Specialty Descriptions



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Physician Directory – Specialty Descriptions

Following is a list of physician specialties followed by descriptions. Once you find the specialty you are looking for, click on one of the following links to find a physician.

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Specialty

Description

An allergist-immunologist is a certified internist or pediatrician expert in the evaluation, physical and laboratory diagnosis, and management of disorders potentially involving the immune system. Selected examples of such conditions include asthma, anaphylaxis, rhinitis, eczema, urticaria, and adverse reactions to drugs, foods, and insect stings, as well as immune deficiency diseases (both acquired and congenital), defects in host defense, and problems related to autoimmune disease, organ transplantation, or malignancies of the immune system. The scope of this specialty is ever-widening as our understanding of the immune system develops. Selected experts may receive special certification in "Diagnostic Laboratory Immunology" after additional training in the various laboratory procedures required to analyze both the function and malfunction of the immune system.

Allergists are physicians trained to diagnose and treat reactions due to irritating agents or allergens. Allergic reactions can result from unusual sensitivities to medicines, foods, pollens, and other substances.

Anesthesiology is the branch of medicine and medical specialty dealing with the provision of pain relief and the maintenance or restoration of a stable condition during and immediately following surgical, obstetrical, and diagnostic procedures.

Cardiac Electrophysiology is a field of narrow interest within the subspecialty of cardiology. Cardiac Electrophysiology involves complicated technical procedures to evaluate abnormal heart rhythms and determine appropriate treatment for them.

Cardiologists specialize in diseases of the heart, lungs, and blood vessels and manage complex cardiac conditions such as heart attacks and life-threatening abnormal heart beat rhythms. Cardiologists also perform complicated diagnostic procedures such as cardiac catheterization, and consult with surgeons on heart surgery.

A Cardiovascular Surgeon focuses on surgery of the heart and related blood vessels.

Carniofacial Surgery is a subspecialty of plastic surgery that includes the in-depth study and reconstructive treatment of disorders of the soft and hard tissues of the face and cranial areas, such as congenital anomalies and posttraumatic and other acquired conditions.� Although craniofacial surgery includes combined intracranial and extracranial surgery, the broad scope of the subspecialty is applicable to other procedures in the craniofacial region.� Surgeons trained in craniofacial surgery should be able to manage any hard or soft-tissue reconstruction problem of the craniofacial region.

A Certified Nurse Midwife -- a registered nurse with additional training as a Midwife -- provides health care to women, especially during pregnancy and childbirth. Midwifery is based on the understanding that pregnancy and childbirth are natural processes and that health care should be personalized to meet the needs of a woman and her family. A Midwife typically provides prenatal care, assists the birth process, and offers emotional and psychological support to women and their families during the birth experience. Most can also perform gynecological checkups (including breast examinations and pap smears), provide birth-control advice, and manage the specific needs of menopause.

Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist (CRNAs) provide quality anesthesia care to all patients undergoing surgical, obstetrical, or other medical interventions which necessitate the services of an anesthetist.

A chemical pathologist is an expert in the biochemistry of the human body as it applies to understanding the cause and progress of disease. Chemical pathology entails the application of biochemical data to the detection, confirmation, or monitoring of disease. The chemical pathologist functions as a clinical consultant in the diagnosis and treatment of human disease.

Clinical and Laboratory Immunology is a subspecialty of Allergy and Immunology in which physicians are trained in all aspects of the administration of a clinical immunology laboratory to qualify them to perform laboratory tests to diagnose and treat disorders of the body's immune system. The American Boards of Allergy and Immunology, Internal Medicine, and Pediatrics issue certificates of Added Qualifications in Clinical and Laboratory Immunology.

A dental practitioner specializes in the care and treatment of the teeth and gums.

Dermatology is the branch of medicine and medical specialty dealing with the diagnosis and treatment of disorders of the skin, mouth, external genitalia, hair, and nails, as well as a number of sexually transmitted diseases. Dermatologists have extensive training and experience in the diagnosis and treatment of skin cancers, melanomas, moles, and other tumors of the skin, contact dermatitis, and other allergic and non-allergic disorders, and in the recognition of the skin manifestations of systemic (including internal malignancy) and infectious diseases. The dermatologist also has expertise in the management of cosmetic disorders of the skin, such as hair loss and scars.

