Glossary of Medical Specialties

Allergy
The diagnosis and treatment of allergies.

Anesthesiology
The technique of inducing unconsciousness or insensitivity to pain during an operation or procedure.

Behavioral Health
The diagnosis and treatment of chemical dependency and eating disorders.

Cardiology
The diagnosis and treatment of heart disease.

Dermatology
The diagnosis and treatment of skin conditions.

Emergency Medicine
Acute episodic medical care.

Endocrinology
The diagnosis and treatment of diseases involving hormone-secreting glands such as the pancreas, ovaries, thyroid and testes.

Family Practice
The diagnosis and treatment of any ailment that does not require surgery in adults/or children.

Gastroenterology
The treatment of stomach and intestinal problems.

Geriatrics
The treatment of the aged.

Gynecology
The diagnosis and treatment of diseases involving the female reproductive system.

Gynecology/Oncology
Treatment of cancerous disorders of the female genital tract.

Infectious Disease
The treatment of disease that tends to spread or infect others.

Internal Medicine
The diagnosis and treatment of any ailment in adults that does not require surgery.

Maternal/Fetal Medicine
The treatment of both mother and fetus during high-risk pregnancy.

Neonatology
The advanced care of newborns.

Nephrology
The study and treatment of the kidney and its diseases.

Neurology
The diagnosis and treatment of disorders of the nervous system.

Neurosurgery
Surgery to correct disorders of the nervous system.

Nuclear Medicine
The science of injecting radioactive chemicals into the body's organs and tissues to aid in diagnosis and therapy.

Obstetrics
The management of pregnancy, labor and care of the new mother.

Occupational Health
The diagnosis and treatment of work-related injuries.

Oncology/Hematology
The diagnosis and treatment of diseases involving the blood and blood-forming tissue, especially cancer and its related complications.

Ophthalmology
Diagnosis and treatment, including surgery, for disorders of the eye.

Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery
Surgery to correct disorders of the mouth, teeth, gums and jaw.

Orthodontics
The diagnosis and treatment of irregularities of the teeth.

Otolaryngology
Treatment of disorders of the ear, nose and throat.

Pathology
The study of structural and functional changes in tissues and organs to determine the presence and nature of disease.

Pediatrics
The care of children, including the diagnosis and treatment of childhood disorders.

Pediatric Cardiology
The treatment of heart disease in children.

Pediatric Dentistry
The diagnosis and treatment of children's mouth and teeth disorders.

Pediatric Endocrinology
The diagnosis and treatment of endocrine disorders in children.

Pediatric Nephrology
The treatment of kidney disease in children.

Pediatric Neurology
The treatment of children's nervous disorders.

Pediatric Ophthalmology
Diagnosis and treatment-including surgery-for children's disorders of the eye.

Pediatric Surgery
Treatment of children's disease, injury or deformity by an operation.

Pediatric Urology
The treatment of disorders of the urinary and genital organs in children.

Periodontics
The diagnosis and treatment of gum diseases.

Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation
The medical diagnosis and treatment of conditions that affect movement or cause chronic pain such as stroke, arthritis, defects in the extremities and back/neck pain.

Podiatry
Diagnosis and treatment of disorders of the foot and ankle.

Psychiatry
The study, treatment and prevention of mental disorders, including the prescription of drugs, by a medical doctor who specializes in human behavior.

Psychology - Medical Associates
The care of behavioral and emotional problems by a professional other than a medical doctor through psychotherapy, counseling and psychoanalysis.

Pulmonary Medicine
The diagnosis and treatment of lung conditions, including bronchitis, emphysema and cancer.

Radiation Therapy
The use of radiation to treat cancer.

Radiology
Use of X-rays to diagnose and treat disease.

Reproductive Endocrinology
The treatment of infertility.

Reproductive Immunology
The practice of treating couples with histories of recurrent pregnancy losses.

Rheumatology
The diagnosis and treatment of diseases characterized by inflammation of the body's connective tissue, including arthritis.

Surgery, Colorectal
The treatment of the colon and rectum through surgery.

Surgery, General
Treatment of disease, injury or deformity by an operation.

Surgery, Neurosurgery
Surgery to correct disorders of the nervous system.

Surgery, Oral
Use of surgery to treat disorders of the mouth.

Surgery, Orthopedic
Use of surgery to preserve and restore the function of the skeletal system.

Surgery, Plastic/Reconstructive
The surgical reconstruction of a part of the body for aesthetic reasons or to correct damage caused by congenital defects, injuries and other traumas, or removal of cancerous growths.

Surgery, Retinal
Surgery performed on the inside of the eye to treat disease, defects, deformities or injuries.

Surgery, Thoracic & Cardiovascular
Surgery performed on the chest, including the blood vessels.

Surgery, Vascular
Use of surgery to treat artery and vein disorders.

Urology
Treatment of disorders of the urinary and genital organs