Best Medical Specialities

Field of medicine providing sedation, local and general anaesthesia to patients before, during and after surgery, including childbirth. In prolonged anaesthesia e.g. during surgery, the anaesthetist also monitors and maintains normal vital signs, breathing, pulse, blood pressure, and body temperature. The anaesthetist treats also acute and chronic pain and manages critical care patients in life support at the Intensive Care Unit.

Study and treatment of conditions of the heart and blood vessels, the veins and arteries, called the cardiovascular system. Conditions treated are cardiovascular diseases, atherosclerosis, aneurysm, congenital heart defects, disorders of coronary circulation, angina pectoris, myocardial infarction, disorders of heart valves (aortic, mitral, pulmonary, and tricuspid), cardiomyopathy and myocardial rupture, pericardium effusion, and pericarditis. A cardiologist also carries out diagnostic tests and procedures such as electrocardiogram, heart catheterisation, angioplasty, and insertion of pacemakers.

Dermatology concerns the study, diagnosis, and treatment of diseases of the skin, hair, nails, oral cavity and genital membranes. It may include minor surgical procedures such as the removal of cancers and cosmetic care using laser therapy, radiotherapy and more. Skin infections, acne, eczema, psoriasis, rosacea, warts, hair loss, lice, bruises, sunburn and ingrown hair.

Speciality focusing on the diagnosis, treatment and management of conditions of the ear, nose and throat, which may include areas of the head and neck. Specialists are also called otolaryngologysts. They can manage diseases both conservatively and surgically, including tumors, injuries, hearing impairment, balance disturbance, communication problems, and vestibular problems like vertigo, they may also treat deformities of the head and neck.

Medical speciality concerned with the care and treatment of acutely ill or injured patients who need immediate medical attention. Emergency physicians work primarily in emergency departments of hospitals. They assess and treat a wide range of illnesses, potentially life or limb threatening conditions, and also heart attacks, strokes, fractures, asthma attacks, injuries resulting from car crashes, pregnancy related emergencies and overdoses. They cooperate with other specialities.

Medical speciality focusing on the structure, function and disorders of the endocrine system (the glands and organs that produce hormones). These conditions include diabetes (insulin deficiency by the pancreas), infertility (dysfunction in females: ovaries, and males: testes) thyroid (metabolic abnormalities), adrenal, and pituitary gland problems (bone growth, women’s menstrual cycle, lactation). Often an endocrinologist will treat hormone imbalance with hormonal replacement drugs.

Exercise physiologists prevent or manage acute, sub- acute or chronic disease or injury, and assist in restoring one’s optimal physical function, health or wellness. These interventions are exercise-based and include health and physical activity education, advice and support and lifestyle modification with a strong focus on achieving behavioural change.
Exercise physiologists also offer behavioural coaching, health education, exercise counselling and physical rehabilitation. They provide the prescription of tailored exercise programs, promoting leisure-time and incidental activity, and counselling to reduce sedentary behaviours. This will include an assessment to ensure the activity is safe, effective and likely to be maintained in the long term.

A branch of medicine concerned with the structure, functions, diseases and pathology of the gastrointestinal tract, including the stomach and intestines, which can extend to liver, pancreas and other internal organs. It involves the management of irritable bowel syndrome, diverticulitis, hepatitis, cirrhosis, fatty liver, intestinal polyps, haemorrhoids, endoscopic procedures, pancreatic diseases, colon and other cancers, reflux oesophagitis and more.

Also named internal medicine, it provides non-surgical care for a range of diseases to adult patients normally after being hospitalised. General physicians manage difficult, serious or unusual medical problems and continue their care in consulting rooms until they have resolved or stabilised. Internists may subspecialise in specific areas such as oncology, immunology, gastroenterology, haematology, nephrology, geriatrics and more.

Primary, medical speciality as first point of contact to the community for personal health. General Practitioners manage patients of all ages with minor or chronic illnesses. They also coordinate the life-time care of patients, including the referral to other specialists and are responsible to educate patients on health maintenance, disease prevention, vaccination and psychological wellbeing.

Haematology is the study of blood and blood marrow disorders. Haematologists can diagnose anaemia, infection, haemophilia, blood-clotting disorders, and cancers such as leukaemia, lymphomas and myeloma requiring chemotherapy. A haematologist works closely with GPs and can perform bone marrow biopsies and interpret diagnoses. Haematologists are also advising in blood transfusion and organ transplant medicine.

The haematopathologist also focuses on diagnostic work for hematopoietic and lymphocyte-rich tissues including the lymph nodes, the spleen, thymus, and other lymphoid tissue. This is usually done in the lab. The tests used are: complete blood count, platelet count, haematocrit, haemoglobin concentration, differential white blood count, red blood cell indices, prothrombin time (clotting test).

Hepatology is an area of medicine that focuses on diseases and conditions of the liver.

