Law > Medical Jurisprudence > Law and Medicine > Different Medical Specialists
In this articles we shall study about different kinds of medical specialists. Medical specialists are experts in certain fields of medicine. They either treat specific parts of the body, such as the back or the brain, or they specialize in certain diseases, such as cancer. Family doctors keep a list of local specialists and can help patients choose the right specialist for each medical issue.
General Practitioners and Physicians:
General Physician or Family Practitioner:
General Physicians are highly trained specialists who provide a range of non-surgical health care to adult patients. He/she treats many different medical conditions and ailments on an outpatient basis.
They care for difficult, serious or unusual medical problems and continue to see the patient until these problems have resolved or stabilized. They are popularly known as a ‘general practitioner’ or a ‘family physician’ in many countries.
Anesthesiologist:
An anesthesiologist is a doctor who practices anesthesia. Anesthesiologists are physicians specializing in perioperative care, developing anesthetic plans, and the administration of anesthetics. Anesthesiologists help ensure the safety of patients undergoing surgery.
The anesthesiologist provides care for the patient to prevent the pain and distress they would otherwise experience. He/she is responsible for keeping the patient anesthetized (sedated) and for monitoring the vital signs like airway, breathing and circulation during surgery. They monitor input and output during the surgery like delivery of intravenous fluids, blood and other drugs.
Surgeons:
A surgeon is a doctor who specializes in evaluating and treating conditions that may require surgery, or physically changing the human body. Surgeries can be done to diagnose or treat disease or injury.
- : General surgeons are doctors who specialize in surgical procedures. Surgery is any procedure that alters body tissues to diagnose or treat a medical condition.
- Cardiothoracic Surgeon: A cardiothoracic surgeon is a medical doctor who specializes in surgical procedures of the heart, lungs, esophagus, and other organs in the chest. This includes surgeons who can be called cardiac surgeons, cardiovascular surgeons, general thoracic surgeons, and congenital heart surgeons.
- Neuro-Surgeon: Neurosurgeons are medical doctors that diagnose and treat conditions related to the brain, spine, and other parts of your nervous system.
- Oral or Maxillofacial Surgeon: Maxillofacial surgeons, sometimes called oral and maxillofacial surgeons, are trained to handle a wide variety of conditions and injuries that affect the head, neck, mouth, jaw, and face.
- Otolaryngologist Surgeon: Otolaryngologist Surgeon treats issues in ears, nose, or throat as well as related areas in the head and neck. They can do surgeries in these areas.
- Surgical Oncologist: They are surgical counterparts of medical oncologist. They are general surgeons with specialty training in procedures for diagnosing, staging (determining the stage of cancer), or removing cancerous growths.
- Pediatric Surgeon: Pediatric surgeons are doctors who specialize in treating children. They’re trained to do operations on infants, children, and young adults.
- Plastic Surgeon: Plastic surgeons are focused on reconstructive procedures. They can treat patients who have conditions like birth disorders, injuries, illnesses, or burns. Many plastic surgeons choose to become cosmetic surgeons and do procedures to change a patient’s appearance or aesthetic.
- Orthopedic Surgeon: An orthopedic surgeon is qualified to diagnose orthopedic problems, perform or prescribe treatments, and assist with rehabilitation.
- Vascular Surgeon: Vascular surgeons are doctors who treat diseases and problems within the vascular system, the network of arteries and veins that carry blood throughout the body.
Internal Medicine Practitioner/ Internist:
Internal medicine physicians, or internists, are specialists who apply scientific knowledge and clinical expertise to the diagnosis, treatment, and compassionate care of adults across the spectrum from health to complex illness.
They are especially well trained in the diagnosis of puzzling medical problems, in the ongoing care of chronic illnesses, and in caring for patients with more than one disease. Internists also specialize in health promotion and disease prevention. He/she deals with the diagnosis, management and non-surgical treatment of unusual and serious diseases.
