Understanding physician specialties

To become a specialist in a certain field, a doctor must meet specific educational requirements. Generally, four years of premedical education in a college or university are followed by four years of medical school. The doctor of medicine (M.D.) degree is awarded upon graduation. Osteopathic medical schools, which focus on the mechanical structure of the body, grant the doctor of osteopathy (D.O.) degree. Then, the doctor completes a residency. This time of supervised specialty training may last from three to seven years or longer.


Board certification
After the residency training, the doctor can become board certified in a particular area by meeting the eligibility criteria of that specialty, which usually includes certification testing. There are currently 24 approved specialties, including family medicine, pediatrics and internal medicine.
To receive certification or subspecialty approval by the American Board of Medical Specialists, the doctor must earn a doctor of medicine or doctor of osteopathy degree from an accredited school of medicine and complete three to seven years or more of specialty training in an accredited residency program that meets the approval of the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education.

Individual performance evaluations from the residency training director or the chief of service in the hospital where the specialist practices may be required. Most specialty boards require that the doctor's license be free of restrictions. Finally, the doctor must pass a written exam given by the specialty board. Sometimes, full-time work within the specialty field -- often two years -- is required before the exam can be taken. Fifteen of the 24 specialty boards also require an oral exam.

After completing these requirements, the doctor is awarded the title of diplomate and becomes a board-certified specialist. Many specialties now require that doctors take recertification exams periodically to maintain their board-certified status. Specialists who want to subspecialize in a particular field, which may require a number of years in a fellowship program, follow a similar procedure. In fact, many common areas of medical practice are actually subspecialties.


Specialties and subspecialties
In alphabetical order, here are descriptions of some of the specialists you may encounter.
Allergist/immunologist
An allergist/immunologist is a doctor who specializes in allergies and other conditions affecting the immune system. A subspecialty is clinical and laboratory immunology.

Anesthesiologist
An anesthesiologist is a doctor who specializes in the administration of anesthesia for surgeries and other procedures. Subspecialty fields include pain management and critical care medicine.

Colon/rectal surgeon
A colon/rectal surgeon is a doctor who specializes in surgical procedures to correct deformities or defects, repair injuries, and treat diseases of the colon and rectum.

Dermatologist
A dermatologist is a doctor who specializes in conditions of the skin. Subspecialty fields include clinical and laboratory dermatological immunology, dermatopathology and pediatric dermatology.

Emergency medicine specialist
An emergency medicine specialist is a doctor who specializes in the emergency care of people who are severely ill or injured. This type of doctor may have the title of Fellow of the American College of Emergency Physicians (F.A.C.E.P.). Subspecialty fields include medical toxicology, pediatric emergency medicine, sports medicine, and undersea and hyperbaric medicine.

Family physician
A family physician can provide comprehensive medical care to all members of a family. A family physician provides primary care and often serves as the first point of contact.

Subspecialty fields for family physicians include geriatric and sports medicine.

Geriatrics: A family physician with a certificate of added qualification in geriatrics specializes in comprehensive care of the elderly and has additional expertise in the health problems of the elderly, as well as related psychological, financial and social issues.

Sports medicine: A sports medicine specialist develops special expertise in the health needs of recreational and competitive athletes. Sports medicine specialists can also help athletes prevent injuries.
Gynecologist
See "Obstetrician/gynecologist."

Internist
An internist is a doctor who specializes in primary care of adults. There are many subspecialty fields within internal medicine:

Adolescent medicine specialists care for adolescents.

Cardiologists treat conditions of the heart. Related subspecialties are clinical cardiac electrophysiology and interventional cardiology.

Endocrinologists treat conditions of the endocrine glands (those that produce hormones), including the pituitary, thyroid, parathyroid and adrenal glands, as well as the pancreas, ovaries and testes. These glands are responsible for growth, metabolism, sexual maturity, reproduction and resistance to stress and disease.

Gastroenterologists specialize in conditions of the stomach, intestines, esophagus, liver, gallbladder and pancreas.

Hematologists specialize in conditions of the blood and the blood-forming tissues of the body. Many hematologists are also trained in oncology (the care of people who have cancer).

Infectious disease specialists specialize in diseases caused by microorganisms.

Nephrologists specialize in conditions of the kidneys.

Oncologists specialize in the care of people who have cancer. Many oncologists are also trained in hematology.

Pulmonologists specialize in conditions of the lungs.

Rheumatologists specialize in conditions of the muscles, joints, ligaments and cartilage, such as arthritis.
Internists can also obtain certificates of added qualification in geriatrics, clinical and laboratory immunology, critical care medicine and sports medicine.

Medical geneticist
A medical geneticist may receive certificates in clinical genetics, clinical biochemical genetics, clinical cytogenetics or clinical molecular genetics.

Neurologist
A neurologist is a doctor who specializes in conditions of the nervous system (the pathways of the brain and spinal cord that transmit and receive electrical impulses to and from the skin, muscles, joints and sensory areas, such as sight, hearing, taste and smell). Subspecialty fields include child neurology, clinical neurophysiology, neurodevelopmental disorders and pain management.

Neurosurgeon
A neurosurgeon specializes in surgery of the brain and nervous system.

