142 Doctor Careers Explained (Complete Medical Specialty List)

There are hundreds of medical specialties and subspecialties you can pursue as a physician. This medical specialty guide covers them all, from the most common primary care fields to the most competitive surgical subspecialties and emerging career paths that didn’t exist a decade ago.

Whether you’re a premed trying to understand your options or a medical student figuring out how to choose a medical specialty, this is the most comprehensive list of medical specialties and subspecialties you’ll find anywhere.

Primary Care & General Medicine

These are the specialties most people picture when they think of a doctor. Primary care is the entry point for most patients into the healthcare system, and in many ways, the backbone of medicine. They’re also consistently among the least competitive and lowest-paying specialties you can pursue, which shows how medicine values specialization over generalism.

1 | Family Medicine

The broadest of all specialties. Family physicians treat patients of all ages, handling everything from diabetes management and preventive screenings to minor procedures like joint injections and vasectomies. It’s one of the least competitive specialties to match into and one of the lower-paying ones.

2 | Internal Medicine

Internists are the generalists for adults, managing a wide range of conditions from the common to the rare. Unlike family medicine, IM is limited to adult patients, but opens the door to some of the most sought-after subspecialty fellowships in medicine, like cardiology and gastroenterology, which we’ll cover shortly.

3 | Pediatrics

Pediatrics is essentially internal medicine for younger patients, caring for children from birth through young adulthood. It’s one of the least competitive and lowest-paying specialties in medicine.

4 | OB/GYN

OB/GYN combines the medical and surgical management of pregnancy with the broader care of the female reproductive system. It’s one of the more demanding specialties in primary care, with irregular hours and significant on-call responsibilities.

5 | Geriatric Medicine

Geriatric medicine focuses on the complex medical needs of elderly patients, including chronic disease management, cognitive decline, and fall prevention. Demand is growing as the US population continues to age.

Medical Subspecialties

After completing an internal medicine residency, physicians can subspecialize through fellowship training into some of the most competitive and highest-paying non-surgical careers in all of medicine. These are the specialists other doctors call when a case gets complicated.

6 | Cardiology

Cardiology is the most competitive and highest-paying internal medicine fellowship. Cardiologists treat diseases of the heart and vascular system, including heart failure, coronary artery disease, and arrhythmias. Heart disease remains the leading cause of death in the US.

7 | Interventional Cardiology

Interventional cardiologists perform minimally invasive procedures on the heart, like stenting blocked coronary arteries, typically in a cardiac catheterization lab rather than an operating room.

8 | Electrophysiology

Electrophysiologists specialize in diagnosing and treating arrhythmias through procedures such as ablation and implantation of pacemakers and defibrillators.

9 | Advanced Heart Failure & Transplant Cardiology

These cardiologists manage patients with end-stage heart failure, including those being evaluated for or recovering from heart transplants.

10 | Gastroenterology

Gastroenterologists manage diseases of the entire GI tract, from the esophagus to the colon, including inflammatory bowel disease, hepatitis, and colorectal cancer. It’s one of the higher-paying and more competitive internal medicine fellowships.

11 | Hepatology

Hepatologists focus specifically on diseases of the liver, gallbladder, and biliary system, including cirrhosis, liver cancer, and viral hepatitis.

12 | Transplant Hepatology

Transplant hepatologists manage patients before and after liver transplantation, working closely with transplant surgery teams.

13 | Pulmonology

Pulmonologists treat diseases of the lungs and airways, including asthma, COPD, and lung cancer. They also manage patients requiring mechanical ventilation in the ICU.

14 | Pulmonary Critical Care

A combined fellowship that trains physicians to manage both lung disease and critically ill patients in the ICU. It’s one of the most common pulmonology training pathways.

15 | Hematology

Hematologists treat diseases of the blood, including anemias, clotting disorders, and blood cancers like leukemia and lymphoma. Hematology and oncology fellowships are frequently combined.

16 | Oncology

Oncologists diagnose and treat cancer using chemotherapy, immunotherapy, targeted therapy, and other systemic treatments. It’s a field that demands both scientific depth and a strong capacity for difficult conversations with patients.

17 | Cancer Immunology

Cancer immunologists use the body’s own immune system to target and destroy cancer cells. It’s a rapidly growing research and clinical field with expanding treatment options.

