The field of medicine encompasses a broad range of health providers. In general, they perform examinations of patients, diagnose illnesses, educate patients and treat disease and injury.
Physicians are practitioners of medicine. They devote their entire career to learning about providing care for their patients with new technologies, equipment, techniques and medications.
There are two types of physicians: the doctor of medicine (MD) and the doctor of osteopathic medicine (DO). MDs and DO’s may practice general medicine or concentrate on a medical specialty. They work as leaders and coordinators of the health care team, referring patients to appropriate resources for care and services and overseeing the practice of other health care providers.
Physicians care for healthy people and for those who are ill or injured. They perform physical examinations, diagnose and treat illnesses, injuries, and other disorders. They can prescribe and administer medications and treatments, provide immunization services, care for pregnant women and deliver babies, perform surgery, and conduct research to aid in disease control or the development of new treatments. The practice of medicine is evolving as the health care system changes. Managed care and health maintenance organizations (HMOs) are creating an increased demand for primary care physicians who provide most health care needs for their patients and refer them to other specialists as needed.
Areas of Specialization
There are many specialties and sub-specialties within medicine, each dealing with specific populations and clinical focuses. Specialty certification is earned through residency training programs that require three to seven years of study beyond medical school.
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MEDICAL SPECIALTIES AND SUB-SPECIALTIES
Allergy and Immunology
Clinical and Laboratory Immunology
Anesthesiology
Anesthesiology Critical Care Medicine
Anesthesiology Pain Management
Pediatric Anesthesiology
Colon and Rectal Surgery
Dermatology
Dermatopathology
Procedural Dermatology
Emergency Medicine
Medical Toxicology
Pediatric Emergency Medicine
Sports Medicine
Undersea and Hyperbaric Medicine
Family Practice
Family Practice Geriatric Medicine
Family Practice Sports Medicine
Internal Medicine
Cardiovascular Diseases
Clinical Cardiac Electrophysiology
Critical Care Medicine
Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism
Gastroenterology
Geriatric Medicine
Hematology
Hematology and Oncology
Infectious Disease
Intensivist
Interventional Cardiology
Nephrology
Oncology
Pulmonary Disease
Pulmonary Disease and Critical Care Medicine
Rheumatology
Medical Genetics
Molecular Genetic Pathology
Neurological Surgery
Endovascular Surgical Neuroradiology
Neurology
Child Neurology
Clinical Neurophysiology
Neurodevelopmental Disabilities
Pain Management
Vascular Neurology
Nuclear Medicine
Obstetrics and Gynecology
Ophthalmology
Orthopedic Surgery
Adult Reconstructive Surgery
Foot and Ankle Orthopedics
Hand Surgery
Musculoskeletal Oncology
Orthopedic Sports Medicine
Orthopedic Surgery of the Spine
Orthopedic Trauma
Pediatric Orthopedics
Otolaryngology
Neurotology
Pediatric Otolaryngology
Pathology
Blood Banking/Transfusion Medicine
Chemical Pathology
Cytopathology
Dermatopathology
Forensic Pathology
Hematology
Immunopathology
Medical Microbiology
Neuropathology
Pediatric Pathology
Pediatrics
Adolescent Medicine
Developmental – Behavioral Pediatrics
Neonatal-Perinatal Medicine
Pediatric Cardiology
Pediatric Critical Care Medicine
Pediatric Emergency Medicine
Pediatric Endocrinology
Pediatric Gastroenterology
Pediatric Hematology/Oncology
Pediatric Infectious Diseases
Pediatric Nephrology
Pediatric Pulmonology
Pediatric Rheumatology
Pediatric Sports Medicine
Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation
Pain Management
Pediatric Rehabilitation Medicine
Spinal Cord Injury Medicine
Plastic Surgery
Craniofacial Surgery
Hand Surgery
Preventive Medicine
Medical Toxicology
Undersea and Hyperbaric Medicine
Psychiatry
Addiction Psychiatry
Child and Adolescent Psychiatry
Forensic Psychiatry
Geriatric Psychiatry
Pain Management
Psychosomatic Medicine
Radiology
Abdominal Radiology
Cardiothoracic Radiology
Endovascular Surgical Neuroradiology
Musculoskeletal Radiology
Neuroradiology
Nuclear Radiology
Pediatric Radiology
Vascular and Interventional Radiology
Radiation Oncology
Surgery
Hand Surgery
Pediatric Surgery
Surgical Critical Care
Surgical Oncology
Thoracic Surgery
Transplant Surgery
Trauma Surgery
Vascular Surgery
Urology
Pediatric Urology |
Work Environment
Physicians may work long and erratic hours responding to emergencies and the intensive care needs of their patients. They may practice independently or in a group, work in hospitals, public health agencies, health provider organizations, government agencies, or educational institutions. In addition to providing patient care, many physicians are involved in research, teaching, and administration.
More physicians are working for organizations rather than practicing independently. Primary care physicians (those in family practice internal medicine, or even pediatrics) are especially needed in rural areas because of past trends towards specialization and the tendency to locate practices in urban areas.
