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Types of Specialists & Doctors and What They Treat

Jun 21, 2017

Ever wondered what all the jargon in reference to different doctors means? The medical field, like in any other industry is made up of doctors specializing in different areas of the medical field. This article will go over what each doctor does. This will allow you to identify the kind of doctor you need to see to treat your ailment.

For those planning to venture into the medical field, you'll be able to identify the area for which you would like to study and specialize in.

Table: Types of Doctors

General Medical Experts
Doctor Name	Job Contents
General physician/ family practitioner	A doctor who offers treatment for mild conditions.
Internal medical doctor	Deals in Adult medicine, treatment and prevention of adult diseases.
An emergency doctor	On call 24/7 and specializes with emergency room practice.
Hospitalist	Cares for hospitalized patients.
Palliative care specialist	Reduces the suffering and improves the life of patients in pain
General pediatricians	Treats general medical conditions in infant, adolescents and children.
Intensive care specialist	Treats life threatening conditions in need of invasive monitoring and organ support
Geriatrician	Treats geriatrics (old people) related health complications
Anesthesiologist	Administers and studies anesthesia for surgical procedures
Surgeons	Performs surgeries that are related to different areas of medicine
Doctors Treating Heart Problems
Doctor Name	Job Contents
Cardiologist	Diagnoses and treats conditions related to the heart and vessels of the blood
Pediatric cardiologist	Treats and diagnoses heart complication in infants.
Vascular medical specialist	Offers treatment for vascular diseases related to arteries, lymphatic system and veins
Doctors Treating Hormone/Gland Problems
Doctor Name	Job Contents
Hormone doctor/endocrinologist	Diagnoses and treats endocrine system and glands disorders and imbalances
Pediatric endocrinologist	Treats hormone and gland problems in infants, children and adolescents
Doctors Treating Stomach/Liver/Bowel/Colon/Kidney Problems
Doctor Name	Job Contents
Urologist	Treats, diagnoses and studies health issues related to the urinary tract, kidney and urinary system
Gastrologist	Treats and diagnoses medical conditions related to the stomach functions
Hepatologist	Treats and diagnosis diseases related to the liver
Nephrologist	Treats kidney diseases and ailments
Rectal/ Colon surgeon	Undertakes surgical procedures to correct rectal, colon and anal disorders
Doctors Treating Reproduction/Sex Problems
Doctor Name	Job Contents
Andrologist	Treats and diagnoses medical issues with the male reproductive system
Gynecologist	Treats and diagnoses conditions in the reproductive system of females
Obstetrician/ Gynecologist	Childbirth expert, specializes in C-section, ovarian tumors removal and PAP smears
Sexual medicine practitioner	Studies, treats and diagnoses disorders related to sex
Fertility specialist	Treats problems with infertility menopause sexual disorders and hormonal imbalance
Doctors Treating Immunity/Allergy Problems
Doctor Name	Job Contents
Allergist	Expert in allergic reactions and treatment of immune system disorders
immunologist	Specializes in the study and treatment of conditions related to the immune system
Doctors Treating Cancer
Doctor Name	Job Contents
Medical oncologist	Oversees the general care of cancer patients. Coordinates treatment with the other specialists
Radiation oncologist	Specializes in treating cancer using radiation
Surgical oncologist	Deals with administering surgical procedures to treat cancer. Uses biopsy to diagnose cancer. Removes tumors and cancerous tissues
Pediatric oncologist	Treats cancer in children
Doctors Treating Lungs and Blood Problems
Doctor Name	Job Contents
Pulmonologist	Treats and diagnoses lung medical condition. Cares for ICU patients with ventilator support needs
Hematologist	Treats, diagnoses and studies conditions related to the blood
Doctors Treating Brain/Nervous System Problems
Doctor Name	Job Contents
Neurosurgeon	Specializes in the treatment of diseases affecting the nervous system and the brain
Neurologist	Diagnoses, studies ad treats medical conditions affecting the brain such as strokes, seizures and Alzheimer's
Doctors Treating Joints/Bones/Muscle problems
Doctor Name	Job Contents
Orthopedist	Repairs and replaces broken bones. Treats bone, tendons and joint problems
Orthopedic surgeon	Offers surgical treatment for joint, muscle and bones complications
Rheumatologist	Specializes in the treatment of vasculitis, rheumatism and autoimmune disorders.
Podiatrist	Specializes in treatment of diseases and disorders affecting the ankle and foot
Doctors Treating Nose/Ears/Throat/Dental/Eyes/Skin Problems
Doctor Name	Job Contents
Audiologist	Specializes in hearing aids treatment
Otolaryngologist/ENT specialist	Specializes in ear, throat and nose medical ailments
Opthalmologist	Specializes in treating eye vision, and performing simple eye surgeries
Periodontist	Treats dental problems related to teeth supporting structures
Dermatologist	Specializes in skin and skin structure conditions
Doctors Treating Psychological Problems
Doctor Name	Job Contents
General psychiatrist	Specializes in the study, treatment and diagnosis of mental disorder and behavioral problems.
Neuropsychiatrist	Specializes in mental and brain health
Geriatric psychiatrist	Deals with mental complications in elderly individuals
Forensic psychiatrist	Studies correlation between psychology and crime
Other Types of Doctors
Doctor Name	Job Contents
Parasitologist	Studies biology and pathology of parasites, as well as parasitic diseases.
Diagnostician	Studies the medical symptoms and reports of patients to diagnose the disease.
Epidemiologist	Studies the causes and patterns of diseases in a population or area, and make efforts to prevent epidemics/pandemics from happening again.