An internist is generally the best primary care physician -- good training (a 3-year residency) with a broad backgroind and a strong emphasis on diagnosis. Most of the subspecialists in medicine (GI, cardiology, rheumatology, endocrinology, allergy, etc.) start with a full internal medicine residency. The GP (now called family medicine in most places) is often well trained too, but I believe that's a 2-year program most places, with some sideline work in minor surgeries. Finally, the tradition in medicine has long been that the brainiest med school students tend t go into internal medicine because they like the challenge of diagnosis, while the jocks go for surgery . . . a good reason to go with an internist when you need somethijg figured out.