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Health sciences – are those sciences that focus on health, or health care, as core parts of their subject matter. These two subject matters relate to multiple academic disciplines,(and as such) both STEM disciplines, as well as emerging patient safety disciplines (such as social care research), and are both relevant to health science knowledge.

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The Ultimate List of Medical Specialties and Subspecialties

Every medical specialist shares one common goal: to help patients get healthy or stay healthy. However, each one has very specific skills and competencies that make them an integral member of the medical field. Learn more about each specialty and the subspecialties that fall underneath them.

1. Allergy and Immunology

Specialists in allergy and immunology work with both adult and pediatric patients suffering from allergies and diseases of the respiratory tract or immune system. They may help patients suffering from common diseases such as asthma, food and drug allergies, immune deficiencies, and diseases of the lung. Specialists in allergy and immunology can pursue opportunities in research, education, or clinical practice.

2. Anesthesiology

Anesthesiology is the branch of medicine dedicated to pain relief for patients before, during, and after surgery. The American Board of Anesthesiology outlines the following subspecialties within the field in the following areas of care:

Critical care medicine
Hospice and palliative care
Pain medicine
Pediatric anesthesiology
Sleep medicine

3. Dermatology

Dermatologists are physicians who treat adult and pediatric patients with disorders of the skin, hair, nails, and adjacent mucous membranes. They diagnose everything from skin cancer, tumors, inflammatory diseases of the skin, and infectious diseases. They also perform skin biopsies and dermatological surgical procedures.

Subspecialties within the dermatology field include the following:

Dermatopathology
Pediatric dermatology
Procedural dermatology

4. Diagnostic Radiology

Physicians specializing in diagnostic radiology are trained to diagnose illnesses in patients through the use of x-rays, radioactive substances, sound waves in ultrasounds, or the body’s natural magnetism in magnetic resonance images (MRIs).

They can also pursue a subspecialty in the following areas:

Abdominal radiology
Breast imaging
Cardiothoracic radiology
Cardiovascular radiology
Chest radiology
Emergency radiology
Endovascular surgical neuroradiology
Gastrointestinal radiology
Genitourinary radiology
Head and neck radiology
Interventional radiology
Musculoskeletal radiology
Neuroradiology
Nuclear radiology
Pediatric radiology
Radiation oncology
Vascular and interventional radiology

5. Emergency medicine

Physicians specializing in emergency medicine provide care for adult and pediatric patients in emergency situations. These specialists provide immediate decision making and action to save lives and prevent further injury. They help patients in the pre-hospital setting by directing emergency medical technicians and assisting patients once they arrive in the emergency department.

Emergency medicine is also home to several subspecialties, including the following:

Anesthesiology critical care medicine
Emergency medical services
Hospice and palliative medicine
Internal medicine / Critical care medicine
Medical toxicology
Pain medicine
Pediatric emergency medicine
Sports medicine
Undersea and hyperbaric medicine

6. Family medicine

While many medical specialties focus on a certain function of the body or particular organ, family medicine focuses on integrated care and treating the patient as a whole. Physicians who specialize in family medicine treat patients of all ages. They are extensively trained to provide comprehensive health care and treat most ailments.

There are family medicine subspecialties as well, including the following:

Adolescent medicine
Geriatric medicine
Hospice and palliative medicine
Pain medicine
Sleep medicine
Sports medicine

7. Internal medicine

An internist is a physician who treats diseases of the heart, blood, kidneys, joints, digestive, respiratory, and vascular systems of adolescent, adult, and elderly patients. These physicians provide long-term and comprehensive care in hospitals and offices. Because they undergo primary care training on internal medicine, these physicians also address disease prevention, wellness, substance abuse, and mental health.

Internal medicine subspecialties including the following:

Advanced heart failure and transplant cardiology
Cardiovascular disease
Clinical cardiac electrophysiology
Critical care medicine
Endocrinology, diabetes, and metabolism
Gastroenterology
Geriatric medicine
Hematology
Hematology and oncology
Infectious disease
Internal medicine
Interventional cardiology
Nephrology
Oncology
Pediatric internal medicine
Pulmonary disease
Pulmonary disease and critical care medicine
Rheumatology
Sleep medicine
Sports medicine
Transplant hepatology

8. Medical genetics

A medical geneticist is a physician who treats hereditary disorders and diagnoses diseases that are caused by genetic defects. Medical geneticists may provide patients with therapeutic interventions and specialized counseling. They also educate patients and their families on their diagnoses and how to cope with their genetic disorder. Medical geneticists conduct cytogenetic, radiologic, and biochemical testing and scientific research in the field.