Diagnostic Radiology is the branch of Radiology that deals with the utilization of all modalities of radiant energy in medical diagnosis and therapeutic procedures utilizing radiologic guidance. This includes, but is not restricted to, imaging techniques and methodologies utilizing radiation emitted by x-ray tubes, radionuclides, ultrasonographic devices, and radiofrequency electromagnetic radiation emitted by atoms.

Otolaryngology/Otorhinolaryngology is the branch of medicine dealing with medical and surgical treatment of the head and neck, including the ears, nose, and throat, and specializing in tonsil adenoid conditions, thyroid conditions, skin cancers of the head and neck, sleep disorders, nasal obstructive conditions, diseases of the ears, hearing loss, and balance disorders.

Emergency Medicine is the medical specialty that focuses on the immediate decision making and action necessary to prevent death or further disability. The emergency physician provides immediate initial recognition, evaluation, care, and disposition of a generally undifferentiated population of patients in response to acute illness and injury. The care provided by the emergency physician is episodic in nature and involves a full spectrum of physical and behavioral conditions.

The Endocrinologist concentrates on disorders of the internal (endocrine) glands such as the thyroid and adrenal glands. Endocrinology also deals with disorders such as diabetes, metabolic and nutritional disorders, pituitary diseases, and menstrual and sexual problems.

Family Practice physicians are trained to prevent, diagnose, and treat a wide variety of ailments in patients of all ages. They have received a broad range of training that includes surgery, psychiatry, internal medicine, obstetrics and gynecology, pediatrics, and geriatrics. They place special emphasis on care of families on a continuing basis, utilizing consultations and community resources when appropriate. They are able to apply modern techniques to prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of the vast majority of common illnesses and injuries. Obstetrics is a branch of medicine and medical specialty dealing with the management of pregnancy, labor, and the post-labor recovery period.

Family Practice physicians are trained to prevent, diagnose, and treat a wide variety of ailments in patients of all ages. They have received a broad range of training that includes surgery, psychiatry, internal medicine, obstetrics and gynecology, pediatrics, and geriatrics. They place special emphasis on care of families on a continuing basis, utilizing consultations and community resources when appropriate. They are able to apply modern techniques to prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of the vast majority of common illnesses and injuries.

Gastroenterology is a medical subspecialty concentrating on the digestive organs, including the stomach, bowels, liver, and gallbladder. The Gastroenterologist treats conditions such as abdominal pain, ulcers, diarrhea, cancer, and jaundice. Gastroenterologists perform complex diagnostic and therapeutic procedures using lighted scopes to see internal organs.

A General Surgeon is a specialist prepared to manage a broad spectrum of surgical conditions affecting almost any area of the body. The Surgeon establishes the diagnosis and provides the preoperative, operative, and postoperative care to surgical patients, and is usually responsible for the comprehensive management of trauma victims and the critically ill. A Vascular Surgeon is a surgeon with special qualifications in the management of surgical disorders of the blood vessels, excluding those immediately adjacent to the heart, lungs, or brain.

General Preventive Medicine is a specialty that focuses on the health of individuals and defined populations in order to protect, promote, and maintain health and well-being, and to prevent disease, disability, and premature death. In addition to the knowledge of basic and clinical sciences and the skills common to all physicians, the distinctive components of Preventive Medicine include biostatistics, epidemiology, health services administration, environmental and occupational influences on health, social and behavioral influences on health, and measures that prevent the occurrence, progression, and disabling effects of disease or injury.

A General Surgeon is a specialist prepared to manage a broad spectrum of surgical conditions affecting almost any area of the body. The Surgeon establishes the diagnosis and provides the preoperative, operative, and postoperative care to surgical patients, and is usually responsible for the comprehensive management of trauma victims and the critically ill.

A General Vascular Surgeon is a surgeon with special qualifications in the management of surgical disorders of the blood vessels, excluding those immediately adjacent to the heart, lungs, or brain.

Plastic Surgeons use techniques of repair, replacement, and reconstruction to correct defects of form and function of the surface areas of the body, along with the underlying tissue and bone. Hand Surgery is performed primarily to correct physical abnormalities or injuries to structures such as tendons, nerves, blood vessels, joints, and bones, and to treat burns, cuts, and other injuries to the skin.

