History Main / FrontierDoctor

* On the Literature/{{Discworld}} witches perform this role in out of the way communities such as Lancre, which is part of Pratchett's tendency to reference real world history and myth into his books. Many places in the British Isles used to rely on people who often styled themselves as witches, wizards or mystics for medicines as well as more practical matters like midwifery.

* Dr. Bill Baxter of the obviously-named ''Frontier Doctor'' series.

* Dr. Lazarus in ''Film/{{Outland}}''. In a fairly hard sci-fi SpaceWestern, she starts off as largely jaded, acknowledging that doctor aboard a mining colony is one spaceflight away from a malpractice suit. She does eventually come around and provide vital aid to the film's hero, Marshall O'Niell.

* Dr. Lazarus in ''Film/{{Outland}}''. In a fairly hard sci-fi SpaceWestern, she starts off as largely jaded, acknowledging that doctor aboard a mining colony is one spaceflight away from a malpractice suit. She does eventually come around and provide vital aid to the film's hero, Marshall O'Niell.

* Dr. Lazarus in ''Film/{{Outland}}''.

[[folder:Comics]]

** Bashir later meets a classmate who took a prestige assignment with a starship, and she complains how boring her own assignment was as opposed to his own (the writers also uses this as a jab against ''The Next Generation'' and ''Voyagers'' problem of the week episodes compared to the arcs in ''Deep Space Nine''). Keep in mind that Bashir said that he was thrilled to be assigned to [=DS9=] for the excitement of working on the frontier, and that even if he hypothetically had a choice of any posting it's still the one he would have picked.

* Most any "healer" PC - such as a cleric in D&D - in the vast majority of [=RPGs=] will fit the bill, although they often have access to magic in addition to gumption and bandages.

* ''Film/TheQuickAndTheDead'': Redemption has one whose main function is to examine the fallen competitors and declare "This man is dead!". This becomes a SugarWiki/{{Funny Moment|s}} when Spotted Horse turns out to be NotQuiteDead. Later, he plays a vital role when he keeps the scavengers away from the Lady's body [[spoiler:as she is FakingTheDead]].

* ''Film/TheQuickAndTheDead'': Redemption has one whose main function is to examine the fallen competitors and declare "This man is dead!". This becomes a CrowningMomentOfFunny when Spotted Horse turns out to be NotQuiteDead. Later, he plays a vital role when he keeps the scavengers away from the Lady's body [[spoiler:as she is FakingTheDead]].

* Creator/JamesHerriot [[KindlyVet sort of counts]], working in a backwater community and all.

* Dr. [=McCoy=] in ''[[Series/StarTrekTheOriginalSeries The Original Series]]'' is perhaps Trek's outstanding example of a [[TheFinalFrontier (Final)]] FrontierDoctor--resourceful in the face of alien ailments, preferring simple homespun methods when possible, but cantankerous, eccentric, and not entirely happy with his lot (he fled to space on the heels of a divorce). ''Franchise/StarTrek'' was pretty much [[WagonTrainToTheStars the original]] SpaceWestern, after all, and actor [=DeForest=] Kelley had an extensive background in westerns.

While the inhabitants of TheWildWest were tougher than case-hardened nails, they still could get hurt and sick. So there was a need for doctors, and the FrontierDoctor came west to fill that need. The frontier doctor needed to be tough and resourceful, since supplies were scarce, and the latest equipment was seldom at hand. He'd often be called upon to travel long distances at any hour of the day or night, and might even treat sick animals if no veterinarian was handy (the opposite - veterinarian instead of a doctor - is usually PlayedForLaughs).

* Creator/JamesHerriot sort of counts, working in a backwater community and all.

** Bashir later meets a classmate who took a prestige assignment with a starship, and she complains how boring her own assignment was as opposed to his own (the writers also uses this as a jab against ''The Next Generation'' and ''Voyagers'' problem of the week episodes compared to the arcs in ''Deep Space Nine''). Keep in mind that Bashir said that he was thrilled to be assigned to DS9 for the excitement of working on the frontier, and that even if he hypothetically had a choice of any posting it's still the one he would have picked.

* Arguably, everyone in a ''Series/{{MASH}}'' unit. Hawkeye preferred calling it "meatball surgery."
** This was certainly Charles Winchester's opinion of the 4077 - on a good day.

* Archie Campbell played one on ''HeeHaw''.
* Hiram Baker from ''LittleHouseOnThePrairie''.

* ''[[Music/TheBeatles Rocky Raccoon]]'':

* ''FreddyPharkasFrontierPharmacist''

* Parodied in a series of ''ArmstrongAndMiller'' sketches. "I work in Botswana, saving lives. Do YOU?"