You Do WHAT At Work?!

Pediatrician, brain surgeon, heart surgeon… many of your “average Joes” are familiar with what these jobs entail, at least on a basic level. But what they aren’t usually familiar with are the myriad of other medical specialty areas that one could choose to pursue when going through medical school and residency! Areas like oncology, obstetrics, otolaryngology, and orthopedic surgery are specialties that many people aren’t as familiar with. We will explore them here, and give a little insight on what it means to specialize in these areas as a career physician.

Oncology

Oncology is the medical specialty that focuses on the identification and treatment of cancer. “Onco” comes from the Greek word for tumor, while the suffix “-ology” means “study of.” Oncologists focus on diagnosing and treating cancers of various types. They may diagnose cancer using various techniques including biopsy, endoscopy, x-rays and scans, and blood tests. Oncologists will decide if the tumor is benign or malignant (harmless or cancerous), how far the cancer has progressed, and whether it is safe and useful to operate on the tumor(s). As far as treatment is concerned, they can be involved in the patient’s radiation therapy, chemotherapy, and surgery, and they will continue to follow up with their patients after these treatment options have been utilized.

Obstetrics and Gynecology

Obstetrics and gynecology is the medical specialty that focuses on the female reproductive system and its associated disorders, pregnancy, and primary care for women’s health. There are a wide range of health problems that can be addressed by OB/GYN specialists, but all are solely related to female anatomy and female patients. The common abbreviation for this specialty is OB/GYN. There are several subspecialties of obstetrics and gynecology, including maternal-fetal medicine specialists (who are trained to deal with high-risk pregnancies) and reproductive endocrinologists (who help women with problems related to reproduction and infertility).

Otolaryngology

Otolaryngology is the medical specialty that focuses on conditions of the head and neck. The name comes from the Greek words for ear (“oto”) and throat (“laryngo”), as well as the suffix “-ology,” meaning “study.” These doctors are often known as ENTs, which stands for Ear Nose and Throat. They may deal with head and neck cancers, ear problems like hearing loss or dizziness, nose issues like sinusitis and allergies, tonsillectomies and adenoidectomies (removal of the tonsils and adenoids), and facial reconstructive or plastic surgery. There are a wide range of ailments and problems that ENTs can diagnose and treat.

Orthopedics

Orthopedic surgery (or “orthopedics”) deals with conditions that involve the musculoskeletal system. This practice was originally developed to deal with musculoskeletal deformities in children, but now includes patients of all ages. The name comes from the Greek words for correct/straighten and children (“orthos” and “paidion”). These may be congenital disorders, infections, injuries from sports, or musculoskeletal trauma. Orthopedists may sub-specialize in an area that deals with a specific body part, like hand surgery, joint replacement, or foot and ankle surgery. These doctors most commonly repair broken bones, although their practice deals with many other ailments and problems.

This post was written by a guest contributor for LeapDoctor.com, the top resource for physician jobs on the Web.