Hematology/Oncology is a medical subspecialty focusing on both blood diseases and cancer. The Hematologist/Oncologist treats diseases of the blood and blood forming organs (i.e. spleen, lymph nodes, bone marrow, and thymus) as well as neoplastic diseases arising in any organ system.

Infectious Disease specialists study diseases caused by pathogenic microorganisms such as bacteria or viruses. These physicians usually serve as consultants in cases such as those involving patients with tuberculosis.

Internal Medicine is a medical specialty dealing with the long-term, comprehensive management of both common and complex medical illnesses of adolescents, adults, and the elderly. Internal Medicine physicians offer an understanding of and effective treatment for disease prevention, wellness, substance abuse, and mental health.

Nephrologists diagnose and treat disorders of the kidney — including dialysis of body wastes when the kidneys do not function — high blood pressure, and problems involving fluid and mineral balance, in addition to consulting with surgeons about kidney transplantation.

A Neuro-Oncologist is a physician who specializes in the treatment of cancer and tumors affecting the brain and the spinal cord.

A Neurological Surgeon provides operative and non-operative management (i.e. prevention, diagnosis, evaluation, treatment, critical care, and rehabilitation) of disorders of the central, peripheral, and autonomic nervous systems, including their supporting structures and vascular supply, in addition to evaluation and treatment of pathological processes that modify function or activity of the nervous system, including the hypothesis, and the operative and non-operative management of pain. Nervous system care and treatment encompasses the function of the brain, meninges, and skull, as well as the blood supply of those systems, including the extracranial carotid and vertebral arteries. Neurological Surgeons also treat disorders of the pituitary gland, disorders of the spinal cord, meninges, and spine (including treatment by fusion or instrumentation), and disorders of the cranial and spinal nerves throughout their distribution.

Neurologists specialize in the diagnosis and treatment of disorders and diseases affecting the brain, spinal cord, peripheral nerves, muscles, and autonomic nervous system, as well as the blood vessels that relate to these structures.

A Nurse Midwife is a registered nurse with additional training as a midwife, who delivers infants and provides antepartum and postpartum care.

A Nurse Practitioner (NP) is a primary care provider who practices in ambulatory, acute, and long-term care settings. According to their practice specialty, NPs provide nursing and medical services to individuals, families, and groups. In addition to diagnosing and managing acute episodic and chronic illnesses, NPs emphasize health promotion and disease prevention. NPs are often responsible for ordering, conducting, and interpreting diagnostic and laboratory tests, and for prescription of pharmacologic agents and pharmacologic therapies. Teaching and counseling individuals, families, and groups is also a major part of a Nurse Practitioner’s practice.

Obstetrics/Gynecology is a branch of medicine and medical specialty dealing with the management of pregnancy, labor, and the post-labor recovery period (Obstetrics) and with the diagnosis and treatment of diseases of the female reproductive system and the female genital tract (Gynecology).

Occupational and Environmental Medicine is the medical specialty devoted to the prevention and management of occupational and environmental injury, illness, and disability, and the promotion of health and productivity of workers, their families, and communities.

Medical Oncologists specialize in the diagnosis and treatment of all types of cancer and other benign and malignant tumors. These subspecialists decide on and administer chemotherapy for malignancy, as well as consult with surgeons and radiotherapists on other treatments for cancer.

Ophthalmology is the branch of medicine and medical specialty dealing with comprehensive eye and vision care, including diagnosis, monitoring, and surgical treatment of all eyelid and orbital problems affecting vision.

Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery is the specialty of dentistry that includes the diagnosis and surgical and adjunctive treatment of diseases, injuries, and defects involving both the functional and aesthetic aspects of the hard and soft tissues of the mouth, teeth, jaws, and face.

Orthodontics is the branch of dentistry that specializes in the diagnosis, prevention and treatment of dental and facial irregularities. Orthodontics is one of the 8 specialties recognized by the American Dental Association. The practice of orthodontics involves the design, application and control of corrective appliances (braces) to bring teeth, lips and jaws into proper alignment and achieve facial balance.

Orthopedics is the branch of medicine and medical specialty dealing with the prevention or correction of injuries or disorders of the skeletal system and associated muscles, joints, and ligaments. Orthopedic Surgery includes the preservation, investigation, and restoration of the form and function of the extremities, spine, and associated structures by medical, surgical, and physical means.