18 | Rheumatology

Rheumatologists treat autoimmune and inflammatory diseases of the joints and connective tissue, including rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, and osteoporosis.

19 | Endocrinology

Endocrinologists manage disorders of the endocrine system, including diabetes, thyroid disease, adrenal disorders, and hormonal imbalances.

20 | Reproductive Endocrinology

Reproductive Endocrinologists specialize in fertility and reproductive health, helping patients who are unable to conceive on their own through treatments like IVF.

21 | Nephrology

Nephrologists focus on kidney disease, managing conditions like chronic kidney disease, renal failure, electrolyte disorders, and hypertension.

22 | Infectious Diseases

ID physicians specialize in diagnosing and treating infections caused by bacteria, viruses, fungi, and parasites. The COVID-19 pandemic brought much more attention to this specialty.

23 | Allergy & Immunology

Allergists and immunologists treat patients with misbehaving immune systems, including allergies, asthma, immune deficiencies, and certain autoimmune conditions.

24 | Medical Genetics & Genomics

Medical geneticists diagnose and manage hereditary conditions, using genomic data to guide treatment decisions and counsel patients on inherited disease risk.

25 | Clinical Informatics

Clinical informaticists bridge medicine and data systems, optimizing how health information is collected, stored, and used to improve patient care.

26 | Medical Toxicology

Medical toxicologists manage complications from drug exposures, poisonings, overdoses, chemical exposures, and environmental hazards.

27 | Sleep Medicine

Sleep medicine physicians diagnose and treat sleep disorders, including sleep apnea, narcolepsy, and insomnia. It’s an increasingly relevant field as research continues to link sleep quality to overall health outcomes.

28 | Obesity Medicine

Obesity medicine specializes in the diagnosis and treatment of obesity as a chronic disease, using medical, behavioral, and surgical approaches. Demand has surged with the widespread adoption of GLP-1 medications.

29 | Transplant Medicine

Transplant medicine physicians manage the medical care of organ transplant recipients, including immunosuppression management and long-term follow-up.

30 | Occupational Medicine

Occupational medicine physicians focus on workplace health, managing work-related injuries and illnesses, and advising employers on health and safety.

Pain & Palliative Medicine

Chronic pain affects more than 50 million Americans, and it’s one of the most undertreated conditions in medicine. These specialists manage complex pain, end-of-life care, and the symptoms that other physicians often don’t have the training or time to address. It’s a small group of specialties, but the patient need is enormous.

31 | Headache Medicine

Headache medicine specialists manage chronic and complex headache disorders, including migraines, cluster headaches, and medication overuse headaches.

32 | Pain Medicine

Pain medicine physicians treat acute and chronic pain conditions using a combination of pharmacologic, interventional, and rehabilitative approaches.

33 | Palliative Care

Palliative care physicians focus on improving the quality of life for patients with serious illness, managing symptoms and providing support alongside curative treatment.

34 | Hospice Medicine

Hospice physicians care for patients in the final stages of terminal illness, prioritizing comfort and dignity over curative intervention.

Surgical Specialties & Subspecialties

Surgery is the largest category on this list, and for good reason. These physicians treat disease and injury by operating, and the scope of their work is broader than most people expect. If you want to use your hands and see immediate results, you’ll probably find your calling somewhere in this section.

35 | General Surgery

General surgeons operate on a broad range of conditions involving the abdomen, GI tract, skin, and soft tissue. It’s the foundation for most surgical subspecialty training and one of the more demanding residencies in medicine.

36 | Trauma Surgery

Trauma surgeons manage life-threatening injuries, primarily to the neck, chest, abdomen, and extremities, often in an acute emergency setting.

37 | Colorectal Surgery

Colorectal surgeons treat diseases of the colon, rectum, and anus, including colorectal cancer, inflammatory bowel disease, and diverticular disease.

38 | Bariatric Surgery

Bariatric surgeons perform weight loss procedures, including gastric bypass and sleeve gastrectomy, for patients with obesity and related metabolic conditions.

39 | Burn Surgery

Burn surgeons specialize in the acute and reconstructive management of burn injuries, including skin grafting and long-term wound care.

40 | Surgical Oncology

Surgical oncologists remove cancerous tumors, often working as part of a multidisciplinary oncology team alongside medical and radiation oncologists.

