Guide to Medical Specialties and Subspecialties 2023

If you are researching on the internet and looking for a medical specialist, you've come to the right place. Choosing the right medical specialist is not as simple as one might think, as misinformation could lead to health scams and even botched surgeries. 

We have compiled a list of major medical specialties and online resources in one place for your convenience so that you could use to do your online research and find a suitable medical specialist in U.S.

Overview of medical specialties:

  • Allergy and immunology
  • Dermatology
  • Diagnostic radiology
  • Emergency medicine
  • Family medicine
  • Internal medicine
  • Mesothelioma Specialists
  • Medical genetics
  • Neurology
  • Nuclear medicine
  • Obstetrics and gynecology
  • Ophthalmology
  • Pathology
  • Pediatrics
  • Physical medicine and rehabilitation
  • Preventive medicine
  • Psychiatry
  • Radiation oncology
  • Surgery
  • Urology
The list below has been arranged based on search popularity.

Surgery

Doctors specializing in surgery can choose to become general surgeons or pursue a subspecialty in a specific area of the body, type of patient, or type of surgery. General surgeons provide a wide variety of life-saving surgeries, such as appendectomies and splenectomies. They receive broad training on human anatomy, physiology, intensive care, and wound healing.

The Association of American Medical Colleges and American College of Surgeons outline a number of surgical subspecialties and areas of practice, including the following:
  • Colon and rectal surgery
  • General surgery
    • Surgical critical care
  • Plastic surgery
    • Craniofacial surgery
    • Hand surgery
  • Neuro-surgery
    • Endovascular surgical neuroradiology
  • Eye surgery
  • Oral and maxillofacial surgery
  • Orthopaedic surgery 
    • Adult reconstructive orthopaedics
    • Foot and ankle orthopaedics
    • Musculoskeletal oncology
    • Orthopaedic sports medicine
    • Orthopaedic surgery of the spine 
    • Orthopaedic trauma 
    • Pediatric orthopaedics 
  • Otolaryngology
    • Pediatric otolaryngology
    • Otology neurotology 
  • Pediatric surgery
    • Neonatal
    • Prenatal
    • Trauma
  • Surgical Intensivists, specializing in critical care patients 
  • Thoracic Surgery
    • Congenital cardiac surgery
    • Thoracic surgery-integrated
  • Vascular surgery

Surgeons (Multi-specialty)

The ACS (American College of Surgeons) Find a Surgeon tool (located on the left) allows you to search for a qualified surgeon in a variety of ways. You can search by any combination of the following: 
  • Name
  • Location (city, state, zip code, country)
  • Specialty (for example, general surgery, neurosurgery)
  • Subspecialty (for example, surgical oncology, hernia procedures, colon and rectal disorder/procedures)
  • Area of Clinical Concentration (for example, inguinal hernia, brain tumor, lung resection)
Plastic Surgeons

Choosing a cosmetic surgeon is one of the most important steps in your decision to have cosmetic surgery. All surgeons in this directory are members of the American Board of Cosmetic Surgery:
https://www.americanboardcosmeticsurgery.org/find-a-cosmetic-surgeon-near-you/.

Alternative to find a plastic surgeon and check out the reviews in US: https://www.realself.com/find

Urologists (Kidney system related surgeons)

The American Urological Association is the leading professional association for urologists. As the premier professional association for the advancement of urologic patient care, the AUA is pleased to provide Find A Urologist, an on-line directory service for patients to use when looking for a urologist: Find a Urologist (Urology Care Foundation)

Hand Surgeons

Find a Hand Surgeon (American Society for Surgery of the Hand)


Obstetricians and Gynecologists

Obstetrician/gynecologists (OB/GYNs) care for the female reproductive system and associated disorders. This field of medicine encompasses a wide array of care, including the care of pregnant women, gynecologic care, oncology, surgery, and primary health care for women.

Several subspecialties within obstetrics and gynecology include the following:
  • Female pelvic medicine and reconstructive surgery
  • Gyne-oncology
  • Maternal-fetal medicine
  • Reproductive endocrinologists and infertility (e.g. IVF)
  • Uro-gynecology

ACOG's Physician Directory is provided by the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists as a public service for women who wish to locate an obstetrician-gynecologist in their area. This directory contains the names and addresses of ACOG members whose professional activity is devoted to the practice of obstetrics and/or gynecology:
Find an Ob-Gyn (American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists)


Oncologists (Cancer Specialists)

The Find an Oncologist Database is made available by ASCO (American Society of Clinical Oncology) as an informational resource for patients and caregivers. The database includes the names of physicians and other health professionals from certain ASCO membership categories who have given their permission to be identified publicly: Find a Cancer Doctor

Dermatologists (Skin Specialists)

Dermatologists are physicians who treat adult and pediatric patients with disorders of the skin, hair, nails, and adjacent mucous membranes. They diagnose everything from skin cancer, tumors, inflammatory diseases of the skin, and infectious diseases. They also perform skin biopsies and dermatological surgical procedures.

