how to prevent, diagnose, and treat diseases that affect adults. Internists are sometimes referred to as the "doctor's doctor", because they are often called upon to act as consultants to other physicians to help solve puzzling diagnostic problems.