41 | Hepato-Pancreato-Biliary (HPB) Surgery

HPB surgeons operate on the liver, pancreas, and biliary system, managing some of the most complex and high-stakes abdominal cases in surgery.

42 | Transplant Surgery

Transplant surgeons perform organ transplants, including kidneys, livers, hearts, and lungs, and manage the surgical complications that follow.

43 | Vascular Surgery

Vascular surgeons treat diseases of the arteries and veins throughout the body, excluding the heart and brain, including aortic aneurysms and peripheral artery disease.

44 | Cardiothoracic Surgery

Cardiothoracic surgeons operate within the chest, performing procedures on the heart, lungs, aorta, and esophagus, including coronary artery bypass grafts and valve replacements. It’s one of the highest-paying and most demanding surgical specialties.

45 | Thoracic Surgery

Thoracic surgeons focus specifically on the lungs, esophagus, and other structures of the chest cavity, separate from cardiac surgery.

46 | Neurosurgery

Neurosurgery covers the surgical treatment of the brain, spinal cord, and peripheral nervous system. It has the longest residency in medicine at seven years, is consistently one of the most competitive specialties to match into, and is the highest-paying specialty in medicine.

47 | Endovascular Neurosurgery

Endovascular neurosurgeons treat vascular conditions of the brain using minimally invasive catheter-based techniques, including coiling of aneurysms and thrombectomy for stroke.

48 | Pediatric Neurosurgery

Pediatric neurosurgeons perform brain and spinal surgery on infants, children, and adolescents, managing conditions like hydrocephalus, brain tumors, and congenital spinal defects.

49 | Orthopedic Surgery

Orthopedic surgeons treat injuries and diseases of the musculoskeletal system, including fractures, joint disease, and spine conditions. It’s consistently one of the most competitive and highest-paying specialties in medicine.

50 | Spine Surgery

Spine surgeons, who can come from either orthopedic or neurosurgery training, treat degenerative disc disease, spinal deformity, and spinal cord compression. They’re among the highest-compensated surgeons in any specialty.

51 | Hand Surgery

Hand surgeons treat injuries and diseases of the hand, wrist, and forearm, including fractures, nerve compression, and tendon repairs. Fellowship training typically follows either orthopedic surgery or plastic surgery residency.

52 | Foot and Ankle Surgery

Foot and ankle surgeons treat fractures, degenerative disease, and soft tissue pathology of the foot and ankle, primarily through orthopedic fellowship training.

53 | Plastic Surgery

Plastic surgery focuses on the reconstruction and reshaping of soft tissue, including skin, muscle, and fat. It’s split between reconstructive work, like post-mastectomy breast reconstruction and trauma repair, and aesthetic procedures. It’s one of the most competitive specialties to match into.

54 | Aesthetic Surgery

Aesthetic surgeons perform elective cosmetic procedures, including facelifts, breast augmentation, and liposuction, typically as a fellowship following plastic surgery residency.

55 | Craniofacial Surgery

Craniofacial surgeons correct severe facial deformities, skull abnormalities, and congenital conditions like cleft palate, often operating on infants and children.

56 | Microsurgery

Microsurgeons reconnect severed nerves and blood vessels and perform free tissue transfers using microscopes and specialized instruments. It’s among the most technically demanding work in all of surgery.

57 | Breast Reconstruction

Breast reconstruction surgeons restore the breast following mastectomy, using implants or the patient’s own tissue, as a subspecialty within plastic surgery.

58 | Gender Surgery

Gender surgery encompasses procedures designed to treat gender dysphoria, including facial feminization, chest surgery, and genital reconstruction. It draws on training in plastic surgery, urology, and gynecology.

59 | Otolaryngology (ENT)

ENT surgeons treat diseases of the ears, nose, throat, sinuses, and neck. It’s one of the more competitive specialties, with strong procedural variety and a favorable lifestyle compared to many surgical fields.

60 | Head and Neck Surgery

Head and neck surgeons manage cancers and complex pathology of the throat, larynx, thyroid, and salivary glands, often within an ENT or surgical oncology framework.

61 | Laryngology

Laryngologists specialize in disorders of the voice box and throat, treating conditions like vocal cord paralysis, laryngeal cancer, and chronic hoarseness.

62 | Facial Plastic Surgery

Facial plastic surgeons focus on reconstructive and cosmetic procedures of the face, typically following ENT residency training.

