PHYSICIAN

SPECIALTIES
U N I T 1 : M E D I C A L A N D PA R A M E D I C A L
PERSONNEL AND PLACES
TO P I C 2
 Why is it important to know about
physician specialties?
Being familiar with the different types of
physician specialties helps you know who
to call when you need medical care. It also
helps those planning a career in medicine,
as they think through what they'd like to
do on a day-by-day basis.
 What is a Residency?
Residency is a post-graduate period
in which a doctor practices
medicine under the supervision of
more senior physicians for three to
seven years, depending on the
specialty.
 What is a Fellow?
A fellow is a physician who attends
fellowship training. A fellowship is
somewhat like a paid internship
during which fellows shadow
experts and leaders in their field.
The training may involve clinical
and surgical practice as well as
research.
Residents have earned their medical
degrees, but they are not fully
independent physicians. They are not
board-certified or fully credentialed. The
medical community considers residents
to be in training during their residency.
Fellows are fully credentialed physicians
who are able to practice medicine
independently
Family Physician
Family practice physicians are primary care providers who see patients of all ages and provide basic
care for a variety of common ailments. They are usually the first to recognize major health problems,
order diagnostic tests, and refer patients to specialists when needed.2
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.3
 Internist
General internists provide primary care to adult patients.

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).4
 Pediatrician
Pediatricians take care of patients from infancy through age 18 or, in
some cases, age 21.5

Pediatricians provide primary health care to children, including

vaccinations, general health checkups, school physicals, and treatment of
issues like coughs, colds, stomach, and 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.
Obstetrician/Gynecologist (OB/GYN)
A gynecologist is a doctor who specializes in female reproductive
health, including menopause and hormone problems. An obstetrician
provides care for people who are pregnant. Obstetricians also are
trained to deliver babies.

Often, these specialities are combined, in which case the physician is

referred to as an OB/GYN.6

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.
 Cardiologist

Cardiologists focus on treatment of the heart and its blood

vessels. This can include the management of heart failure,
cardiovascular disease, and post-operative care.7

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
 Oncologist
Oncology is a subspecialty of internal medicine that has
three main areas: medical, surgical, or radiation
oncology.8
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).
Gastroenterologist
Gastroenterologists treat the functions and diseases of the
digestive system.9This field attracts physicians who enjoy
doing procedures, but who also like seeing patients in an
outpatient setting.
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.
Pulmonologist
Pulmonologists treat the cardio-pulmonary system, which consists of
the heart, lungs, and organs involved in the respiratory process.10
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.
What Is an Intensivist?
An intensivist is a physician who works in the intensive care unit
treating critically ill patients. In addition to medical school and
residency, these doctors also do a fellowship in critical care medicine.
Infectious Disease Physician
Infectious disease physicians deal with infections that are hard to diagnose or
treat.11They also treat serious infections such as the swine flu, bird flu, HIV/AIDS,
and other infectious diseases.
After medical school, infectious disease physicians must attend an internal medicine
residency followed by fellowship training for infectious diseases.
Nephrologist
Nephrologists treat kidney disease and prescribe dialysis
for those experiencing kidney failure.12
After medical school, these physicians attend an internal
medicine residency program. They are then required to
attend fellowship training for nephrology.
 Endocrinologist
Endocrinologists treat the endocrine system—
the glands that produce and secrete hormones
that control and regulate nearly all of the body's
functions. People with diabetes or thyroid
disease are often treated by an
endocrinologist.13

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.
 Ophthalmologist
Ophthalmologists are medical doctors who treat diseases
or disorders of the eyes, such as cataracts and glaucoma
.15
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.
 Otolaryngologist

Otolaryngologists are more commonly referred

to as ENTs, or ear/nose/throat doctors.16
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.
 Dermatologist

Dermatologists diagnose and treat conditions that affect

the hair, skin, and nails. This may include treating
rashes or acne, diagnosing melanoma (skin cancer),
and much more.

