Common types of doctors you might see include:
Family medicineInternal MedicinePediatricianObstetricians/gynecologist (OBGYNs)CardiologistOncologistGastroenterologistPulmonologistInfectious diseaseNephrologistEndocrinologistOphthalmologistOtolaryngologistDermatologistPsychiatristNeurologistRadiologistAnesthesiologistSurgeonPhysician executive
This article explains more about each of these 20 common physician specialties. It’s meant for those who want to know what different doctors do, as well as those considering the choice of specialties in a career as a physician.
After attending medical school, family medicine physicians attend a family medicine residency program for three to five years. During this time, they will receive hands-on training in pediatric care, emergency medicine, and other areas of general medicine.
Internists usually have more hospital-based training than family practitioners. They may have an office-based practice or work as a hospitalist primarily seeing patients in the hospital.
These physicians attend medical school followed by an internal medicine residency.
Internists may then choose to pursue a fellowship to subspecialize in a variety of other areas, like endocrinology (hormone-related conditions) or cardiology (heart-related issues).
Pediatricians provide primary health care to children, including vaccinations, general health checkups, school physicals, and treatment of issues like coughs, colds, and stomach flu.
If a patient has a more serious illness, their pediatrician may refer them to a pediatric subspecialist (e.g., a pediatric orthopedist is a doctor who specializes in treating young patients with bone and muscle concerns).
After they graduate from medical school, pediatricians spend at least three years in a residency program that is focused on pediatric medicine. If they choose to study a pediatric subspecialty, they will then attend a fellowship for that subspecialty.
Often, these specialities are combined, in which case the physician is referred to as an OB/GYN.
At minimum, OB/GYNs must attend medical school followed by a residency program. Once their residency is complete, some continue their training with a fellowship for a subspecialty. Gynecological oncology—a field that deals with cancer of the female reproductive organs—is just one example.
Training to become a cardiologist is fairly extensive. After completing three years of internal medicine residency, aspiring cardiologists need to attend several more years of fellowship training.
Oncologists take care of patients who have cancer by treating the disease itself, as well as the symptoms it causes.
Often, oncologists take part in clinical trials using new and experimental treatments for cancers that are otherwise incurable.
Oncologists attend medical school followed by an oncology residency. There are also fellowships for subspecialties of oncology, like pediatric oncology (children’s cancer) and radiation oncology (radiation treatment for cancer).
Gastroenterology is another subspecialty of internal medicine. At minimum, gastroenterologists attend medical school followed by an internal medicine residency. From there, they need to attend fellowship training for gastroenterology.
In addition, pulmonologists may work in office settings to treat patients with breathing disorders, severe allergies, lung problems, and other respiratory diseases. They may also treat patients with pulmonary disease who are in the intensive care unit (ICU).
Aspiring pulmonologists attend medical school followed by an internal medicine residency. They then attend fellowship training for pulmonology.
After medical school, infectious disease physicians must attend an internal medicine residency followed by fellowship training for infectious diseases.
After medical school, these physicians attend an internal medicine residency program. They are then required to attend fellowship training for nephrology.
Like other internal medicine physicians, endocrinologists attend medical school followed by an internal medicine residency. They are then required to attend fellowship training for endocrinology.
Vision correction that cannot be handled by an optometrist may be treated by an ophthalmologist. When necessary, ophthalmologists will also perform eye surgery.
Ophthalmologists attend medical school followed by a residency for ophthalmology. They are not required to take a fellowship, although many choose to attend fellowship training for specific eye diseases or surgical procedures.
Otolaryngology is a field that entails a combination of surgical skills and office-based medicine and treatment. They are required to attend medical school in addition to residency for otolaryngology.
ENTs handle a lot of issues, including sinus problems, allergies, head and neck cancers, and more. Because of this, many ENTs attend fellowships for a subspecialty of otolaryngology, such as rhinology, which focuses on issues related to the nose and sinuses.
In addition to this, dermatoligists also perform many aesthetic procedures that are paid for out of pocket rather than by insurance. Such procedures include Botox injections, laser skin treatments, and more.
After medical school, dermatologists must attend dermatology residency. Fellowships are not required, but some dermatologists may attend them if they choose to subspecialize in a particular aspect of dermatology.
Dermatology is a very competitive field for physicians. One reason for this is that dermatologists are very well compensated.Typically, only the top medical students are accepted into dermatology residency programs.
After medical school and residency for psychiatry, some psychiatrists attend fellowships for a subspecialty. There are a number of different specialty areas within psychiatry, including child and adolescent psychiatry, addiction medicine, or eating disorders.
They see patients who have complex medical disorders such as Parkinson’s disease, multiple sclerosis, and neuropathy. Neurologists also take care of patients who have common problems such as migraine headaches and dizziness.
Like other physicians, neurologists must attend medical school then a residency for neurology. From there, they may pursue fellowship training for a subspecialty, such as pediatric neurology or vascular neurology (related to blood vessels in the brain).
Often, the treating physician must interpret test results as well. The radiologist’s analysis can offer additional information or advice for further testing.
Before a radiologist is licensed, they must attend medical school and a residency for radiology. From there, they may choose to attend fellowship training for a subspecialty of radiology that is focused on a specific aspect of radiology or area of the body.
Aspiring anesthesiologists must attend medical school followed by a residency program for anesthesiology. There are numerous subspecialties of anesthesiology they may attend fellowships for, including anesthesia for patients with chronic pain or for patients in the ICU.
Surgeons can be trained in general surgery or in more specialized areas of surgery, such as hand surgery, pediatric surgery, or vascular surgery (related to blood flow problems).
Non-clinical doctors generally are required to have completed medical school and residency. They must also maintain a medical license.
The Association of American Medical Colleges maintains a database of more than 135 specialties and subspecialties that you can explore. It will help you to understand more about the type of provider you need—or want to become.
