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    The Ultimate List of Medical Specialties and Subspecialties

    January 6, 2021

    Medical Specialties and Subspecialties

    The medical field is as expansive and multifaceted as the intricacies of the human body. Doctor specialties exist for each of these fields of medicine to serve the needs of a particular realm of care. But where should an aspiring doctor like yourself begin when finding a medical specialty?

    You came to the right place. We put together this comprehensive list of medical specialties and subspecialties, as recognized by the Association of American Medical Colleges. Scroll through to discover the expansive possibilities available when applying to medical school.

    If youโ€™re already interested in a particular field of medicine, click on the corresponding link below to explore the options within that specialty.

    Overview of physician specialties:

    A comprehensive list of medical specialties

    Every medical specialist shares one common goal: to help patients get healthy or stay healthy. But each one has very specific skills and competencies that make them an integral member of the medical field. Learn more about each specialty and the subspecialties that fall underneath them.

    1. Allergy and Immunology

    Specialists in allergy and immunology work with both adult and pediatric patients suffering from allergies and diseases of the respiratory tract or immune system. They may help patients suffering from common diseases such as asthma, food and drug allergies, immune deficiencies, and diseases of the lung. Specialists in allergy and immunology can pursue opportunities in research, education, or clinical practice.

    2. Anesthesiology

    Anesthesiology is the branch of medicine dedicated to pain relief for patients before, during, and after surgery. The American Board of Anesthesiology outlines the following subspecialties within the field in the following areas of care:


    3. Dermatology

    Dermatologists are physicians who treat adult and pediatric patients with disorders of the skin, hair, nails, and adjacent mucous membranes. They diagnose everything from skin cancer, tumors, inflammatory diseases of the skin, and infectious diseases. They also perform skin biopsies and dermatological surgical procedures.

    Subspecialties within the dermatology field include the following:

    4. Diagnostic radiology

    Physicians specializing in diagnostic radiology are trained to diagnose illnesses in patients through the use of x-rays, radioactive substances, sound waves in ultrasounds, or the bodyโ€™s natural magnetism in magnetic resonance images (MRIs).

    They can also pursue a subspecialty in the following areas:

    5. Emergency medicine

    Physicians specializing in emergency medicine provide care for adult and pediatric patients in emergency situations. These specialists provide immediate decision making and action to save lives and prevent further injury. They help patients in the pre-hospital setting by directing emergency medical technicians and assisting patients once they arrive in the emergency department.

    Emergency medicine is also home to several subspecialties, including the following:

    6. Family medicine

    While many medical specialties focus on a certain function of the body or particular organ, family medicine focuses on integrated care and treating the patient as a whole. Physicians who specialize in family medicine treat patients of all ages. They are extensively trained to provide comprehensive health care and treat most ailments.

    There are family medicine subspecialties as well, including the following:

    Doctor shaking hands with patient

    7. Internal medicine

    An internist is a physician who treats diseases of the heart, blood, kidneys, joints, digestive, respiratory, and vascular systems of adolescent, adult, and elderly patients. These physicians provide long-term and comprehensive care in hospitals and offices. Because they undergo primary care training on internal medicine, these physicians also address disease prevention, wellness, substance abuse, and mental health.

    Internal medicine subspecialties including the following:

    8. Medical genetics

    A medical geneticist is a physician who treats hereditary disorders and diagnoses diseases that are caused by genetic defects. Medical geneticists may provide patients with therapeutic interventions and specialized counseling. They also educate patients and their families on their diagnoses and how to cope with their genetic disorder. Medical geneticists conduct cytogenetic, radiologic, and biochemical testing and scientific research in the field.

    Medical geneticists house several subspecialties within the field, including the following:

    9. Neurology

    Neurology is the specialty within the medical field pertaining to nerves and the nervous system. Neurologists diagnose and treat diseases of the brain, spinal cord, peripheral nerves, muscles, autonomic nervous system, and blood vessels. Much of neurology is consultative, as neurologists treat patients suffering from strokes, Alzheimerโ€™s disease, seizure disorders, and spinal cord disorders.

    Neurology offers several subspecialties, including the following:

    10. Nuclear medicine

    Physicians who practice nuclear medicine are called nuclear radiologists or nuclear medicine radiologists. They use radioactive materials to diagnose and treat diseases. Utilizing techniques such as scintigraphy, these physicians analyze images of the body’s organs to visualize certain diseases. They may also use radiopharmaceuticals to treat hyperthyroidism, thyroid cancer, tumors, and bone cancer.