63 | Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery

Oral and maxillofacial surgeons treat diseases and injuries of the mouth, jaw, and face, including wisdom teeth, jaw reconstruction, and facial trauma. It’s the only specialty that requires both a dental and a medical degree.

64 | Urology

Urologists are surgeons of the urogenital tract, treating conditions of the kidneys, bladder, prostate, and male reproductive system, including cancer, incontinence, and sexual dysfunction.

65 | Female Urology

Female urologists subspecialize in conditions specific to women, including urinary incontinence, overactive bladder, and pelvic organ prolapse.

66 | Pediatric Urology

Pediatric urologists treat urological conditions in children, including congenital abnormalities, urinary tract infections, and undescended testes.

67 | Gynecologic Oncology

Gynecologic oncologists treat cancers of the female reproductive system, including ovarian, cervical, and uterine cancer, combining surgical and medical oncology expertise.

68 | Maternal-Fetal Medicine

MFM physicians, also called perinatologists, specialize in high-risk pregnancies, managing conditions like preeclampsia, fetal anomalies, and preterm labor.

69 | Urogynecology

Urogynecologists treat pelvic floor disorders in women, including prolapse and incontinence, combining surgical and non-surgical approaches.

70 | Pediatric Surgery

Pediatric surgeons operate on infants, children, and adolescents, managing everything from appendicitis and hernias to congenital defects and childhood cancers.

71 | Fetal Surgery

Fetal surgeons perform procedures on fetuses still in the womb, correcting congenital abnormalities like spina bifida before birth. It’s one of the rarest and most technically complex subspecialties in medicine.

Neurology

The brain is the most complex organ in the human body, and neurologists are the physicians who manage it without operating. That distinction matters. Neurosurgeons cut. Neurologists diagnose, manage, and treat, often for conditions that are chronic, progressive, and in some cases, still poorly understood. It’s a specialty that rewards intellectual curiosity above almost anything else.

72 | Neurology

Neurologists manage diseases of the central and peripheral nervous system without surgery, treating everything from migraines and epilepsy to ALS and Parkinson’s disease.

73 | Vascular Neurology

Vascular neurologists specialize in the diagnosis and acute management of stroke, including the administration of clot-busting therapies and coordination of stroke care teams.

74 | Epileptology

Epileptologists diagnose and manage seizure disorders, interpreting EEGs and guiding both medical and surgical treatment for patients with refractory epilepsy.

75 | Neuromuscular Medicine

Neuromuscular medicine physicians treat diseases affecting the peripheral nerves and muscles, including ALS, muscular dystrophy, and peripheral neuropathy.

76 | Neuro-oncology

Neuro-oncologists manage primary and metastatic brain tumors, working at the intersection of neurology and oncology to coordinate complex, multidisciplinary treatment plans.

77 | Behavioral Neurology

Behavioral neurologists treat conditions affecting cognition, behavior, and memory, including dementia, traumatic brain injury, and neurodevelopmental disorders.

Outpatient & Procedural Specialties

Not every physician spends their days in a hospital or operating room. These specialties are built around the clinic, combining medical expertise with hands-on procedures in a more predictable setting. They tend to have better lifestyle profiles than most surgical fields, which is part of why some are extremely competitive.

78 | Dermatology

Dermatologists diagnose and treat over 3,000 conditions affecting the skin, hair, and nails, using both medical and procedural approaches. It’s consistently one of the most competitive specialties to match into, with one of the better lifestyle and compensation profiles in medicine.

79 | Ophthalmology

Ophthalmologists manage diseases of the eye and surrounding structures using both medical and surgical approaches, from cataract surgery to the treatment of glaucoma and retinal disease.

80 | Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation

Physiatrists specialize in the non-surgical management of musculoskeletal and neurological conditions, helping patients recover function after strokes, spinal cord injuries, and orthopedic procedures.

81 | Sports Medicine

Sports medicine physicians are non-surgical specialists who treat musculoskeletal injuries in athletes and active patients, from sprains and fractures to overuse injuries and concussions.

Cross-Disciplinary Specialties

There are also many cross-disciplinary careers that don’t fit neatly into a single box. Some sit at the intersection of multiple fields, some follow non-standard training pathways, and some cross into entirely different domains like law or public health. They’re harder to categorize, which usually means they’re more nuanced than people expect.