Nuclear medicine specialist
A nuclear medicine specialist is a doctor who specializes in the use of radioactive substances to diagnose and treat a range of conditions.

Obstetrician/gynecologist
An obstetrician/gynecologist is a doctor who specializes in conditions of the female reproductive organs and women's health. This type of doctor can also provide care to women during pregnancy, childbirth and the postpartum period (after a baby is born). Subspecialty fields include critical care medicine, gynecologic oncology, maternal and fetal medicine, and reproductive endocrinology.

Ophthalmologist
An ophthalmologist is a doctor who specializes in conditions of the eyes. Subspecialties include vitreoretinal disease, corneal diseases and pediatric ophthalmology.

Orthopedist
An orthopedist is a doctor who specializes in the prevention and correction of conditions of the skeleton, joints, muscles and supporting structures, such as ligaments and cartilage. Hand surgery is one subspecialty area.

Osteopath
An osteopath is a doctor who has attended an osteopathic school of medicine and earned a doctor of osteopathy (D.O.) degree. Osteopathic doctors use all the tools of modern medicine, but incorporate osteopathic manipulative treatment into patient care. Osteopaths specialize in the same fields as their M.D. colleagues, but are more likely to practice primary care, including family medicine, internal medicine and pediatrics.

Otolaryngologist
An otolaryngologist is a doctor who specializes in conditions of the ear, nose and throat. This type of doctor may also be referred to as an ear, nose and throat (ENT) specialist. Subspecialty fields include otology/neurology, pediatric otolaryngology and plastic surgery.

Pathologist
A pathologist is a doctor who specializes in medical diagnosis by examining tissue, blood or body fluids. Pathologists conduct postmortem exams (autopsies) to determine cause of death. Areas of emphasis include anatomic or clinical pathology. Subspecialty fields include blood banking/transfusion medicine, chemical pathology, cytopathology, dermatopathology, forensic pathology, hematology, immunopathology, medical microbiology, molecular genetic pathology, neuropathology and pediatric pathology.

Pediatrician
A pediatrician is a doctor who specializes in the care of children. Pediatricians may subspecialize in specific areas of children's health, including adolescent medicine, clinical and laboratory immunology, toxicology, neonatal-perinatal medicine, neurodevelopmental disorders, cardiology, critical care, emergency medicine, endocrinology, gastroenterology, hematology-oncology, infectious diseases, nephrology, pulmonology, rheumatology and sports medicine.

Physical medicine and rehabilitation specialist
A physical medicine and rehabilitation specialist often supervises comprehensive rehabilitation programs that include physical therapy and physical medicine techniques to treat disease, disability, illness or injury. Subspecialty fields include spinal cord injury medicine, pain management and pediatric rehabilitation.

Plastic surgeon
A plastic surgeon is a doctor who specializes in the repair or construction of inadequate or missing structures. This often involves the transfer of tissue from one area or person to another. Subspecialty fields include hand surgery and plastic surgery within the head and neck.

Preventive medicine specialist
A preventive medicine specialist specializes in population-based medicine through health promotion and the prevention of disease, injury, disability and death. Areas of emphasis within preventive medicine may include occupational medicine, aerospace medicine and general preventive medicine or public health. Subspecialty fields include medical toxicology and undersea and hyperbaric medicine.

Psychiatrist
A psychiatrist is a doctor who specializes in mental illness. Subspecialty fields include addiction psychiatry, child and adolescent psychiatry, forensic psychiatry and geriatric psychiatry.

Radiologist
A radiologist is a doctor who specializes in the use of imaging techniques (X-rays, ultrasounds and magnetic resonance imaging, for example) to diagnose and treat diseases. Areas of emphasis include diagnostic radiology, radiation oncology and radiation physics. Subspecialty fields include neuroradiology, nuclear radiology, pediatric radiology, and vascular and interventional radiology.

Surgeon
A surgeon is a doctor who specializes in surgical procedures to correct defects, repair injuries, or diagnose and treat diseases. Subspecialty fields include general vascular, hand, pediatric and critical care surgery.

Thoracic surgeon
A thoracic surgeon specializes in surgery of the chest, head and lungs.

Urologist
A urologist is a doctor who specializes in conditions of the male genital tract, as well as the urinary tracts of both men and women.


Other health professionals
Chiropractor
A chiropractor is a health professional who believes that body structure affects function. Chiropractors feel that the spinal column and nervous system are fundamental to the restoration and continued function of a healthy body. Requirements for training, certification and licensure vary by state. To verify the requirements for chiropractors in a particular state, contact the appropriate licensing body for each state.

Optometrist
An optometrist examines patients' eyes, prescribes and fits eyeglasses and contact lenses, and may recommend eye exercises and other treatments. To become an optometrist, you must complete a one- to three-year college program that focuses on math and science and earn a four-year university degree in optometry.

Podiatrist
A podiatrist is a health professional who specializes in conditions of the foot. A podiatrist may also do surgical procedures on the foot and prescribe corrective devices, medications and physical therapy. To become a podiatrist, you must attend a four-year podiatric college to study medicine and minor surgical procedures. Each graduate becomes a doctor of podiatric medicine (D.P.M.). A podiatrist is not a medical doctor. The scope of practice of podiatry varies by state.