Are you one of those who seem clueless about the Medical hierarchy/system in this part of the world?
If yes, then I believe this post is for you!
However, to understand this particular write up, you certainly need to check out the first chapter of “know your doctors.” via the link below.
Trust me, you won’t regret it.
Would it shock you to know that a Major Medical specialty could have various/ numerous sub-specialties.
Yes dear, trust me, Medicine is one career option with multiple facets!
Without Further ado, Let’s break Medicine as a career option, into its major specialties and sub- specialties using the physician names.
INTERNAL MEDICINE (INTERNISTS)
Internal medicine is a medical specialty in which physicians apply scientific knowledge and clinical expertise to diagnose and treat adults with a very broad range of health concerns and diseases. Physicians who specialize in internal medicine are called internists or general internists.
Sub-specialties
- Psychiatrists: These are physicians who have specific training in the assessment, diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of mental illnesses. These mental illnesses include, but are not limited to depression, Bipolar disorders, anxiety disorders, Schizophrenia, Post partum depression and many others.
Please and ‘plix’ they are different from Pyschologists, who though might have a doctorate degree, are not Medical doctors. Psychologists solely help to manage the mentally ill via Psychotherapy.
- Endocrinologist: is a doctor who specializes in the diagnosis and treatment of hormone-related diseases and conditions. These disease conditions include, Diabetes Mellitus, Thyroid dysfunction, Osteoporosis, Adrenal disorders, Lipid disorders, Metabolic abnormalities, Growth disorders, Sexual function and reproduction.
- Gastroenterologist: This is a specialist with expertise in the disorders and diseases that affect the digestive system which includes the esophagus, stomach, small intestine, large intestine, rectum and anus as well as the pancreas, liver, bile ducts and gallbladder.
- Cardiologists: Simply put, the cardiologist is a heart doctor. They specialize in managing conditions related to the heart and blood vessels.
- Respiratologist: Also sometimes referred to as Pulmonolgists, are medical doctors who further specialize in the diagnosis and treatment of lung diseases, such as asthma, emphysema, or pneumonia.
- Nephrologist: is a doctor who specializes in conditions that affect the kidney such as Chronic Kidney disease, Nephrotic syndrome, Glomerulonephritis, Renal stones, Urinary tract infections and many others.
- Dermatologist: These specially trained doctors that take care of skin related issues including Atopic dermatitis, Psoriasis, Acne vulgaris and many other skin related conditions.
- Neurologist: This is a medical doctor who specializes in treating diseases of the nervous system; brain, spinal cord, peripheral nerves and muscles.
- Rheumatologist: These are group of doctors who receive further training in the diagnosis (detection), and treatment of diseases that affect the muscles, bones, joints, ligaments, and tendons. These diseases can cause pain, swelling, stiffness, and potentially cause joint deformities. An old-fashioned word for the above listed problems is “rheumatism.”
- Heamatologist: is a medical professional who specialises in the diagnosis, treatment and management of diseases of the blood and blood-producing organs including the bone marrow, spleen and lymphoid tissues).
- Oncologist: An oncologist is a doctor who treats cancer and provides medical care for a person diagnosed with cancer.
- Anaesthesiologists: These are doctors, specially trained to administer anaesthesia to patients before and after various medical proceedures and surgery.
PEDIATRICS
- This is the branch of medicine that deals with the health and medical care of infants, children, and adolescents from birth up to the age of 18. Pediatric doctors are usually called pediatricians.
To make this easier and avoid repetition, just know that all the above listed Internal Medicine Sub-specialities, apply as pediatric Sub-specialties. The only difference is that while internal Medicine is suited to adult patients, Pediatrics deals with children as patients.
SURGERY
This is a branch of medicine that is concerned with the treatment of injuries, diseases, and other disorders by manual and instrumental means. Please note that some of these medical conditions can relatively/absolutely not be managed with oral medications.
So let’s get into the sub specialties
- Cardiothoracic surgeon: A cardiothoracic surgeon is a medical doctor who specializes in surgical procedures of the heart, lungs, esophagus, and other organs in the chest.
- Pediatric surgeon: These are Surgeons specially trained to operate on infants, children and young adults (by young adults, I mean late adolescents)
- Urologist: They diagnose and treat diseases of the urinary tract in both men and women. They also diagnose and treat anything involving the reproductive tract in men.
- General Surgeon: They are surgeons that are highly skilled to operate on common abdominal complaints including appendicitis, hernias, gall bladders, stomach, and intestinal issues. They are however not limited to these disease conditions as they are able to perform procedures on multiple areas of the body.
- Neurosurgeon: a doctor who diagnoses and treats diseases of the brain, spine, and nervous system through surgical and non-surgical treatments based on the type of injury or disease. This one no be small specialty o, Pride is their major watch word, please don’t come for me. In all honesty, they should own this pride because ‘ko easy’. They certainly have a more rigorous training compared to the other specialties.
- ENT Surgeons: also called otolaryngologists, and are specialists that are trained in both medicine and surgery to treat conditions of the ear, nose and throat.
- Burns and plastic Surgeons: These are Surgeons concerned with the correction/restoration of form and function. It can involve reconstructive surgery, the treatment of burns, and debridement.
- Ophthalmologist: This is a medical doctor that specializes in eye and vision care.
- Obstetricians : These are physicians who specialize in delivering babies and caring for people during pregnancy and after they give birth.
- Gynaecologists: They are doctors who specialize in female reproductive health and diagnose/treat issues related to the female reproductive tract.
- Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons: These are Medical doctors/dentists trained to handle a wide variety of conditions and injuries that affect the head, neck, mouth, jaw and face.
- Orthopaedic Surgeons: They are doctors who specialize in injuries of the musculoskeletal system which include bones, Joints, Ligaments, nerves and tendons.
And we are done! I am positive I covered most, if not all, of the Medical specialties. So the next time you have any medical concern, be sure to visit the right Physician. Toodles.