82 | Radiation Oncology

Radiation oncologists use high-energy radiation to treat cancer, often working alongside medical oncologists and surgeons as part of a multidisciplinary team.

83 | Forensic Pathology

Forensic pathologists determine cause and manner of death through autopsies and postmortem examinations, often working within the medicolegal system.

84 | Preventive Medicine

Preventive medicine physicians work at the intersection of clinical care and public health, using behavioral, environmental, and policy-based approaches to reduce disease risk across populations. It’s one of the lowest-paid specialties in medicine and follows its own dedicated residency pathway.

85 | Lifestyle Medicine

Lifestyle medicine physicians use evidence-based interventions, including diet, exercise, sleep, and stress management, as primary treatment tools for chronic disease. It’s a board certification that can be pursued by physicians from multiple specialties, primarily primary care.

86 | Wilderness Medicine

Wilderness medicine physicians specialize in emergency care in remote and resource-limited environments, where standard hospital equipment and evacuation aren’t immediately available.

Hospital-Based Specialties

These specialties are anchored in the hospital. They’re the physicians who are there when things go wrong fast, and the work they do is as high-stakes as medicine gets. If you thrive under pressure and want to be in the middle of the action, keep watching.

87 | Anesthesiology

Anesthesiologists manage patient care before, during, and after surgery, maintaining sedation, airway, and hemodynamic stability throughout a procedure. It’s one of the higher-paying specialties in medicine with a more predictable lifestyle than most surgical fields.

88 | Pediatric Anesthesiology

Pediatric anesthesiologists specialize in sedation and pain management for infants and children and require additional training beyond standard anesthesiology residency.

89 | Cardiac Anesthesiology

Cardiac anesthesiologists manage patients undergoing open-heart surgery and other complex cardiac procedures, working closely with cardiothoracic surgery teams.

90 | Obstetric Anesthesiology

Obstetric anesthesiologists provide pain management for laboring patients, including epidurals and anesthesia for cesarean sections.

91 | Neuroanesthesiology

Neuroanesthesiologists specialize in anesthesia for brain and spinal cord surgeries, where maintaining precise physiologic conditions is critical to patient outcomes.

92 | Regional Anesthesia & Acute Pain

These anesthesiologists focus on nerve blocks and other regional techniques to manage surgical and post-operative pain without relying solely on general anesthesia.

93 | Emergency Medicine

Emergency medicine physicians treat urgent and life-threatening conditions around the clock, from heart attacks and strokes to trauma and acute infections. It requires broad medical knowledge across every specialty and the ability to make fast, high-stakes decisions.

94 | Pediatric Emergency Medicine

Pediatric emergency medicine physicians staff emergency departments that treat children, managing everything from minor injuries to critical illness in younger patients.

95 | Critical Care Medicine

Intensivists manage life-threatening illness and injury in the ICU, providing 24-hour care for patients with conditions like sepsis, respiratory failure, and multi-organ dysfunction. It’s distinct from emergency medicine in its focus on prolonged, complex medical management rather than acute stabilization.

Diagnostic & Support Specialties

These physicians rarely get the spotlight, but every other specialty on this list depends on them. They work behind the scenes to provide diagnoses and procedures that drive treatment decisions throughout the hospital. Without them, modern medicine doesn’t function.

96 | Diagnostic Radiology

Diagnostic radiologists interpret medical imaging, including X-rays, CT scans, MRIs, and ultrasounds, to diagnose injury and disease. While most work in reading rooms, the field is evolving rapidly with AI-assisted image analysis.

97 | Interventional Radiology

Interventional radiologists perform minimally invasive, image-guided procedures to diagnose and treat disease, including arterial stenting, tumor ablation, and drain placement.

98 | Nuclear Radiology

Nuclear radiologists use radioactive tracers and imaging techniques like PET scans to diagnose and treat conditions, including cancer, heart disease, and thyroid disorders.

99 | Neuroradiology

Neuroradiologists specialize in imaging of the brain, spine, and peripheral nervous system, interpreting studies for conditions like stroke, brain tumors, and spinal cord injury.

100 | Musculoskeletal Radiology

Musculoskeletal radiologists interpret imaging of bones, joints, and soft tissue, working closely with orthopedic surgeons and rheumatologists.

101 | Breast Imaging Radiology

Breast imaging radiologists specialize in mammography, ultrasound, and MRI of the breast, playing a central role in the early detection of breast cancer.

