Howard dean's not the only one: making the transition from doctor to lawmaker.(Practice Trends)

Former Vermont Gov. Howard Dean may be the best-known physician-politician in the United States, but he's not the only one.

From the halls of Congress to governor's mansions to state legislatures and local councils, doctors frequently scale back their practices or give them up entirely to serve the public in a different way.

Seven physicians currently serve in Congress: Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist (R-Tenn., a surgeon) is joined by Rep. Michael Burgess (R-Tex., an ob.gyn.); Rep. Phil Gingrey (R-Ga., an ob.gyn.); Rep. Jim McDermott (D-Wash., a psychiatrist); Rep. Ron Paul (R-Tex., an ob.gyn.); Rep. Vic Snyder (D-Ark., a family physician); and Rep. Dave Weldon (R-Fla., an internist).

Gov. Ernie Fletcher, a Republican and a family physician, occupies Kentucky's executive mansion and is currently the only physician-governor.

And while nobody keeps statistics on just how many doctors serve in politics, legislatures, boards, commissions, and councils at every level of government are peppered with them.

But it's not an easy job, or an easy transition, said Rep. Weldon, who is currently serving his fifth term in Congress.

When he first ran for Congress in 1994, he was one of 52 doctors who were vying for seats--many, like him, spurred on by anger over President Clinton's health care initiatives. Forty-one lost in the primaries, and only three made it to the U.S. Congress.