Medical specialties

Medical specialties are branches of medicine that focus on particular areas of patient care, disease management, types of patients, and methods of treatment. There are numerous medical specialties, each with its own training requirements, practices, and areas of expertise.

Overview

Medical specialties can be broadly divided into three categories: surgical specialties, medical specialties, and diagnostic specialties. Each category encompasses a range of specific specialties. For example, surgical specialties include orthopedics, cardiothoracic surgery, and neurosurgery, while medical specialties include cardiology, endocrinology, and gastroenterology.

Surgical Specialties

Surgical specialties involve the use of operative procedures to treat disease, injury, or deformity. Surgeons may specialize in a specific area of the body, type of surgery, or type of patient. For example, pediatric surgeons focus on surgical care for children, while cardiothoracic surgeons operate on the heart and lungs.

Medical Specialties

Medical specialties focus on the non-surgical management of disease. This can involve the use of medications, lifestyle modifications, and other non-operative treatments. Medical specialists often focus on a particular organ system or type of disease. For example, cardiologists specialize in diseases of the heart and blood vessels, while endocrinologists focus on hormonal and metabolic disorders.

Diagnostic Specialties

Diagnostic specialties involve the use of imaging or laboratory tests to diagnose disease. These specialties include radiology, pathology, and laboratory medicine. Diagnostic specialists often work in conjunction with other medical specialists to determine the cause of a patient's symptoms and guide treatment.

Training and Certification

Training in a medical specialty typically involves a period of residency after medical school, followed by additional training in a fellowship for some specialties. After completing training, physicians may become board certified in their specialty by passing an examination administered by a professional medical board.

See Also

• List of medical specialties
• Medical education
• Medical school
• Residency (medicine)
• Fellowship (medicine)

Medical specialties Resources
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