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Grethe, one thing I was taught in school that I think you should keep in mind is this: The placement of the top of the head. The father down the head is, the less authority the person appears to have. I would think of a doctor as a person of authority and want to place his head higher in the cropping if I were you.
I think another thing I would do is lower the value of his jacket so that the brightness of it doesn't draw the eye too much. That will help the viewer to look at his face. I like the way Mischa moved the bookshelf closer.
As for sizing for head and shoulders I've done anything from 15x19 to 18x25, of course that's in inches. I think 16x20 is a pretty common size. I prefer to map out the composition and then decide on the size according to the compostion. I look for interesting negative spaces, trying not to repeat shapes.
If I do a full size cartoon before painting my cropping is decided in the cartoon stage. If I start out right on canvas taped to a board I always make sure I have a bigger canvas than I think I need so I can crop it later and still have room to hang onto it with the canvas pliers.
I think posting the picture will be a help here also.
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