Subspecialties within the dermatology field include the following:
  • Dermatopathology
  • Pediatric dermatology
  • Procedural dermatology
A dermatologist is a doctor who specializes in treating conditions (e.g. eczema, psoriasis, acne, etc.) that affect the skin, hair, and nails. After earning a medical degree and completing an internship, a dermatologist receives three more years of specialty medical training, becoming an expert dedicated to skin, hair and nails: 
Find a Dermatologist (American Academy of Dermatology) 

Internal medicine

An internist is a physician who treats diseases of the heart, blood, kidneys, joints, digestive, respiratory, and vascular systems of adolescent, adult, and elderly patients. These physicians provide long-term and comprehensive care in hospitals and clinics. Because they undergo primary care training on internal medicine, these physicians also address disease prevention, wellness, substance abuse, and mental health.

Internal medicine subspecialties including the following:
  • Advanced heart failure and transplant cardiology
  • Cardiovascular disease
  • Clinical cardiac electrophysiology
  • Critical care medicine
  • Endocrinology, diabetes, and metabolism
  • Gastroenterology
  • Geriatric medicine
  • Hematology
  • Hematology and oncology
  • Infectious disease
  • Internal medicine
  • Interventional cardiology
  • Nephrology
  • Neurology
  • Oncology
  • Pediatric internal medicine
  • Pulmonary disease
  • Pulmonary disease and critical care medicine
  • Rheumatology
  • Sleep medicine
  • Sports medicine
  • Transplant hepatology

Allergists / Immunologists

The American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology (AAAAI) is a professional organization with more than 6,800 members in the United States, Canada and 72 other countries. This membership includes allergist / immunologists, other medical specialists, allied health and related healthcare professionals—all with a special interest in the research and treatment of allergic and immunologic diseases (e.g. eczema, psoriasis, vitiligo, etc.):
Find an Allergist/Immunologist (American Academy of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology)

Endocrinologists

The Hormone Health Network's physician referral directory is comprised of over 3,000 members of The Endocrine Society, the largest and most influential organization of endocrinologists in the world. The referral is updated weekly with physicians who are accepting new patients. To find a specialist near you, please use the search tools below. You can search by ZIP code, state/province, or area of specialty (e.g., diabetes, thyroid, etc.) within the United States and abroad:
Find an Endocrinologist (Hormone Health Network)

Gastrointestinal Endoscopy Specialists

ASGE ( (American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy) physicians and surgeons have highly specialized training in endoscopic procedures of the digestive tract; including upper gastrointestinal (GI) endoscopy, flexible sigmoidoscopy, colonoscopy, endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) and endoscopic ultrasound (EUS). ASGE is the only medical society that requires documentation of specific training in GI endoscopic procedures: ASGE: Find a Doctor

All ACG Members, Fellows (FACG) and Masters (MACG) of the College can be located via this GI Physician Locator service. You may search by Last Name, City, State or Zip Code:
Find a Gastroenterologist (American College of Gastroenterology)

Hematologists (Blood Disease Specialists)

American Society of Hematology (ASH) is the world's largest professional society serving both clinicians and scientists around the world who are working to conquer blood diseases:
Find a Hematologist (American Society of Hematology)

Hemato-oncology is a subspecialty of hematology, specialising in the treatment of leukemias and lymphomas (Blood cancer).

Ear Nose Throat Specialists (Otolaryngologists) 

The American Academy of Otolaryngology—Head and Neck Surgery (AAO-HNS) is the world's largest organization representing specialists who treat the ear, nose, throat, and related structures of the head and neck:
Find an ENT (American Academy of Otolaryngology--Head and Neck Surgery)

Eye Specialists (Ophthalmologists)

Physicians specializing in ophthalmology develop comprehensive medical and surgical care of the eyes. Ophthalmologists diagnose and treat vision problems. They may treat strabismus, diabetic retinopathy, or perform surgeries on cataracts or corneal transplantation.

There are several subspecialties within the ophthalmology field, including the following:
  • Anterior segment/cornea ophthalmology
  • Glaucoma ophthalmology
  • Neuro-ophthalmology
  • Ocular oncology
  • Oculoplastics/orbit
  • Ophthalmic Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery
  • Retina/uveitis
  • Strabismus/pediatric ophthalmology
The American Academy of Ophthalmology offers Find an Eye M.D., an on-line listing of member ophthalmologists practicing in the United States and abroad:
Find an Eye M.D. (American Academy of Ophthalmology)

Pediatrics

Physicians specializing in pediatrics work to diagnose and treat patients from infancy through adolescence. Pediatricians practice preventative medicine and also diagnose common childhood diseases, such as asthma, allergies, and croup.