Doctors Treating Children:
Pediatrician:
A pediatrician is a medical doctor who manages the physical, behavioral, and mental care for children from birth until age 18. A pediatrician is trained to diagnose and treat a broad range of childhood illnesses, from minor health problems to serious diseases.
They focus on the prevention, detection and management of physical, behavioral, developmental and social problems that affect children. They work to diagnose and treat infections, injuries, and many types of organic disease and dysfunction and bring about improvement in the life of children with chronic problems.
Neonatologist:
A neonatologist is a specialist in caring for premature and ill newborns and generally works in hospital’s neo-natal care or baby special care units. Newborns can present a unique set of health challenges that require a high level of skill and medical expertise to treat.
This specialist does tests to make sure that newborn babies are well- developed and free from infections and organ deformities.
Pediatric Cardiologist:
Pediatric cardiologists specialize in diagnosing and treating heart problems in children. In those children who might need heart surgery, pediatric cardiologists work closely with pediatric heart surgeons to determine the best treatments and interventions.
Pediatric Endocrinologist:
Pediatric endocrinologist specialize in diagnosing and treating hormone or gland problems in children.
Pediatric Oncologist:
Pediatric oncologists are doctors who diagnose and treat cancer in children and teens.
Doctors Treating Old People:
Geriatrician:
Geriatricians are primary care doctors who have additional training in treating older adults, especially those 65 and up. People in that age range often have multiple or complex health matters and need specialized care.
Geriatrician at times requires to take an interdisciplinary approach to a problem as many patients suffer from not only medical but have social problems too. A Geriatrician may work with other physicians, nurses, social workers, occupational therapists and family members to take care of the needs of his patient.
Gerontologist:
A gerontologist is a doctor studying and treating conditions arising in the aging process. He mostly works with senior citizens, studying their biological, medical and social issues at that age. These specialists work in hospitals, nursing homes and laboratories and may form a part of government health policies for the old. A gerontologist is a licensed physician and diagnoses and treats old age diseases like Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson disease and osteoporosis.
Doctors Treating Heart and Vascular Problems:
Cardiologist:
Cardiologists are qualified to treat heart attacks, heart failure, heart valve disease, arrhythmia, and high blood pressure. He may collaborate with cardiac surgeons to decide the course of treatment for his patients.
Cardiology is a specialty, which has many subspecialties like interventional cardiology, nuclear cardiology, electro physiology, or echocardiography, which help in making diagnostic studies.
Vascular Medical Specialist:
Vascular surgeons are doctors who treat diseases and problems within the vascular system, the network of arteries and veins that carry blood throughout the body.
Doctors Treating Hormone/Gland Problems:
Endocrinologist:
Endocrinologists are doctors who specialize in glands and the hormones they make. They deal with metabolism, or all the biochemical processes that make the body work, including how the body changes food into energy and how it grows.
He/she diagnoses and treat diseases like diabetes, thyroid diseases, metabolic disorders, over or under production of hormones, menopause, osteoporosis, hypertension, cholesterol disorders, infertility, lack of growth and endocrine glands cancer..
Doctors Treating Stomach/ Liver/Bowel, Colon Related Problems:
Gastroenterologist:
A Gastroenterologist is a physician with dedicated training management of diseases of the gastrointestinal tract and liver. They are specialist in digestive diseases.
He/she is mainly concerned about the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of conditions and disorders in the gastrointestinal tract involving the esophagus, stomach, small and large intestine, rectum, liver and pancreas of adults.
Hepatologist:
Hepatologists are medical doctors who diagnose, treat, and manage problems associated with liver, gallbladder, bile ducts, and pancreas. He deals in disorders like serious and chronic hepatitis, chronic alcoholism, and liver disorders due to certain medications.
Colorectal Surgeon:
Colorectal surgeon is a doctor, who treats disorders of the rectum, anus, and colon.
Doctors Treating Kidney and Urinary System:
Urologist:
A Urologist specializes and treats the urinary tract problems of both men and women and on the reproductive organs of men.