A hepatologist is usually certified in both internal medicine and gastroenterology and is involved in the diagnosis and treatment of hepatic diseases, which also include the organs around the liver: gallbladder, pancreas and the biliary tract. Conditions treated are: hepatitis infections, fatty liver disease (alcohol related or not), jaundice, cirrhosis, metabolic liver disease, liver cancer. Other conditions treated are pancreatitis, pancreatic cancer, gallstones, gallbladder inflammation and cancer, bile duct stones, bile duct adenomas (non cancerous tumours), bile duct cancer. A hepatologist can perform ultrasound investigations, endoscopy, hepatobiliary iminodiacetic acid scans (bile production), biopsies.

Subspecialty of internal medicine that focuses on diagnosing and managing infections caused by microorganisms such as bacteria (tuberculosis), viruses (hepatitis, HIV), fungi or parasites (malaria). They also assist in disease prevention by educating patients on the transmission caused by person to person, animal to person, mother to foetus and contamination through the environment (food and water). These specialists play a major role in public health crises, disease outbreak, nosocomial infections and community immunisation.

Specialises in the care of critically ill patients in intensive care unit (ICU). Also named critical care medicine, it involves the diagnosis and management of life-threatening conditions and injuries that may require life support and intensive monitoring. Hospitals may have separate units for treatment of critical illnesses, burns, spinal injuries, neurosurgery and cardiac surgery. Paediatric intensivists are trained differently. Due to the complexity of the conditions treated, these units have a higher patient-nurse ratio. In Australia there is a separate Intensive care speciality to train intensivists.

Medical Administration is administration or management utilising the medical and clinical knowledge, skill, and judgement of a registered medical practitioner. This may include administering or managing a hospital or other health services, or developing health operational policy, planning or purchasing of health services. A minimum of three years full-time training through the Royal Australian College of Medical Administration is required to specialise in this area.

Musculoskeletal Medicine involves the diagnosis and treatment of problems of the musculoskeletal system. These include injuries and diseases affecting the muscles, bones and joints of the limbs and spine. The special training encompasses sport and exercise medicine of conditions that do not require surgical treatment, and also conservative procedures such as ultrasound and injections.

Neonatology is a subspecialty of paediatrics concerning the medical care of newborn infants, in particular the ill or premature newborns. It is a hospital-based specialty, usually practised in neonatal intensive care units (NICUs). A neonatologist may also provide antenatal (during pregnancy) consultation for women with risk factors, such as multiple births. A neonatologist offers the following: care/intensive care for unwell or premature newborns; co-ordination and planning for critically ill or premature newborns; neonatal nutrition; assessment of babies in hospital postnatal wards; follow-up after birth for premature babies; antenatal and bereavement counselling.

A speciality of internal medicine that deals with the physiology and diseases of the kidneys. Preservation of kidney function, monitoring of chronic kidney disease, kidney stones, infections, cancer, polycystic kidney disease, kidney failure, dialysis, autoimmune conditions (lupus), and diabetes-related kidney disease and high blood pressure are among the conditions treated by a nephrologist. This specialist may contribute to procedures such as kidney transplant and biopsies.

Branch of medicine dealing with the functions and disorders of nerves and the nervous system. A neurologist manages coordination problems, muscle weakness, seizures/epilepsy, stroke, migraines, cluster headache and autoimmune diseases like multiple sclerosis, degenerative diseases like motor neuron disease, Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s, Lou Gehrig’s disease. Procedures performed by a neurologist include lumbar puncture, electromyography (EMG) to test muscle control and electroencephalogram (EEG) for brain function.

Gynaecology concerns the health of female reproductive organs, including prevention, endocrinology, birth control, fertility, sexually transmitted diseases, whereas obstetrics comprises the practice around pregnancy and childbirth with possible specialisation on maternal-foetal medicine for complex, high-risk pregnancies. Ultrasound, amniocentesis, cordocentesis (umbilical blood sampling), cervical cerclage, vaginal, Caesarean, and forceps/vacuum deliveries, are among the procedures they perform.

Diagnosis and treatment of workplace injuries and diseases. Evaluating and advising on the interaction between work and health through knowledge of worksite operations. It also encompasses assessments of fitness for work, return to work after an injury or illness and determine the potential health harm of the working environment, including preventative measures of accident or diseases.

A sub-speciality of medicine dedicated to the study, diagnosis and treatment of cancer patients. It includes preventative medicine, medical oncology (chemotherapy, immunotherapy, hormone therapy and other cancer treatments), radiation therapy, surgery and palliative medicine. Oncologists may specialise into medical, surgical and radiation treatments.

Ophthalmologist and optometrists are both medical professionals concerned with the diagnosis and treatment of injuries and disorders of the eye and vision, whereby an ophthalmologist can perform surgeries whereas an optometrist is not licensed to do surgeries. An ophthalmologist performs eye exams, prescribes eyeglasses and contact lenses as well as gives medications. Instead, an optician is not a medical doctor and is limited to vision treatment including prescription of eyewear.