Medical geneticists house several subspecialties within the field, including the following:

Biochemical genetics
Clinical cytogenetics
Clinical genetics
Molecular genetic pathology

9. Neurology

Neurology is the specialty within the medical field pertaining to nerves and the nervous system. Neurologists diagnose and treat diseases of the brain, spinal cord, peripheral nerves, muscles, autonomic nervous system, and blood vessels. Much of neurology is consultative, as neurologists treat patients suffering from strokes, Alzheimer’s disease, seizure disorders, and spinal cord disorders.

Neurology offers several subspecialties, including the following:

Brain injury medicine
Child neurology
Clinical neurophysiology
Endovascular surgical neuroradiology
Hospice and palliative medicine
Neurodevelopmental disabilities
Neuromuscular medicine
Pain medicine
Sleep medicine
Vascular neurology

10. Nuclear medicine

Physicians who practice nuclear medicine are called nuclear radiologists or nuclear medicine radiologists. They use radioactive materials to diagnose and treat diseases. Utilizing techniques such as scintigraphy, these physicians analyze images of the body’s organs to visualize certain diseases. They may also use radiopharmaceuticals to treat hyperthyroidism, thyroid cancer, tumors, and bone cancer.

11. Obstetrics and gynecology

Obstetrician/gynecologists (OB/GYNs) care for the female reproductive system and associated disorders. This field of medicine encompasses a wide array of care, including the care of pregnant women, gynecologic care, oncology, surgery, and primary health care for women.

Several subspecialties within obstetrics and gynecology include the following:

Female pelvic medicine and reconstructive surgery
Gynecologic oncology
Maternal-fetal medicine
Reproductive endocrinologists and infertility

12. Ophthalmology

Physicians specializing in ophthalmology develop comprehensive medical and surgical care of the eyes. Ophthalmologists diagnose and treat vision problems. They may treat strabismus, diabetic retinopathy, or perform surgeries on cataracts or corneal transplantation.

There are several subspecialties within the ophthalmology field, including the following:

Anterior segment/cornea ophthalmology
Glaucoma ophthalmology
Neuro-ophthalmology
Ocular oncology
Oculoplastics/orbit
Ophthalmic Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery
Retina/uveitis
Strabismus/pediatric ophthalmology

13. Pathology

A physician specializing in pathology studies the causes and nature of diseases. Through microscopic examination and clinical lab tests, pathologists work to diagnose, monitor, and treat diseases. They examine tissues, cells, and body fluids, applying biological, chemical, and physical sciences within the laboratory. They may examine tissues to determine whether an organ transplant is needed, or they may examine the blood of a pregnant woman to ensure the health of the fetus.

Pathology umbrellas several areas of subspecialty within the field, including the following:

Anatomical pathology
Blood banking and transfusion medicine
Chemical pathology
Clinical pathology
Cytopathology
Forensic pathology
Genetic pathology
Hematology
Immunopathology
Medical microbiology
Molecular pathology
Neuropathology
Pediatric pathology

14. Pediatrics

Physicians specializing in pediatrics work to diagnose and treat patients from infancy through adolescence. Pediatricians practice preventative medicine and also diagnose common childhood diseases, such as asthma, allergies, and croup.

They may work as a primary care pediatrician treating an array of ailments, or narrowing their scope of practice in one of the following subspecialties:

Adolescent medicine
Child abuse pediatrics
Developmental-behavioral pediatrics
Neonatal-perinatal medicine
Pediatric cardiology
Pediatric critical care medicine
Pediatric endocrinology
Pediatric gastroenterology
Pediatric hematology-oncology
Pediatric infectious diseases
Pediatric nephrology
Pediatric pulmonology
Pediatric rheumatology
Pediatric sports medicine
Pediatric transplant hepatology

15. Physical medicine and Rehabilitation

Physicians specializing in physical medicine and rehabilitation work to help patients with disabilities of the brain, spinal cord, nerves, bones, joints, ligaments, muscles, and tendons. Physiatrists work with patients of all ages and design care plans for conditions, such as spinal cord or brain injury, stroke, multiple sclerosis, and musculoskeletal and pediatric rehabilitation. Unlike many other medical specialties, physiatrists work to improve patient quality of life, rather than seek medical cures.