He/she treats problems in the urinary system, which includes kidneys, bladder, ureters, and urethra. He also treats a man’s reproductive system, which includes the penis, testes, scrotum, and prostate.
Nephrologist:
Nephrologists are doctors who specialize in conditions that affect the kidney. They diagnose, treat, and manage acute and chronic kidney problems and diseases. They also treat associated issues like high blood pressure, fluid retention, and electrolyte and mineral imbalances. In addition, these specialists are in charge of kidney dialysis treatment.
Doctors Treating Reproduction / Sex Problems:
Andrologist:
Andrologists are urologists who focus entirely on the treatment of conditions affecting male fertility and sexuality, rather than practicing a broader form of urology.
This specialty includes the treatment of physical conditions affecting the genitalia, such as undescended testes, as well as injuries and diseases that can affect fertility or sexual function.
Gynecologist:
A gynecologist is a doctor who specializes in female reproductive health. They diagnose and treat issues related to the female reproductive tract. This includes the uterus, fallopian tubes, and ovaries and breasts. They diagnose and treat reproductive system disorders such as endometriosis, infertility, ovarian cysts, and pelvic pain.
They may also care for people with ovarian, cervical, and other reproductive cancers.
Obstetrician:
An obstetrician is a specialist who has specialized in the management of pregnancy, labor, childbirth, and a woman’s reproductive system. They also called an OB/GYN.
They take care throughout pregnancy, and give follow-up care.
Sexologist:
A sexologist is a person who has studied human sexuality. Sexologists have studied the science of sex, which means they have studied human anatomy and physiology (how the body works and why) and psychology (how our minds work) regarding sexuality. Sexologists help people with all things to do with sexuality.
Fertility Specialist:
Fertility specialists are obstetrician or gynecologists who have undergone specialized training for reproductive endocrinology.
Venereologist:
Venereologists deal with the study and treatment of sexually transmitted diseases caused by sexual contact. A person may just be a carrier without realizing it or may actively suffer the symptoms. They may be engaged in research working out methods of prevention, and innovations in treatment. These specialists may have to deal with social issues and moral norms at times in certain societies, however they do play an important role in educating the patients, their family and general public about sexual infections and diseases and about their preventive measures.
Doctors Treating Immunology/ Allergy Problems:
Allergist:
Allergists are doctors who specialize in treating allergies and other immune problems. As allergies are an overreaction of the immune system, allergists must have a thorough understanding of how your body fights infection to treat the hypersensitivity that leads to allergies.
Immunologist:
Immunologists are doctors who diagnose, treat, and work to prevent immune system disorders. They study the complex immune system consisting of cells and molecules that help fight infection. These specialists treat people born with a defective immune system or those that acquire a defective immune system when they are affected by virus, bacteria and fungi that do not affect healthy persons.
Doctors Treating Cancer:
Medical Oncologist:
Medical oncologist deals with the diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of cancer. He/she takes care of cancer patients by using things like chemotherapy, hormone therapy, targeted therapy, or immunotherapy.
Radiation Oncologist:
Radiation oncologists work closely with medical oncologists, surgeons, and other doctors to determine the most appropriate course of treatment for people diagnosed with cancer. Before performing radiation procedures, radiation oncologists use software to carefully map out where they will deliver radiation to their patients. They also decide which type of radiation therapy to use.
Surgical Oncologist:
They are surgical counterparts of medical oncologist. They are general surgeons with specialty training in procedures for diagnosing, staging (determining the stage of cancer), or removing cancerous growths.
Doctors Treating Lungs and Blood Problems:
Pulmonologist:
A pulmonologist is a doctor who diagnoses and treats diseases of the respiratory system viz: the lungs and other organs that help to breathe. They are concerned with diseases of the respiratory tract, bronchial tubes and lungs as well as the heart. These specialists have extensive training in chest diseases and conditions such as pneumonia, asthma, tuberculosis, emphysema, or complicated chest infections.