    11. Obstetrics and gynecology

    Obstetrician/gynecologists (OB/GYNs) care for the female reproductive system and associated disorders. This field of medicine encompasses a wide array of care, including the care of pregnant women, gynecologic care, oncology, surgery, and primary health care for women.

    Several subspecialties within obstetrics and gynecology include the following:

    Doctor attending to patient

    12. Ophthalmology

    Physicians specializing in ophthalmology develop comprehensive medical and surgical care of the eyes. Ophthalmologists diagnose and treat vision problems. They may treat strabismus, diabetic retinopathy, or perform surgeries on cataracts or corneal transplantation.

    There are several subspecialties within the ophthalmology field, including the following:

    13. Pathology

    A physician specializing in pathology studies the causes and nature of diseases. Through microscopic examination and clinical lab tests, pathologists work to diagnose, monitor, and treat diseases. They examine tissues, cells, and body fluids, applying biological, chemical, and physical sciences within the laboratory. They may examine tissues to determine whether an organ transplant is needed, or they may examine the blood of a pregnant woman to ensure the health of the fetus.

    Pathology umbrellas several areas of subspecialty within the field, including the following:

    14. Pediatrics

    Physicians specializing in pediatrics work to diagnose and treat patients from infancy through adolescence. Pediatricians practice preventative medicine and also diagnose common childhood diseases, such as asthma, allergies, and croup.

    They may work as a primary care pediatrician treating an array of ailments, or narrowing their scope of practice in one of the following subspecialties:

    15. Physical medicine and Rehabilitation

    Physicians specializing in physical medicine and rehabilitation work to help patients with disabilities of the brain, spinal cord, nerves, bones, joints, ligaments, muscles, and tendons. Physiatrists work with patients of all ages and design care plans for conditions, such as spinal cord or brain injury, stroke, multiple sclerosis, and musculoskeletal and pediatric rehabilitation. Unlike many other medical specialties, physiatrists work to improve patient quality of life, rather than seek medical cures.

    Subspecialties in this field include the following:

    16. Preventive medicine

    Physicians specializing in preventative medicine work to prevent disease by promoting patient health and well-being. Their expertise goes far beyond preventative practices in clinical medicine, covering elements of biostatistics, epidemiology, environmental and occupational medicine, and even the evaluation and management of health services and healthcare organizations. The field combines interdisciplinary elements of medical, social, economic, and behavioral sciences to understand the causes of disease and injury in population groups.

    Subspecialties within preventative medicine include the following:

    17. Psychiatry

    Physicians specializing in psychiatry devote their careers to mental health and its associated mental and physical ramifications. Understanding the connections between genetics, emotion, and mental illness, is important while psychiatrists also conduct medical laboratory and psychological tests to diagnose and treat patients.

    Subspecialties within psychiatry include the following:

    18. Radiation oncology

    Physicians specializing in radiation oncology treat cancer with the use of high-energy radiation therapy. By targeting radiation doses in small areas of the body, radiation oncologists damage the DNA of cancer cells, preventing further growth. Radiation oncologists work with cancer patients, prescribing and implementing treatment plans while monitoring their progress throughout.

    Radiation oncology houses a few subspecialties, including the following:

    19. Surgery

    Physicians specializing in surgery can choose to become general surgeons or pursue a subspecialty in a specific area of the body, type of patient, or type of surgery. General surgeons provide a wide variety of life-saving surgeries, such as appendectomies and splenectomies. They receive broad training on human anatomy, physiology, intensive care, and wound healing.

    The Association of American Medical Colleges and American College of Surgeons outline a number of surgical subspecialties and areas of practice, including the following:

    Doctor with mask

    20. Urology

    Urology is the health care segment that cares for the male and female urinary tract, including kidneys, ureters, bladder, and urethra. It also deals with the male sex organs. Urologists have knowledge of surgery, internal medicine, pediatrics, gynecology, and more.

    Within urology, there are several areas of subspecialty, including the following:

    Which medical fields interest you most?

    This long list of medical specialties and subspecialties shows the many options you have for making an impact in patientsโ€™ lives. Selecting a specialty that challenges you, aligns with your career goals, and provides your desired lifestyle are all important aspects you need to take into consideration.

    Narrowing down your options and working toward your intended field of medicine early on in your medical school journey can give you an advantage.

    For more insider insight like this, check out our article, “Doctors Reveal 12 Things No One Tells You About Pursuing a Career in Medicine.”

    Ready to go above and beyond?

    Are you considering St. George’s University Medical School? If you need any more convincing, just reach out to some graduates or current students. Theyโ€™re happy to tell you what their experiences were like.

    If you feel like SGU could be the right medical school for you, take the next step. Continue your research by visiting our request information page.

     
    *This article has been updated from its original version.

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