Medical Doctor Specialities
The Many Specialities of The Medical Doctor
To qualify for the title of doctor, it is necessary to obtain a suitable degree. However, while the title is one that we tend to associate with a member of the medical profession, anyone who successfully completes a doctorate, whether it happens to be in philosophy, divinity, economics, or some other non-medical field, will also assume this title. What is unusual, however, is that, while the latter is required to hold a post-graduate degree, a medical student earns their privileged title upon completion of their undergraduate degree.
Thereafter, however, a doctor must complete a further period of intensive training as an intern, following which, they may opt for residency in order to pursue a specialist qualification. For others, the choice might be to pursue a career in general practice. While undergraduate studies and internship cover both surgery and medicine, most tend to choose either the role of physician or surgeon. There are some exceptions, such as the orthopaedic specialist and the ear, nose, and throat specialists who are often required to be proficient in both of these roles.
A doctor will often choose to focus on a particular part of the body, as do the cardiologist and the cardiothoracic surgeon. The role of the former tends to be a combination of diagnostician and physician and involves identifying and treating those conditions that are likely to respond favourably to lifestyle changes and medication – and to refer those patients who are unlikely to do so to their surgical counterpart. A similar relationship exists between the neurologist and the neurosurgeon.
The paediatrician is a doctor whose speciality is children’s ailments. For them, also, there may be a division between surgical and medical responsibilities, while some may choose to focus on a particular sub-discipline, such as paediatric cardiology or endocrinology. Paediatrics, like geriatrics, are age-related fields but there are also those whose speciality is gender-related, as in the case of obstetrics and gynaecology. To these, one can add dermatology, gastroenterology, nephrology, ophthalmology, and oncology, to name just a few.
Given such a vast range of specialisms, it is fortunate that there is also a special kind of doctor whose job it is to ensure that, if you are found to need specialised treatment, you will be referred to someone with the appropriate, specialised medical or surgical skills. The physician in question is, of course, the general practitioner – a specialist in primary care.
For the convenience of their patients, Intercare Medical Centres are multidisciplinary and thus able to provide the broadest range of specialist services under one roof, including those of a GP. Yet another Intercare innovation is our simple online booking service.