Hematologist:
Hematologists are internal medicine doctors or pediatricians who have extra training in disorders related to your blood, bone marrow, and lymphatic system. They may work in specialized areas that aid in diagnosis like electrophoresis, flow cytometry, or coagulation.
Doctors Treating Brain/Nervous System Problems:
Neurologist:
Neurologists are doctors who diagnose and treat problems with the brain and nervous system. neurologists focus on non-surgical treatment. Neurologists may also specialize in dealing with dementia, epilepsy, headache medicine, Parkinson and Movement Disorders, or Sleep Disorders.
Neuro Surgeon:
Neurosurgeons are medical doctors that diagnose and treat conditions related to the brain, spine, and other parts of your nervous system. They are specifically trained and certified in the use of surgical treatments.
Doctors Treating Joints / Bones/ Muscle Problems:
Orthopedist:
Orthopedist is a doctor who specializes in the branch of medicine concerned with the correction or prevention of deformities, disorders, or injuries of the skeleton and associated structures
Orthopedic Surgeon:
An orthopedic surgeon is qualified to diagnose orthopedic problems, perform or prescribe treatments, and assist with rehabilitation. They also help to develop long-term strategies to treat illnesses, disorders, and issues relating to bones, joints, ligaments, tendons, and muscles. These specialists help treat broken bones, joint problems, like arthritis, and degenerative conditions, like osteoporosis. In addition orthopedic doctors treat sports injuries, infections or congenital conditions related to, and tumors in the bones.
Rheumatologist:
A rheumatologist is a medical practitioner who specializes in treating arthritis, rheumatic diseases, systemic autoimmune diseases and conditions involving the bone, joints and muscles. Since many of these diseases involve the immune system, rheumatologist have an in-depth knowledge of the immune system. Rheumatologists work closely with their patients and orthopedic surgeons, neuro-surgeons, and radiologists who perform joint replacements, soft tissue reconstruction and repair and nerve decompression, and report on X-rays, CT, MRI and ultrasound scans.
Podiatrist:
Podiatrists are medical specialists who help with problems that affect feet or lower legs. They can treat injuries as well as complications from ongoing health issues like diabetes. Podiatrists deal in painful feet irritations like corns, bunions, plantar warts, plantar fasciitis, hammertoes, arch problems and circulatory problems in diabetics.
Osteopath:
Osteopathic medicine is a special science devoted to treating and healing the patient as a whole by using methods called osteopathic manipulative treatment to make sure the body moves freely ensuring that all the body’s healing systems are working efficiently. Osteopath, is a doctor of osteopathic medicine (DO) who aims to improve people’s overall health and wellness by treating the whole person, not just a condition or disease they may have. This includes osteopathic manipulative medicine, which involves stretching, massaging, and moving the musculoskeletal system.
Doctors Treating Problems of Specific Part of Body:
Otolaryngologist ENT Surgeon:
Otolaryngologist is a doctor who treats issues related to ears, nose, or throat as well as related areas in head and neck. They’re called ENT Specialist for short.
Audiologist:
Audiologists are healthcare professionals who specialize in hearing and balance disorders.
Dentist:
A dentist, also known as a dental surgeon, is a health care professional who specializes in dentistry (the diagnosis, prevention, and treatment of diseases and conditions of the oral cavity).
Periodontist:
A periodontist is a dentist who specializes in the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of periodontal disease (a chronic inflammatory disease that affects the gums and bone supporting the teeth also known as gum disease), and in the placement of dental implants.
Dermatologist:
A dermatologist is a doctor who specializes in conditions involving the skin, hair, and nails. He/she deals with not only study, research and diagnosis of normal disorders, diseases, cancers, cosmetic and ageing condition of the skin, hair and nails but also includes specializations like dermato-histopathology and topical and systemic medications. It also includes dermatological cosmetic surgery, immunotherapy, laser therapy, radiotherapy and photodynamic therapy. Common skin diseases treated by dermatologists include skin cancer, warts, fungal infections, dermatitis, psoriasis, acne, atomic eczema and herpes simplex.