Otolaryngology/Otorhinolaryngology is the branch of medicine dealing with medical and surgical treatment of the head and neck, including the ears, nose, and throat, and specializing in tonsil adenoid conditions, thyroid conditions, skin cancers of the head and neck, sleep disorders, nasal obstructive conditions, diseases of the ears, hearing loss, and balance disorders.

Pain Management physicians have a background in the neurophysiology and neurochemistry of pain, and limit their practice to the evaluation and management of individuals with acute, cancer-related, and chronic pain. The Pain Management physician recognizes the complexities of chronic pain and addresses medical, physical, psycho-social, and environmental factors that affect an individual's perception of pain and the attendant disabilities. The Pain Management physician has advanced knowledge of the management of postoperative and acute pain. Physicians in diverse fields of medicine are active in pain management. These fields include: Anesthesiology, Oncology, Neurosurgery, Neurology, Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Psychiatry, Internal Medicine, Family Practice, and other sub-specialties.

Pain Medicine physicians have a background in the neurophysiology and neurochemistry of pain, and limit their practice to the evaluation and management of individuals with acute, cancer-related, and chronic pain. The Pain Medicine physician recognizes the complexities of chronic pain and addresses medical, physical, psycho-social, and environmental factors that affect an individual's perception of pain and the attendant disabilities. The Pain Medicine physician has advanced knowledge of the management of postoperative and acute pain. Physicians in diverse fields of medicine are active in pain management. These fields include: Anesthesiology, Oncology, Neurosurgery, Neurology, Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Psychiatry, Internal Medicine, Family Practice, and other sub-specialties.

Pathologists are physicians who specialize in laboratory medicine. They are experts in the use of laboratory procedures to diagnose and treat disease. A pathologist assists physicians in determining what medical problems their patients may have or what further procedures may need to be performed in order to make that determination. The pathologist may also help a patient’s doctor in deciding how a condition can best be treated.

A Pediatric Nurse Practitioner (PNP) is a registered nurse who has completed advanced studies to become a specialist in children’s health care. A PNP’s role complements that of the Family Practice physician, and includes performing basic duties once reserved for physicians, such as diagnosing and treating common illnesses and prescribing medication. Special areas of emphasis include the development and behavior of the child, and working collaboratively with schools and other agencies to ensure children receive appropriate interventions and services when needed.

Pediatrics is the specialty of medical science concerned with the physical, emotional, and social health of children from birth to young adulthood. Pediatric care encompasses a broad spectrum of health services ranging from preventive health care to the diagnosis and treatment of acute and chronic diseases.

Perinatology is the branch of medicine dealing with the fetus and infant during the perinatal period. The perinatal period begins with the twenty-eighth week of gestation and ends twenty-eight days after birth.

A Physician Assistant (PA) is a health care professional licensed to conduct physical examinations, diagnose and treat illnesses, order and interpret diagnostic tests, assist in surgery, and write prescriptions for patient medications. The Physician Assistant is trained in the medical model designed to complement physician training. PAs are found in all areas of medicine, including family medicine, internal medicine, pediatrics, obstetrics and gynecology, emergency medicine, and surgery.

Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery is concerned with reducing scarring or disfigurement that may occur as a result of accidents, birth defects, or treatment for diseases, and involves the repair, replacement, and reconstruction of defects of form and function of the surface areas of the body along with the underlying tissue and bone. Many plastic surgeons also perform cosmetic surgery that is unrelated to medical conditions.

Podiatrists, also known as Doctors of Podiatric Medicine (DPM), diagnose and treat disorders, diseases, and injuries of the foot and lower leg. Podiatrists treat corns, calluses, ingrown toenails, bunions, heel spurs, arch problems, foot complaints associated with diseases such as diabetes, and ankle and foot injuries, deformities, and infections. To treat these problems, Podiatrists prescribe drugs, order physical therapy, set fractures, and perform surgery. They also fit corrective inserts called orthotics, design plaster casts and strapping to correct deformities, and design custom-made shoes.

Proctology is a medical specialty that includes the diagnosis and treatment of diseases and conditions originating within or affecting the anus, rectum, colon, and perianal and perirectal areas, as well as treatment of related or complicating conditions without the use of major surgery.

