Common Medical Specialists

A SPECIALTY is a branch of medicine that is focused on a defined group of  diseases, patients, or skills. 

Anesthesiologist:

Doctor who give drugs to patients to numb during surgery or procedures.  Monitors vital signs while the patient is under anesthesia.

Cardiologists:

Experts on the heart and blood vessels. Diagnoses and treats heart failure, a heart attack, high blood pressure, or an irregular heartbeat.

Critical Care Medicine:

They care for people who are critically ill or injured, often heading intensive care units in hospitals. You might see them if your heart or other organs are failing or if you’ve been in an accident.

Dermatologists:

Specialists in diseases of skin, hair and nails. Treats acne, moles, skin allergies etc.

Endocrinologist:

These are experts on hormones and metabolism. They can treat conditions like diabetes, thyroid problems, infertility, and calcium and bone disorders.

Emergency Medicine:

These doctors make life-or-death decisions for sick and injured people, usually in an emergency room. Their job is to save lives and to avoid or lower the chances of disability.

Family Physician:

They care for the whole family, including children, adults, and the elderly. They do routine checkups and screening tests, give you flu and immunization shots, and manage diabetes and other ongoing medical conditions.

Gastroenterologist:

They’re specialists in digestive organs, including the stomach, bowels, pancreas, liver, and gallbladder. You might see them for abdominal pain, ulcers, diarrhea, jaundice, or cancers in your digestive organs. They also do a colonoscopy and other tests for colon cancer.

Geriatrics:

These doctors care for the elderly. They can treat people in their homes, doctors' offices, nursing homes, assisted-living centers, and hospitals.

Hematologist:

Specialists in diseases of the blood, spleen, sickle cell disease, anemia, hemophilia, and leukemia.

Hospice and Palliative Care:

They work with people who are nearing death. They’re experts in pain management. They work with a team of other doctors to keep up your quality of life.

Infectious Disease (ID) Specialist:

Diagnose and treat infections in any part of your body, like fevers, Sepsis, pneumonia, tuberculosis, and HIV and AIDS. Some of them specialize in preventive medicine or travel medicine.

Nephrologist:

They treat kidney diseases.

Neurologist:

Specialists in the nervous system that includes the brain, spinal cord, and nerves. They treat strokes, brain and spinal tumors, epilepsy, Parkinson's disease, and Alzheimer's disease.

Obstetrician & Gynecologist:

Often called OB/GYNs, these doctors focus on women's health, including pregnancy and childbirth. They do Pap smears, pelvic exams, and pregnancy checkups. OB/GYNs are trained in both areas. But some of them may focus on women's reproductive health (gynecologists), and others specialize in caring for pregnant women (obstetricians).

Oncologist:

Cancer specialists. They do chemotherapy treatments and often work with radiation oncologists and surgeons to care for someone with cancer.

Ophthalmologist:

You call them eye doctors. They can prescribe glasses or contact lenses and diagnose and treat diseases like glaucoma. Unlike optometrists, they’re medical doctors who can treat every kind of eye condition as well as operate on the eyes.

Pathologist:

These lab doctors identify the causes of diseases by examining body tissues and fluids under microscopes.

Pediatrician:

They care for children from birth to young adulthood. Some pediatricians specialize in pre-teens and teens, child abuse, or children's developmental issues.

Plastic Surgery:

You might call them cosmetic surgeons. They rebuild or repair your skin, face, hands, breasts, or body. That can happen after an injury or disease or for cosmetic reasons.

Podiatry:

They care for problems in your ankles and feet. That can include injuries from accidents or sports or from ongoing health conditions like diabetes. Some podiatrists have advanced training in other subspecialties of the foot.

Psychiatrists:

These doctors work with people with mental, emotional, or addictive disorders. They can diagnose and treat depression, schizophrenia, substance abuse, anxiety disorders, and sexual and gender identity issues. Some psychiatrists focus on children, adolescents, or the elderly.

Pulmonologist:

You would see these specialists for problems like lung cancer, pneumonia, asthma, emphysema, and trouble sleeping caused by breathing issues.

Radiology:

They use X-rays, ultrasound, and other imaging tests to diagnose diseases. They can also specialize in radiation oncology to treat conditions like cancer.

Rheumatology:

They specialize in arthritis and other diseases in your joints, muscles, bones, and tendons. You might see them for your osteoporosis (weak bones), back pain, gout, tendinitis from sports or repetitive injuries, and fibromyalgia.

Sports Medicine:

These doctors diagnose, treat, and prevent injuries related to sports and exercise.

General Surgery:

These doctors can operate on all parts of your body. They can take out tumors, appendices, or gallbladders and repair hernias. Many surgeons have subspecialties, like cancer, hand, or vascular surgery.

Urologist:

These are surgeons who care for men and women for problems in the urinary tract, like a leaky bladder. They also treat male infertility and do prostate exams.