Ophthalmologist:
Ophthalmologists are medical doctors who specialize in the diagnosis and treatment of eye and vision problems. He/she is a specialist trained in the medical and surgical preventive care of the eyes. He is well trained in giving comprehensive care by carrying out visual examinations, prescribing glasses and contact lens and treating eye ailments and diseases such as glaucoma, cataracts, eye injuries, cornea disorders and also eyelid problems.
Doctors Treating Problems with Blood / Due to Parasites:
Parasitologist:
Parasitologists study the life cycle of parasites, the parasite-host relationship, and how parasites adapt to different environments. They may investigate the outbreak and control of parasitic diseases. They study protozoan and metazoan parasites and try to find ways to spread disease. They work in a close relationship with other sciences such as immunology, cell biology, microbiology, and molecular biology
Microbiologists
A microbiologist works is a lab personnel engaged in the study and analysis of the structure and processes of microorganisms. They may also be engaged in collecting and analyzing cultures and air, water and soil samples to learn about the microorganisms present in them. They work to develop vaccines, biological medicines and biofuels.
Epidemiologist:
Epidemiologists study outbreaks of diseases, the causes, locations, and how various communities are affected, utilizing relative information to aid in the prevention of future outbreaks. Epidemiologists help to keep the public informed of methods to maintain and improve public health.
Serologist:
A serologist is a medical scientist who specializes in blood serum analysis. He is often associated with forensic investigations related to criminal inquiries, but may also be instrumental in medical diagnostic procedures. A serologist may also examine and analyze blood found in the place of a crime also. A serologist carries on a wide range of laboratory tests by carrying on specific antigen and antibody reactions.
Doctors Treating Psychological Problems:
Psychiatrist:
A psychiatrist is a medical doctor who specializes in the mental health field. He/she deals with rge prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of mental, behavioral, and emotional disorders. He helps to enhance the quality of a person’s life by making assessments of the mind and emotions, providing treatment and rehabilitation care to mentally disturbed patients. They may also deal with phobias of all types. They may offer a mix of treatment in some cases, which includes medication, psychotherapy, and counseling.
- General Psychiatrist: General Psychiatrist is a medical professional who specializes in the study, treatment and diagnosis of mental disorder and behavioural problems.
- Neuropsychiatrists: Neuropsychiatrists is a medical professional who specializes in mental and brain health.
- Geriatric Psychiatrist: Geriatric Psychiatrist is a medical professional who specializes in mental complications in elderly individuals.
- Forensic Psychiatrists: Forensic Psychiatrists is a medical professional who specializes in the study of correlation between psychology and crime.
Supporting Specialists:
Diagnostician:
A Diagnostician is a doctor who diagnoses and treats medical conditions and solves complex medical mysteries. All Doctors are technically Diagnosticians because they diagnose ailments.
Pathologist:
A pathologist is a specialist who examines body tissues and fluids to analyze the origin of a disease. A pathologist generally works in laboratories on samples collected for investigation and helps physicians and surgeons to diagnose diseases. Such pathologists are called clinical pathologists. Other works of area are anatomical pathology, molecular pathology, surgical pathology, forensic pathology and speech pathology.
Paleopathologist:
Paleopathologists studies evidence of trauma, disease and congenital defects in human remains. This group of specialists may be drawn from archaeologists, geneticists, and physical anthropologists. These specialists research the prehistoric or ancient populations, but also study epidemics in prehistoric times.
Radiologist:
Radiologists are medical doctors that specialize in diagnosing and treating injuries and diseases using medical imaging (radiology) procedures (exams/tests) such as X-rays, computed tomography (CT), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), nuclear medicine, positron emission tomography (PET) and ultrasound.