Subspecialties in this field include the following:

Brain injury medicine
Hospice and palliative medicine
Neuromuscular medicine
Pain medicine
Pediatric rehabilitation medicine
Spinal cord injury medicine
Sports medicine

16. Preventive medicine

Physicians specializing in preventative medicine work to prevent disease by promoting patient health and well-being. Their expertise goes far beyond preventative practices in clinical medicine, covering elements of biostatistics, epidemiology, environmental and occupational medicine, and even the evaluation and management of health services and healthcare organizations. The field combines interdisciplinary elements of medical, social, economic, and behavioral sciences to understand the causes of disease and injury in population groups.

Subspecialties within preventative medicine include the following:

Aerospace medicine
Medical toxicology
Occupational medicine
Public health medicine

17. Psychiatry

Physicians specializing in psychiatry devote their careers to mental health and its associated mental and physical ramifications. Understanding the connections between genetics, emotion, and mental illness, is important while psychiatrists also conduct medical laboratory and psychological tests to diagnose and treat patients.

Subspecialties within psychiatry include the following:

Addiction psychiatry
Administrative psychiatry
Child and adolescent psychiatry
Community psychiatry
Consultation/liaison psychiatry
Emergency psychiatry
Forensic psychiatry
Geriatric psychiatry
Mental retardation psychiatry
Military psychiatry
Pain medicine
Psychiatric research
Psychosomatic medicine

18. Radiation oncology

Physicians specializing in radiation oncology treat cancer with the use of high-energy radiation therapy. By targeting radiation doses in small areas of the body, radiation oncologists damage the DNA of cancer cells, preventing further growth. Radiation oncologists work with cancer patients, prescribing and implementing treatment plans while monitoring their progress throughout.

Radiation oncology houses a few subspecialties, including the following:

Hospice and palliative medicine
Pain medicine

19. Surgery

Physicians specializing in surgery can choose to become general surgeons or pursue a subspecialty in a specific area of the body, type of patient, or type of surgery. General surgeons provide a wide variety of life-saving surgeries, such as appendectomies and splenectomies. They receive broad training on human anatomy, physiology, intensive care, and wound healing.

The Association of American Medical Colleges and American College of Surgeons outline a number of surgical subspecialties and areas of practice, including the following:

Colon and rectal surgery
General surgery
Surgical critical care
Gynecologic oncology
Plastic surgery
Craniofacial surgery
Hand surgery
Neurological surgery
Endovascular surgical neuroradiology
Ophthalmic surgery
Oral and maxillofacial surgery
Orthopaedic surgery
Adult reconstructive orthopaedics
Foot and ankle orthopaedics
Musculoskeletal oncology
Orthopaedic sports medicine
Orthopaedic surgery of the spine
Orthopaedic trauma
Pediatric orthopaedics
Otolaryngology
Pediatric otolaryngology
Otology neurotology
Pediatric surgery
Neonatal
Prenatal
Trauma
Pediatric oncology
Surgical Intensivists, specializing in critical care patients
Thoracic Surgery
Congenital cardiac surgery
Thoracic surgery-integrated
Vascular surgery

20. Urology

Urology is the health care segment that cares for the male and female urinary tract, including kidneys, ureters, bladder, and urethra. It also deals with the male sex organs. Urologists have knowledge of surgery, internal medicine, pediatrics, gynecology, and more.

Within urology, there are several areas of subspecialty, including the following:

Pediatric urology
Urologic oncology
Renal transplant
Male infertility
Calculi
Female urology
Neurourology

Introduction to Health sciences
The following outline is provided as an overview of and topical guide to health sciences: Health sciences are those sciences which focus on health, or health care, as core parts of their subject matter. Health sciences relate to multiple academic disciplines, including STEM disciplines and emerging patient safety disciplines (such as social care research). Medicine and its branches Medicine – applied
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