The role of internists has been extensively debated in the last decades. Chile has a 40 year experience in specialist training, based on USA hospital residence programs. The Chilean Association of Medical Faculties accredits training centers. The present paper proposes a profile for internists (referred as an adult general physician) in the areas of attitudes and behaviors, knowledge and skills. The features, training areas and educational experiences that the internist should have, based on the described profile are also pointed out. Current training programs should be modified, since they have become the vestibule for super-specialization rather than conducting to the practice of general internal medicine. The internist's amplitude and integration of knowledge, five clinical skills based on medical interview, physical examination and therapeutic mastery, differentiates him from sub-specialists.