Within the healthcare industry are numerous specialties and sub-specialties that prospective practitioners can choose from. Medical specialties are categorized in several different areas, such as surgical or internal medicine, diagnostic or therapeutic, age range of patients, organ-based and technique-based, to name a few.
If you have a love of science and anatomy and a desire to help people, here are five medical specialty careers to consider.
Emergency Medicine
Emergency physicians are responsible for making quick decisions and taking necessary action to help their patients. They are typically the first line of evaluation and care for those with acute illness and injury.
No two shifts are alike in the emergency room and staff often sees a wide variety of patients. ER medical staff must be able to stay calm and alert because many patients who come to the emergency room come with serious and even life-threatening symptoms.
Training and Education
Emergency medicine is a medical specialty that requires an additional residency or fellowship in addition to a general medical degree. Prospects must complete medical school and their residency before they may be admitted to an emergency medicine program. For more information, visit the American Academy of Emergency Medicine.
Pediatrics
Pediatricians provide preventive health maintenance for children and medical care for those who are seriously or chronically ill. They are responsible for diagnosing and treating injuries, infections, genetic defects, malignancies and numerous diseases and dysfunctions. Pediatricians also work to reduce infant and child mortality, control disease and develop healthy lifestyles in their patients.
Training and Education
Generally, pediatricians must obtain a four-year bachelor’s degree from an accredited university. After medical school, they must complete a three-year residency at a hospital or doctor’s office. This allows them to receive hands-on training while being guided and monitored by seasoned physicians.
Endocrinology
Endocrinology is a sub-specialty of internal medicine that deals with the diagnosis and treatment of diseases related to hormones. This sub-specialty covers physical functions such as metabolism, respiration, reproduction, sensory perception and movement.
Endocrinologists diagnose and treat hormone imbalances such as diabetes, PCOS and thyroid disorders.
Training and Education
According to the American College of Physicians, endocrinologists must complete seven or more years of medical school and postgraduate training, and become board certified in Internal Medicine. Upon graduation, graduates typically complete a residency program after which they must spend two to three more years learning the physiology and biochemistry of hormones.
Hematology
Hematology is a specialty that deals with the diagnosis, treatment and overall management of people with blood disorders. Hematologists treat such diseases as: anemia, polycythemia, myelofibrosis, leukemia, hemophilia, malignant lymphomas and sickle cell. They also conduct bone marrow stem cell transplantation.
Training and Education
According to the American Society of Hematology, the educational path of hematologists include:
- four years of medical school
- three years of residency to learn elements of patient care and train in a specialized area, generally internal medicine or pediatrics
- two-to-four years of fellowship for further training in a sub-specialty.
Rheumatology
Rheumatology is a sub-specialty in internal medicine and pediatrics devoted to diagnosis and therapy of rheumatic diseases. These specialists deal with issues involving soft tissues, joints, connective tissue disorders and autoimmune diseases.
Rheumatologists aim to help their patients have the best possible quality of life. They advocate for the patient in all aspects of healthcare and in the community. They teach patients and their families how to live with chronic disease, provide medications to alleviate pain, and offer techniques for preventing disability and regaining function.
Training and Education
Like endocrinologists, rheumatologist’s typically must complete seven or more years of medical school and postgraduate training. At the conclusion of the schooling and training, gradates must pass a national exam conducted by the American Board of Internal Medicine in order to become board certified.
These are just a handful of medical specialties to choose from. For a full list, visit the Association of American Medical Colleges.