A branch of dentistry managing irregularities of teeth and jaws, including correction of malocclusion, deformities and malposition using dental braces and other tools to move teeth and change jaw position. They also perform fillings, dental bridges, crowns, whiting, veneers, implants, cosmetic dental procedures and dentures.

Paediatrics is a medical speciality focussed on the health and medical care of neonates (birth to four weeks), children and adolescents up to 17 years of age. It includes childhood disease treatment and prevention, growth and development, congenital defects, small injuries, palliative care, and behavioural issues relative to each age. Paediatricians may subspecialise in several areas ranging from neonatology to endocrinology, cardiology surgery, oncology and allergy-immunology, to name a few. Paediatrics also involves guiding, educating, and advice parents or guardians on proper childcare.

Medical approach involving various disciplines to provide prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of acute and chronic pain. Physician, physiatrists, anaesthetists and neurosurgeons can offer conservative treatment for pain relief and spinal cord stimulation.

Pathology is a branch of medicine divided in different subspecialities to provide diagnostic information to patients and clinicians to help make the correct diagnosis and guide patient care. Clinical pathologists direct different divisions of laboratory testing such as: Blood, Clinical chemistry and biology, Toxicology, Hematology, Immunology and serology, Microbiology. Clinical pathologists examine different body fluids and tissues, blood, urine, sputum, stool, spinal and pleural fluids, belly, joint fluids and bone marrow. Other branches of pathology include Anatomic pathology (study of tissues, organs and tumours), Cytopathology (study of cellular changes, forensic pathology, doing autopsies and legal pathology tests), Molecular pathology (study of DNA, RNA sequencing, gene and genetics).

A pharmacist is a person able to formulate, dispense, and provide clinical information on drugs or medications to health professionals and patients. A pharmacist plays a key role in providing pharmaceutical care to the public. They are experts in medicines and use their clinical expertise, together with formulation, quality control, practical knowledge, to ensure the safe supply and use of medicines by the public. Pharmacists are responsible to ensure the quality of pharmaceuticals/medicines supplied to the patients as per the government policies/regulation, and patient pharmaceutical education including counselling of the patients.

Medical speciality using imaging to diagnose and treat diseases. Imaging techniques include X-rays, ultrasound, computer tomography (CT), nuclear medicine, positron emission tomography (PET), and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Interventional radiology is used to apply procedures under the guidance of imaging techniques (angioplasty). Nuclear medical procedures utilise radioactive-labelled drugs administered through different routes. Radiotherapy is widely used for cancer treatment.

Rehabilitation physicians, also named physiatrists, focus on the rehabilitation of patients following an injury, disease or surgery. The conditions include physical disability of different origin, e.g. spinal cord injuries, whereby rehabilitation therapy helps patients overcome the physical limitations caused by their condition. A physiatrist may use ultrasound, electromyography, nerve conduction studies, nerve stimulators and prosthetics, among others.

Also named pulmonology, this is a branch of internal medicine studying diseases and conditions of the respiratory tract, such as pneumonia, asthma, tuberculosis, emphysema, cystic fibrosis and cancer. Major surgery of the respiratory tract is performed by cardiothoracic surgeons. The treatment of sleep disorders and sleep disordered breathing is also part of this speciality.

Speciality of medicine providing the diagnosing and treatment of musculoskeletal conditions and autoimmune diseases including arthritis affecting the joints and other musculoskeletal conditions affecting also bones, muscles, tendons and ligaments.

Rheumatologists treat many different types of conditions including osteoarthritis, gout, osteoporosis, generalised pain (fibromyalgia), and pain to specific body regions back, neck, shoulder, hip, and foot. Other conditions include psoriatic and reactive arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis, lupus, scleroderma and myositis among others.

Rheumatologists may also treat may autoimmune diseases involving the eyes, skin, internal organs and the nervous system.

Medical speciality that addresses medical conditions and injuries of professional athletes and people participating in recreational sport. It also encompasses the role of physical activity in the treatment and prevention of illnesses. The care of this speciality includes nutrition, sport psychology and injury prevention.

Thoracic medicine, also called respiratory medicine, is a branch of medicine dealing with the diagnosis and treatment of diseases of the respiratory system including allergic airways disease (such as asthma), respiratory infections, chronic obstructive lung diseases such as emphysema, lung cancer and sleep disorders. A thoracic physician also specialises in lung diseases associated with environmental and occupational exposures such as asbestosis, mesothelioma and silicosis.

Thoracic surgeons treat injuries, diseases and congenital abnormalities in a patient’s chest, including surgery to remove tumours, manage disorders or repair trauma to the heart, blood vessels, lungs, oesophagus and diaphragm. A thoracic surgeon may specialise in one region, such as the lungs, or in one type of surgery, such as coronary artery bypass.

Branch of medicine providing medical and surgical treatment for diseases of the urinary tract in males and females as well as diseases of male reproductive organs. They include infections, kidney stones, kidney cancer, injuries, incontinence, prostatic hyperplasia and cancer and erectile dysfunctions.