They may work as a primary care pediatrician treating an array of ailments, or narrowing their scope of practice in one of the following subspecialties:
  • Adolescent medicine
  • Child abuse pediatrics
  • Developmental-behavioral pediatrics
  • Neonatal-perinatal medicine
  • Pediatric cardiology
  • Pediatric critical care medicine
  • Pediatric endocrinology
  • Pediatric gastroenterology
  • Pediatric hematology-oncology
  • Pediatric infectious diseases
  • Pediatric nephrology
  • Pediatric pulmonology
  • Pediatric rheumatology
  • Pediatric sports medicine
  • Pediatric transplant hepatology
Use this tool to search for an AAP (American Academy of Pediatrics) member pediatrician, pediatric sub-specialist, or pediatric surgical specialist. 
Find a Pediatrician or Pediatric Specialist

Pathology

A physician specializing in pathology studies the causes and nature of diseases. Through microscopic examination and clinical lab tests, pathologists work to diagnose, monitor, and treat diseases. They examine tissues, cells, and body fluids, applying biological, chemical, and physical sciences within the laboratory. They may examine tissues to determine whether an organ transplant is needed, or they may examine the blood of a pregnant woman to ensure the health of the fetus.

Pathology umbrellas several areas of subspecialty within the field, including the following:
  • Anatomical pathology
  • Blood banking and transfusion medicine
  • Chemical pathology
  • Clinical pathology
  • Cytopathology
  • Forensic pathology
  • Genetic pathology
  • Hematology
  • Immunopathology
  • Medical microbiology
  • Molecular pathology
  • Neuropathology
  • Pediatric pathology

Psychiatrists 

Psychiatrists diagnose and treat mental illness, such as depression, anxiety disorders, substance abuse, insomnia and schizophrenia. Most psychiatrists rely on a mix of medications and psychotherapy:
http://health.usnews.com/doctors/location-index/psychiatrists

Multi-Specialty

Physician Compare is a Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) website that helps you find and choose physicians and other healthcare professionals enrolled in Medicare so that you can make informed choices about the healthcare you get, as required by the Affordable Care Act (ACA) of 2010:
Medicare: Physician Compare


WebMD Physician Directory for Top US Areas:
http://doctor.webmd.com

ZocDoc is an online medical care scheduling service, providing free of charge medical care search facility for end users by integrating information about medical practices and doctors' individual schedules in a central location.
http://www.zocdoc.com/ 

Find the best Doctor, Dentist or Optometrist based on specialty, insurance and location. Available nationwide in every city. Easy, fast and free!
https://betterdoctor.com/ 

Find major clinical specialists based on specialty at Mayo Clinic (Minnesota - Rochester)
Find a clinical specialist at Mayo Clinic (Rochester, Minnesota)

Mesothelioma Specialists

Find mesothelioma Specialists in United States of America (USA): Mesothelioma Specialists (Doctors) in United States of America (USA)

Diagnostic radiology

Physicians specializing in diagnostic radiology are trained to diagnose illnesses in patients through the use of x-rays, radioactive substances, sound waves in ultrasounds, or the body’s natural magnetism in magnetic resonance images (MRIs).

They can also pursue a subspecialty in the following areas:
    • Abdominal radiology
    • Breast imaging
    • Cardiothoracic radiology
    • Cardiovascular radiology
    • Chest radiology
    • Emergency radiology
    • Endovascular surgical neuroradiology
    • Gastrointestinal radiology
    • Genitourinary radiology
    • Head and neck radiology
    • Interventional radiology
    • Musculoskeletal radiology
    • Neuroradiology
    • Nuclear radiology
    • Pediatric radiology
    • Radiation oncology
    • Vascular and interventional radiology

Hospitals

Most medical specialists especially surgeons are hospital-based. Hospital Compare is a consumer-oriented website that provides information on how well hospitals provide recommended care to their patients. This information can help consumers make informed decisions about where to go for health care. Hospital Compare allows consumers to select multiple hospitals and directly compare performance measure information related to heart attack, heart failure, pneumonia, surgery and other conditions. These results are organized by:
    • General information
    • Survey of patients' experiences
    • Timely & effective care
    • Complications
    • Readmissions & deaths
    • Use of medical imaging
    • Payment & value of care
U.S. News and World Report publishes an annual rating of best hospitals by specialty based on nearly 5,000 medical centers and survey responses from more than 30,000 physicians to rank hospitals in 16 adult specialties including cancer, cardiology, diabetes, rheumatology and more.

COVID-19 Doctors

Find a doctor to prescribe early treatments for COVID-19 in US (By State): https://www.aestheticsadvisor.com/2021/02/find-doctor-prescribe-hydroxychloroquine-ivermectin.html


Did we miss any?

If there are any major sites that we’ve missed then please let us know in the comments and we’ll add them to the post! Please feel free to share.
Image via www.calvin.edu

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