A physician is a medical doctor who is trained to diagnose and treat illnesses, usually using medicine rather than surgery.
From Old French 'fisicien' meaning 'a doctor, natural scientist', from Latin 'physica' meaning 'natural science'. It originally meant someone skilled in nature and natural remedies, then narrowed to medical doctors.
The word 'physician' hides the word 'physics' because early doctors were really experts in nature and natural laws. Over time, the job split: physicians focused on healing people, while physicists focused on understanding how the universe works.
Historically, physicians were overwhelmingly male, and women were often excluded from formal medical training or relegated to nursing and midwifery. Language and imagery around "the physician" frequently assumed a male default well into the 20th century.
Use "physician" or "doctor" without assuming gender; avoid defaulting to "he" when referring to an unspecified physician. When discussing history, explicitly acknowledge women and non-male physicians where relevant.
["doctor","medical practitioner"]
Women physicians and medical researchers have made major contributions despite systemic barriers; recognizing their roles counters the older male-default narrative in medicine.
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