Help Choosing a Speciality 

Speciality Definitions

Medical specialties:	Definitions:
Allergists/Immunologists:	Treat asthma, seasonal allergies, sinusitis, eczema, hives, food allergies and immune system problems.
Anesthesiologists:	Provide pre-surgery medical evaluation; pain control before, during and after surgery through various methods; anesthesia or sedation for procedures such as MRIs or CT scans.
Audiologist	Treats hearing disorders, including evaluation of hearing function and rehabilitation of patients with hearing impairments
Cardiologists:	Treat patients with congenital and acquired heart disease.
Colon and Rectal Surgeons:	Treat various conditions of the intestine, colon and rectum including hemorrhoids, fissures and colon polyps.
Dermatologists:	Treat a variety of problems affecting skin (as well as hair/nails) including acne, eczema, psoriasis, skin cancer and moles.
Endocrinologists:	Treat a variety of endocrine system or hormone-related disorders including diabetes, growth disorders, abnormal thyroid function and puberty disorders.
Gastroenterologists:	Treat gastrointestinal and nutritional disorders such as lactose intolerance / food allergies, abdominal pain, inflammatory bowel disease, chronic liver disorders and feeding disorders.
Geriatricians:	Treat the elderly. A family physician or internist with knowledge of the aging process and additional skills in the diagnosis and prevention of illness in the elderly.
Hematology & Oncology	Treats patients with blood and platelet disorders and cancers that are treated with a non-surgical therapy, such as bone marrow transplant, stem cell transplant, pheresis, or chemotherapy.
Hyperbaric Medicine	Hyperbaric refers to an oxygen therapy that utilizes a special chamber called a hyperbaric chamber. Used treat a variety of wounds and conditions.
Infectious Disease	Treats infectious diseases - infections of all medical specialties, Infection control, HIV/AIDS, Hepatitis, food poisoning, surgical infections, pneumonia etc.
Neonatologists:	Pediatricians who treat sick newborns.
Nephrologists:	Treat kidney conditions such as urinary tract infections, renal insufficiency, hypertension, diabetes-related kidney problems, congenital kidney abnormalities and kidney stones.
Neurologists:	Treat people who have epilepsy (seizures), severe headaches, trouble moving their arms or legs and other problems that can affect the nervous system.
Neurosurgeons:	Treat patients with disorders of the nervous system, brain and spinal cord.
Occupational Medicine	The branch of medicine that deals with the prevention and treatment of diseases and injuries occurring at work or in specific occupations.
Ophthalmologists:	Treat eye conditions or problems with eyesight such as near- and farsightedness, astigmatism, cataracts, glaucoma and macular degeneration.
Orthopedic Surgeons:	Treat musculoskeletal problems including broken bones, limb and spinal deformities, sports injuries and degenerative joint diseases.
Otolaryngologists:	Treat conditions affecting the ears, nose or throat, such as ear infections, tonsillitis, nosebleeds, sinus infections and hearing problems.
Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation (Physiatrists):	Treat people with physical disabilities resulting from a variety of conditions, such as sports trauma, head injury, spinal cord injury or stroke.
Psychiatrists:	Treat mental, addictive and emotional disorders such as schizophrenia and other psychotic disorders, mood disorders, anxiety disorders and substance-related disorders.
Pulmonologists:	Treat a range of lung and airway disorders, such as pneumonia, bronchitis, cancer and sleep disorders.
Radiation Oncology	Radiation oncology is the practice of using radiation to treat cancer and malignant cells in the body. It's sometimes called radiation therapy, or XRT.
Rheumatologist	Specializes in the diagnosis and treatment of arthritis and related diseases.
Surgeons:	Treat surgical conditions including hernias, appendicitis and gallstones.
Urologists:	Treat urinary and genital problems such as incontinence, urinary tract infections and prostate cancer.

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