An intensivist is a physician who works exclusively in an intensive care unit (ICU), which is the area of the hospital that focuses on life-threatening injuries and illnesses. As an intensivist, your focus is on the treatment of these critically ill patients. Your duties include leading the ICU team and coordinating specialists for patients as needed. In addition to their medical specialty, intensivists are trained to perform emergency procedures, often leading a team of multi-disciplinary medical professionals.