Nuclear Medicine Practitioner:
Nuclear medicine physicians, also called nuclear radiologists, are medical specialists that use tracers, usually radiopharmaceuticals administered by injection, swallowing, or inhalation for diagnosis and therapy. These RA tracers are attracted to specific parts of the body and show up as gamma rays detected externally by cameras. Nuclear medicine imaging procedures have been successful in identifying abnormalities much earlier than radiological procedures. Nuclear medicine practitioners carry on bone scans to examine orthopedic injuries, fractures, tumors, or unexplained bone pain and heart scans to identify normal or abnormal blood flow to the heart muscle, measure heart function or determine the existence or extent of damage to the heart muscle after a heart attack. Besides they conduct breast scans to locate cancerous tissues in the breast, and liver, gall bladder and kidney scans to judge the functioning of liver, gallbladder and kidney. Besides they also carry on thyroid and lung scans and also scans to detect the causes of gastrointestinal bleeding.
Diabetologist:
A Diabetologist is a doctor who specializes in the treatment of Diabetes, which is a metabolic disorder and, therefore, forms a part of endocrinology. He deals and specializes in diseases and conditions like diabetes mellitus type 1, diabetes mellitus type 2, non-insulin dependent diabetes, hyperglycemia, hypoglycemia, diabetic ketoacidosis, arteriosclerosis, peripheral neuropathy, foot ulcer and diabetic retinopathy. He may also deal in gestational diabetes.
Dietician:
A dietitian, is an expert in identifying and treating disease-related malnutrition and in conducting medical nutrition therapy. He/she is an expert in the field of food and nutrition. Many individuals, companies, families, schools, hospitals and other institutions seek their help to make meal plans that could be healthy, cost-effective and beneficial to them. They can also help one to plan their diet to lose weight.
Physiotherapist:
A physiotherapist, or physical therapist, works with patients to help them manage pain, balance, mobility, and motor function. He/she helps patients who have been disabled by injury, illness and age to gain their normal range of movements, prevent further damage and increase their functionality. A physiotherapist diagnoses the patient’s problem and helps the patient to do physical exercises that would tone his muscles and strengthen them. They may also do massages and stretch the patient’s muscles and offer advice regarding nutrition, body conditioning and prophylactic care.
Forensic Medicine Expert or Coroner:
A Forensic Medicine Expert or Coroner is a medical professional who works in coordination with others like a coronary investigator to determine the cause of death of a person who may have died in mysterious circumstances. This medical examiner is responsible for performing actual autopsy on the body, while a coroner investigator examines the body, the scene of the crime. So coroner investigators may be from the medical profession, law or with training in criminal law.
Toxicologist:
A toxicologist is engaged in the development and implementation of laboratory and field studies to find out the short- and long- term effects of different toxins on human beings, animals, plants and the environment. He/she also thinks of ways and means to eliminate and minimize the negative effects of the already existing toxins.
Geneticist / Clinical Geneticist:
A clinical geneticist is a medical specialist who applies his knowledge of genetics and is skilled enough to evaluate birth defects, genetic disorders, familial cancers and chromosomal abnormalities. They work closely with genetic counsellors to support patients, families and clinical teams in the management of genetic conditions. Clinical geneticists help identify families at possible risk of a genetic condition by assessing a patient’s physical features and medical history, gathering and analyzing family history and inheritance patterns and calculating chances of recurrence. They provide information about genetic testing and related procedures. A clinical geneticist could easily advice on options, including treatment options, for patients when the doctor suspects a genetic problem.
Physiologist:
Physiologists are highly trained medical person with zeal and expertise in studying how humans, plants, animals and cell function. A physiologist generally focuses on the functioning of the human body such as energy procurement and utilization, blood circulation, excretion, defence systems against infection, repair mechanisms reproduction, nutrition, digestion, absorption, metabolism and diseases.
Conclusion:
This long list of medical specialties and subspecialties shows the many options students have for making their career in medicine. Select a career that challenges you, aligns with your career goals, and provides your desired lifestyle. Narrowing down your options and working toward your intended field of medicine early on in your medical school journey can give you an advantage.