Do you ever think about how many things are needed to become a medical superhero? These people are the real heroes of our society: they may diagnose fatal diseases and perform complex operations.
However, do you know that there are more than a hundred and thirty-five specialties of medicine recognized in the United States?
In this complete guide, we shared a list of medical specialties in the US. So, let’s explore!
The Beginnings of the Medical Specialists
But where did these medical specialties come from? The specialty of medicine has experienced a long and elaborate history, with many branches either developing or adapting to fit the requirements and diseases of their present existence.
For instance, cardiology, a branch that focuses on the heart and the cardiovascular system, originated in ancient Greece, as evidenced by the writings of Hippocrates, where he claimed that diet and exercise were vital in keeping the heart healthy.
A List of Medical Specialties in US: Exploring the Many and Varied
Thus, without wasting any more time, here is the list of medical specialties in the US. In the United States only, the American Association of Medical Colleges records over 135 medical specialties and sub-specialties currently recognized.A selection of the most typical ones is provided below:
1. Internal Medicine and its Subspecialties
Internal medicine covers a wide spectrum of conditions that affect physically mature persons. In this specialty, many subdivisions aim at particular organs or body systems. Some examples include:
2. Cardiology
Heart and blood vascular illnesses are under this area of medicine. Physicians who work in this area diagnose and treat a wide range of illnesses, including heart failure, heart artery problems, and abnormal heart rhythms.
3. Gastroenterology
The general branch of medicine that deals with the gastrointestinal tract. Some of the diseases that specialists in the field deal with include irritable bowel syndrome, inflammatory bowel disease, as well as gastrointestinal cancers.
4. Endocrinology
The medical specialty deals with internal secretory glands and the hormones they generate. Some conditions that endocrinologists diagnose and treat include diabetes, thyroid diseases, and hormonal disorders.
5. Rheumatology
The investigation of diseases of muscles and bones. It involves diagnosing and managing illnesses, for instance, arthritis, lupus, and fibromyalgia.
6. Surgery and Its Subspecialties
Surgery is a quite large area of medicine that includes many operations that are aimed at eliminating pathological changes in the tissues. In this specialty, there are many sub-specialties, which mainly deal with certain parts of the body or certain systems. Some examples include:
7. Cardiothoracic Surgery
A branch of surgery that deals with operations on the human organs of respiration and circulation. Cardiothoracic surgery is a surgical specialty that deals with operations including heart bypass surgery and lung transplantation.
8. General Surgery
A branch of surgery that specializes in operations within the abdomen as well as skin and soft tissue. Companies like United Healthcare will employ general surgeons to carry out procedures like appendicitis surgeries or cholecystectomy.
9. Neurosurgery
A branch of surgery that specializes in procedures involving the brain, spinal cord, and nerves forming the body’s nervous system. Brain tumors are removed, or the spinal columns are fused, through surgery.
10. Orthopedic Surgery
A branch of medicine that deals with the operations applied to the musculoskeletal system. Orthopedic surgeons specialize in practices like surgeries that include joint replacements, fracture fixes, etc.
11. Pediatrics and its Subspecialties
Pediatrics is a branch of medicine that deals with the identification of diseases and ailments in children of tender age or up to the adolescent stage. In this specialty, there are so many sub-specialties that can encompass the broad areas of child development problems or diseases.
12. Allergy and Immunology
The diagnosis and management of allergies and immunological disorders in children is an area of expertise in health care. Special situations are managed by pediatric allergists, such as food allergies and asthma.
13. Endocrinology
Childhood endocrinology: the diagnosis of hormonal dysfunctions in children. Diabetes and growth hormone deficiency in children are two of the illnesses they recognize and treat.
14. Neonatology
Newborn care and critical illness in newborns. Neonatologists normally help to identify disorders such as premature delivery and breathing problems, which are common in newborns.
15. Psychiatry and its Subspecialties
Treating and diagnosing adult mental illness falls under the control of the branch of psychiatry. This specialty has many sub-specialties that address specific disorders or special methods of treatment.
16. Addiction Psychiatry
The branch of medicine deals with the diagnosis and treatment of addiction disorders. Addiction psychiatrists provide medical diagnosis and treatment for illnesses such as drug use disorders.
17. Child Psychiatry
The objective is to prioritize children with mental health disorders. ADHD and anxiety disorders are among the many conditions that child psychiatrists must diagnose and treat.
18. Psychosomatic Medicine
The branch of knowledge focuses on using psychological principles and practices to assess and treat people’s physical health. Chronic pain syndromes are some of the illnesses diagnosed and treated by psychosomatic medicine specialists.
19. Sleep Medicine
Awareness of sleep disorders and the treatment philosophies associated with them. Physicians who specialize in sleep medicine identify and manage conditions, including insomnia.
The Final Words
As you can see, there are over 135 recognized medical specializations in the US, with many more subspecialties inside each one. These superheroes of medicine put up endless effort to keep us safe and healthy, doing anything from detecting deadly illnesses to saving lives during surgery.
Ranging from internal medicine to surgery, pediatrics to psychiatry, every medical specialty is of utmost importance to our healthcare system.
However, if you are keen on becoming a medical practitioner or if you simply want to gain inspiration regarding the jobs that medical professionals perform, we trust this article has been helpful.
FAQ’s
Q1. How many medical specialists are available in the USA?
According to AAMC, there are more than 135 medical specialists in the USA.
Q2. Is there a shortage of Primary care doctors in the USA?
Yes! Around 30% of Americans have a shortage of primary care doctors.
Q3. Why preventive care is most important?
Preventive care is highly important if you want to live healthy and disease-free.