A Psychiatrist is a physician who specializes in the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of mental, addictive, and emotional disorders, e.g. psychoses, depression, anxiety disorders, substance abuse disorders, developmental disabilities, sexual dysfunctions, adjustment reactions, etc. Psychiatrists understand the biological, psychological, and social components of illness and are qualified to order diagnostic laboratory tests and to prescribe medications, as well as to evaluate and treat psychological and interpersonal problems. Psychiatrists are also prepared to intervene with individuals and families who are coping with stress crises and other problems of living.

Psychology is a professional specialty concerned with diagnosing and treating diseases of the brain, emotional disturbances, and behavior problems.

The Pulmonologist diagnoses and treats pneumonia, pleurisy, asthma, occupational diseases, bronchitis, sleep disorders, emphysema, and other complex disorders of the lungs. Pulmonologists test lung functions in many ways, endoscope the bronchial airways if necessary, and prescribe and monitor mechanical assistance to ventilation.

Radiation Oncology (Therapeutic Radiology) is a branch of medicine that deals with the treatment of cancer using radiation therapy. The Radiation Oncologist is also a specialist in the field of Oncology and its associated range of treatments.

Radiologists are often referred to as "the eyes of medicine" because they help primary care physicians detect and diagnose disease. Radiologists bring special training and expertise to the interpretation of x-ray images. In addition to interpreting x-ray films, Radiologists use a variety of other modalities such as MRI, ultrasound, and nuclear medicine.

Rheumatology is a medical specialty concerned with the study, diagnosis, and treatment of various conditions that involve pain or other symptoms afflicting bone, joints, and/or muscles (musculoskeletal system). Rheumatologists treat arthritis, certain autoimmune diseases, musculoskeletal pain disorders, and osteoporosis. There are more than 100 types of these diseases, including rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis, gout, lupus, back pain, fibromyalgia, and tendonitis.

Sleep medicine is concerned with the diagnosis and treatment of disorders affecting sleep and daytime alertness and the effect of the sleep processes upon other medical disorders. The field of sleep medicine developed because specialized knowledge of the sleeping brain, and of pathological deviations from normal sleep physiology, provides the physician with the expertise to recognize and treat sleep-related illness.

Sports Medicine involves not only the enhancement of health and fitness, but also the prevention of injury and illness. A sports medicine physician must therefore have knowledge and experience in the promotion of wellness and the prevention of injury. Knowledge of special areas of medicine such as exercise physiology, biomechanics, nutrition, psychology, physical rehabilitation, and epidemiology are essential to the practice of sports medicine. Sports medicine specialization requires multi-faceted educational experience, providing the knowledge and skills necessary to improve the health care of the individual engaged in physical exercise (sports) whether as an individual or in team participation.

Thoracic Surgery encompasses the operative, perioperative, and critical care of patients with pathologic conditions within the chest. Included is the surgical care of coronary artery disease, cancers of the lung, esophagus, and chest wall, abnormalities of the great vessels and heart valves, congenital anomalies, tumors of the mediastinum, and diseases of the diaphragm. The management of the airway and treatment of injuries of the chest is within the scope of the specialty.

A specialist in Urology is qualified to manage benign and malignant medical and surgical disorders of the adrenal gland and of the genitourinary system. Urologists have a comprehensive knowledge of skills in endoscopic, percutaneous, and open surgery of congenital and acquired conditions of the reproductive and urinary systems and their contiguous structures.

A Vascular Medicine specialist is defined as a practitioner who has received advanced training in the diagnosis and treatment of both common and uncommon vascular disorders. This expertise encompasses vascular disease risk factors (hypertension, hyperlipidemia, homocystinemia, etc.), specific diagnostic expertise (via bedside examination, use of noninvasive vascular laboratory, and interpretation of all forms of vascular imaging), and expertise in therapeutic interventions (including vasoactive drugs, thrombolytic and hemostatic agents, and revascularization techniques). As such, the Vascular Medicine specialist provides comprehensive, integrated, long-term care for individuals with peripheral arterial disease, acute and chronic vanous diseases, and lymphatic disease, as well as the risk factors and end-organ consequences of these illnesses. In contrast to traditional vascular surgical specialists, the vascular medicine practitioner contributes to all of the vascular medicine-based needs exclusive of surgical interventions.

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