102 | Pathology

Pathologists examine tissue specimens, manage clinical laboratories, and provide diagnoses that guide treatment decisions across virtually every specialty in medicine. It’s one of the few specialties with minimal direct patient contact.

103 | Genetic Pathology

Genetic pathologists investigate the genomic basis of disease, helping to personalize treatment for patients with rare or complex conditions.

104 | Molecular Pathology

Molecular pathologists analyze DNA, RNA, and proteins within tissues and fluids to diagnose disease at the molecular level.

105 | Neuropathology

Neuropathologists examine nervous system tissue to diagnose brain tumors, neurodegenerative diseases, and other neurological conditions.

106| Transfusion Medicine

Transfusion medicine physicians oversee blood banking and transfusion services, managing the safe collection, testing, and administration of blood products.

Psychiatry & Behavioral Health

Psychiatry is the only specialty focused entirely on mental health. These physicians complete the same medical training as other doctors before residency, which sets them apart from psychologists and therapists and allows them to prescribe medication alongside other treatments. The field covers everything from ADHD in children to forensic evaluations in the criminal justice system.

107 | Psychiatry

Psychiatrists diagnose and treat mental health disorders through a combination of medication management and psychotherapy. Unlike psychologists, psychiatrists attend medical school and complete the same foundational training as all other physicians before residency.

108 | Child & Adolescent Psychiatry

Child and adolescent psychiatrists specialize in the diagnosis and treatment of mental health disorders in patients under 18, including ADHD, anxiety, depression, and eating disorders.

109 | Geriatric Psychiatry

Geriatric psychiatrists focus on mental health conditions in elderly patients, including depression, anxiety, and neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer’s and dementia.

110 | Forensic Psychiatry

Forensic psychiatrists work at the intersection of mental health and the legal system, evaluating defendants for competency, assessing risk of harm, and treating incarcerated individuals with psychiatric conditions.

111 | Addiction Psychiatry

Addiction psychiatrists specialize in the evaluation and treatment of substance use disorders, including alcohol, opioids, stimulants, and behavioral addictions like gambling.

112 | Consultation-Liaison Psychiatry

Consultation-liaison psychiatrists are embedded in hospital settings, providing psychiatric evaluation and treatment for medically ill patients across all specialties.

113 | Military Psychiatry

Military psychiatrists treat active duty service members and their families, managing conditions like PTSD, depression, and the psychological effects of combat and military life.

Pediatric Specialties

Most specialties on this list have a pediatric version. Pediatric neurosurgery, pediatric emergency medicine, and pediatric urology were covered in their respective sections because they follow the same surgical or procedural training pathways as their adult counterparts.

What you’ll find here are the fellowship-trained subspecialties that exist primarily within pediatrics, branching off from pediatric residency rather than adult training programs. Treating children isn’t just treating small adults. The pharmacology is different, the communication is different, and the emotional weight of the work is different.

114 | Neonatology

Neonatologists care for premature and critically ill newborns in the NICU, managing conditions like respiratory distress, infections, and congenital abnormalities. It’s one of the more emotionally demanding subspecialties in pediatrics.

115 | Pediatric Intensivist

Pediatric intensivists provide critical care for seriously ill children in the PICU, performing procedures like intubations and arterial line placements for patients from infancy through adolescence.

116 | Pediatric Cardiology

Pediatric cardiologists diagnose and treat heart conditions in children, including congenital heart defects, arrhythmias, and cardiomyopathies.

117 | Pediatric Neurology

Pediatric neurologists manage neurological conditions in children, including epilepsy, cerebral palsy, muscular dystrophy, and developmental disorders.

118 | Pediatric Endocrinology

Pediatric endocrinologists treat hormonal and metabolic conditions in children, including Type 1 diabetes, growth disorders, and thyroid disease.

119 | Pediatric Gastroenterology

Pediatric gastroenterologists manage GI conditions in children, including inflammatory bowel disease, celiac disease, and liver disorders.

120 | Pediatric Hematology & Oncology

Pediatric hematologists and oncologists treat blood disorders and cancers in children, including leukemia, lymphoma, and sickle cell disease.

121 | Pediatric Infectious Disease

Pediatric infectious disease physicians diagnose and treat complex or unusual infections in children, including HIV, tuberculosis, and immunodeficiency-related infections.

