Medical Specialties Resource Center
Medical Procedures & SpecialtiesMedical Specialties

Medical Specialties

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Medical specialties are branches of medicine that focus on specific health subjects, procedures, populations, and diseases. They require specialized training and expertise to ensure targeted and effective care.

 They may also focus on different stages of the treatment journey, including diagnosis, prevention, medical or surgical treatment, anesthesia, and rehabilitation.

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FAQ

What are some common medical specialties?
The most commonly practiced medical fields include internal medicine, family medicine, and pediatrics. In addition to primary care, many physicians specialize in areas such as emergency medicine, cardiology, ophthalmology, urology, allergy/immunology, and clinical cardiac electrophysiology.

Cardiologists specialize in heart and blood vessel health. They can prevent and treat chest pain, hypertension, and heart failure. A cardiologist may order a test like an echocardiogram, suggest heart-healthy lifestyle changes, or perform procedures like cardiac catheterization or ablation.

A dermatologist can treat skin, hair, and nail conditions. They can remove birthmarks and moles, relieve itching and skin symptoms due to immune-mediated conditions like eczema or psoriasis, and identify and treat skin cancers. Dermatologists can also support aesthetic concerns.
Oncology is the study and treatment of cancer. It has three subspecialties: medical oncology, which focuses on administering chemotherapy and hormone therapy, radiation oncology, which addresses radiation therapy, and surgical oncology, which uses surgical procedures to treat cancer.
Your primary care doctor can provide referrals. Check that the specialist is board certified, and research their experience in treating particular diseases or populations. Your insurer might restrict which specialists are in their network and only pay for particular practitioners, so be aware of that as well.
Meet Our Experts In Medical Specialties
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Resources
  1. Specialties and Subspecialties. American Board of Medical Specialties. 2025.
  2. The Ultimate List of Medical Specialties and Subspecialties. St. George’s University School of Medicine. January 6, 2023.