The breast physician: an example of specialisation in general practice.

General practitioners face the challenge of developing a career path and credentialling pathway for doctors working in special interest areas to ensure safe practice and to develop a professional profile for these groups. Breast physicians are one example. They care for women with benign and malignant breast disease and work in multidisciplinary teams in hospitals, clinics, private practice, and the breast screening program. The training and credentialling of breast physicians has recently been formalised by the Australasian Society of Breast Physicians with the introduction of a training program and fellowship in breast medicine.