122 | Pediatric Rheumatology

Pediatric rheumatologists treat autoimmune and inflammatory conditions in children, including juvenile idiopathic arthritis and lupus.

123 | Pediatric Pulmonology

Pediatric pulmonologists manage lung and airway conditions in children, including asthma, cystic fibrosis, and chronic respiratory failure.

124 | Pediatric Nephrology

Pediatric nephrologists treat kidney disease in children, including congenital abnormalities, nephrotic syndrome, and chronic kidney disease.

125 | Pediatric Dermatology

Pediatric dermatologists treat skin conditions specific to or more common in children, including eczema, birthmarks, and genetic skin disorders.

126 | Pediatric Ophthalmology

Pediatric ophthalmologists manage eye conditions in children, including strabismus, amblyopia, and congenital cataracts.

127 | Pediatric Orthopedics

Pediatric orthopedic surgeons treat musculoskeletal conditions in children, including scoliosis, limb deformities, and growth plate fractures.

128 | Pediatric Plastic Surgery

Pediatric plastic surgeons perform reconstructive procedures on children, including cleft lip and palate repair, burn reconstruction, and correction of congenital anomalies.

129 | Developmental-Behavioral Pediatrics

Developmental-behavioral pediatricians evaluate and manage neurodevelopmental conditions in children, including autism spectrum disorder, ADHD, and learning disabilities.

Other & Emerging Career Paths

Not every physician follows the traditional hospital or clinic route. Some of the careers in this section have existed for decades but rarely come up in medical school conversations. Others are newer fields still taking shape. What they share is that they fall outside the standard framework, and for the right physician, that’s exactly the appeal.

130 | Hyperbaric Medicine

Hyperbaric medicine physicians treat conditions using high-pressure oxygen therapy, including decompression sickness, carbon monoxide poisoning, and non-healing wounds.

131 | Aerospace Medicine

Aerospace medicine physicians provide clinical care and research support for pilots, aircrew, and astronauts, managing the unique physiological demands of flight and space travel.

132 | Undersea Medicine

Undersea medicine physicians specialize in health conditions related to diving and exposure to high-pressure underwater environments, including decompression illness and barotrauma.

133 | Longevity Medicine

Longevity medicine physicians focus on optimizing healthspan, using evidence-based interventions to prevent or delay age-related disease and cognitive decline. It’s a growing field driven in part by increased public interest in preventive health and performance optimization.

134 | Integrative Medicine

Integrative medicine physicians combine conventional medical treatment with evidence-informed complementary approaches, including nutrition, acupuncture, and mind-body therapies.

135 | Culinary Medicine

Culinary medicine is an emerging field that uses food and cooking as clinical tools, training physicians to counsel patients on nutrition in practical, actionable ways.

136 | Global Health

Global health physicians work to expand access to medical care in underserved and developing regions, often practicing a broader scope of medicine than their domestic counterparts due to limited specialist availability.

137 | Military Medicine

Military physicians serve as both specialists in their respective fields and flexible generalists when deployed, providing care for active-duty personnel and their families across a wide range of clinical settings.

138 | Medical Science & Research

Physician scientists split their time between patient care and laboratory or clinical research, contributing to the development of new treatments, diagnostics, and medical knowledge.

139 | Concierge & Direct Primary Care

Concierge and direct primary care physicians operate outside the traditional insurance model, offering personalized care to a smaller patient panel in exchange for a membership fee. It’s one of the fastest-growing practice models in primary care.

140 | Telemedicine

Telemedicine physicians deliver care remotely through video and digital platforms, either as a primary practice model or as a complement to in-person care.

141 | Correctional Medicine

Correctional medicine physicians provide healthcare to incarcerated individuals, managing chronic disease, mental health, and acute conditions within the prison and jail system.

142 | Public Health Medicine

Public health physicians work at the population level, designing and implementing policies and programs to prevent disease and improve health outcomes across communities.

How to Choose a Medical Specialty

That’s every type of doctor across all medical specialties and subspecialties currently practicing in the US. Knowing what each specialty does is one thing. Knowing which one is actually right for you is another.

If you’re not sure where you fit, SpecialtyQuiz.com assesses your personality, interests, and core traits across 30 questions and returns your top 5 specialty matches. It takes a few minutes and gives you a starting point that’s a lot more useful than guessing.