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.
Psychiatrist

A psychiatrist specializes in mental health. They

treat emotional and behavioral problems through a
combination of psychotherapy, psychoanalysis,
medication, and hospitalization.18Their work may
be office-based, hospital-based, or a combination
of the two.
Neurologists are doctors who take care of patients
with medical conditions that affect the brain, spine, or
nerves.19
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).
Radiologist

A radiologist is a physician who is trained in

viewing and interpreting diagnostic tests.20
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.
Anesthesiologist

Anesthesiologists are trained to manage patient

pain and vital signs during surgery.21They also
often manage medical emergencies in the hospital,
such as cardiac arrest and sudden breathing
problems.
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.
Surgeon
Surgeons spend time planning a surgical procedure, performing surgery in the operating
room, and then following up afterwards to identify any complications and confirm that the
procedure was a success.
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).22
 Physician Executive

Some physicians do not practice medicine. Instead,

they take leading roles in health care policy,
pharmaceutical research, or health insurance
companies.23
Non-clinical doctors generally are required to have
completed medical school and residency. They must
also maintain a medical license.
 Role- play time:
Role-play 1
•Participants: Doctor, Mother, Daughter (age 5 years old)

•Location: Patients house

•Situation:

•Fever of 37.5°C or above

•Breathlessness

•Rapid breathing

•Cough

•Not taking usual feeds

 Role-play 2
•Participants: doctor, patient, nurse
•Location: Doctor’s office
•Situation: The patient arrives to the doctor’s office with:
•Pain or burning while urinating.
•Frequent urination.
•Feeling the need to urinate despite having an empty
bladder.
•Bloody urine.
•Pressure or cramping in the groin or lower abdomen.
 ROOMS AND
DEPARTMENTS
IN A HOSPITAL
U N I T 1 : M E D I C A L A N D PA R A M E D I C A L
PERSONNEL AND PLACES
TO P I C 3
Unit
a department of an
institution, especially a
hospital, that has a
particular purpose.
 Ward
a large room in a hospital with
beds for people to stay in.
 A&E/ EMERGENCY ROOM/ER
CASUALTY (BRITISH)
the accident and emergency department
of a hospital
 Consulting room/ doctor’s office
a room where a doctor examines a
patient and discusses their medical
problems with them.
Day room
a room in a hospital
where patients can go
during the day to watch
television, read, or talk.
Delivery room/ discharge room
a room in a hospital
where women give birth.
Dispensary
a place in a hospital
where you can get
medicines and drugs.
High dependency unit
The department of a hospital
for people who are very ill or
badly injured, but need less
care than people in intensive
care
 Housekeeping
The department of a hotel
or hospital that is
responsible for cleaning
rooms.
 Nursery
An area in a hospital where
new babies are looked after
until they go home
Intensive Care Unit (ICU)
An intensive care unit in a
hospital. The department of
a hospital for people who are
so ill or badly injured that
they need to have special
medical care and be watched
very closely.
 Maternity ward
The part of a hospital where
pregnant women or women who
have just given birth to babies are
looked after
 Operating room/ theatre/
theater/Surgery
a room in a hospital where
doctors perform medical
operations
Padded cell
A room in a hospital for mentally
ill people, with soft material on
the walls so that they cannot hurt
themselves
 Pharmacy
The part of a shop or
hospital where
medicines are prepared
 Sickroom
A room where someone who is ill
rests or gets medical treatment
 X- ray room
The general x-ray room is
used for taking standard x-
rays such as back, neck,
chest, limb, hand or foot.
 Clinical laboratory
A medical laboratory or clinical laboratory is
a laboratory where tests are conducted out on
clinical specimens to obtain information
about the health of a patient to aid in
diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of
disease.Clinical Medical laboratories are an
example of applied science, as opposed to
research laboratories that focus on basic
science, such as found in some academic
institutions.
Doctor’s office
A doctor's office is the
room or clinic where a
doctor works.
Waiting room
a room provided for the use of
people who are waiting to be
seen by a doctor or dentist or
who are waiting in a station for
a bus or train.
Admission office
Responsible for the flow of patients
and the processing of admissions,
discharges, transfers, and also most
procedures to be carried out in the
event of a patient's death.
Mortuary
A funeral home or morgue.
Infectious diseases ward
A ward or a healthcare unit which
caters to all patients with medical
and communicable conditions
ranging to conditions affecting the
different systems and organs of the
body.