32 Common Physician Specialties

Medical Specialties

• There are over 32 common physician specialties, each with its own focus and responsibilities.

Plastic Surgery

• Plastic surgeons specialize in changing a person's appearance.
• They can perform plastic surgery for cosmetic reasons or to improve a person's well-being and ability to function.
• Examples of plastic surgery include correcting a cleft palate to improve breathing or speaking.

Podiatry

• Podiatrists treat problems with the foot, ankle, and lower leg.
• They must complete four years of education in a specialized podiatric medical school and a two-year residency.
• Treatments may include osteoarthritis in the ankle, diabetic foot disorders, foot and ankle injuries, skin and nail conditions of the foot, and foot deformities like flat feet and hammertoe.

Pulmonology

• Pulmonologists treat the cardio-pulmonary system, including the heart, lungs, and organs involved in the respiratory process.
• They may work in office settings to treat patients with breathing disorders, severe allergies, lung problems, and other respiratory diseases.
• Pulmonologists attend medical school followed by an internal medicine residency and fellowship training for pulmonology.

Psychiatry

• Psychiatrists specialize in mental health.
• They treat emotional and behavioral problems through a combination of psychotherapy, psychoanalysis, medication, and hospitalization.
• Psychiatrists attend medical school followed by a residency for psychiatry and may attend fellowships for a subspecialty such as child and adolescent psychiatry or addiction medicine.

Radiology

• Radiologists analyze test results and offer additional information or advice for further testing.
• Radiologists must attend medical school and a residency for radiology, with the option to attend fellowship training for a subspecialty of radiology.

Rheumatology

• Rheumatologists treat rheumatic diseases, or autoimmune and inflammatory diseases of the musculoskeletal system.
• The most common condition a rheumatologist treats is arthritis, including osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis.
• Rheumatologists attend medical school, followed by a three-year basic internal medicine residency and a rheumatology fellowship.

Sleep Medicine

• Sleep medicine specialists treat sleep disorders such as sleep apnea, restless legs syndrome, and insomnia.
• Sleep specialists complete a residency in another specialty such as internal medicine, pediatrics, family medicine, or neurology, followed by a one-year fellowship.

Other Specialties

• Dermatologists diagnose and treat conditions that affect the hair, skin, and nails.
• Endocrinologists treat the endocrine system, including glands that produce and secrete hormones that control and regulate nearly all of the body's functions.
• Family practice physicians are primary care providers who see patients of all ages and provide basic care for a variety of common ailments.
• Gastroenterologists treat the functions and diseases of the digestive system.
• Geneticists evaluate and treat people with inherited disorders such as Huntington's disease or cystic fibrosis.
• Hematologists specialize in diseases of the blood, including cancers of the blood such as leukemia and lymphoma.
• Hospice and palliative medicine specialists help patients who have serious illnesses or are at the end of life.
• Infectious disease physicians deal with infections that are hard to diagnose or treat.
• Internists usually have more hospital-based training than family practitioners.
• Neurologists take care of patients with medical conditions that affect the brain, spine, or nerves.
• OB/GYNs specialize in female reproductive health, including menopause and hormone problems.
• Oncologists attend medical school followed by an oncology residency, with the option to attend fellowships for subspecialties of oncology.
• Ophthalmologists attend medical school followed by a residency for ophthalmology, with the option to attend fellowship training for specific eye diseases or surgical procedures.
• Orthopedists diagnose and treat conditions of the musculoskeletal system, including the bones, muscles, joints, and connective tissues.
• Osteopaths complete four years of basic medical school followed by three to eight years of specialty internships, residencies, and fellowships.
• Otolaryngologists, or ENTs, handle a lot of issues, including sinus problems, allergies, head and neck cancers, and more.
• Pathologists specialize in investigating the cause and effect of disease and injury.
• Pediatricians provide primary health care to children, including vaccinations, general health checkups, school physicals, and treatment of issues like coughs, colds, and stomach flu.