Specialty Doctor (Specialist)

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A specialty doctor (aka a specialist) is one with training and level of expertise in a specific field of medicine. Unlike Primary Care Doctors, who are more generalist, specialists are better equipped to treat patients with more complex ailments. Often times, your generalist doctor will refer you to a specialist to ensure you get the necessary treatment and/or evaluation for your condition(s).

Some common specialty doctors are:

Allergists/Immunologists
Anesthesiologists
Cardiologists
Dermatologists
Infectious Disease Doctors
Ophthalmologists
Obstetrician/gynecologists (OB/GYNs)
Gastroenterologists
Urologists
Pulmonologists
Otolaryngologists
Neurologists
Psychiatrists
Oncologists
Radiologists
General Surgeons
Orthopedic Surgeons
Cardiac Surgeons ¹ ²

What does a Specialty Doctor Do?

A specialists responsibilities will obviously vary a lot based on their specialization. Below are brief explanations of some common specializations and the types of ailments/tasks they are responsible for treating/carrying out.

Allergists/Immunologists

They treat immune system disorders such as asthma, eczema, food allergies, insect sting allergies, and some autoimmune diseases. ³

Anesthesiologists

These doctors give you drugs to numb your pain or to put you under during surgery, childbirth, or other procedures. They also monitor your vital signs while you’re under anesthesia. ⁴

Cardiologists

They’re experts on the heart and blood vessels. You might see them for heart failure, a heart attack, high blood pressure, an irregular heartbeat, or any other heart/blood related issues. ⁵

Dermatologists

Dermatologists focus on diseases and conditions of the skin, nails, and hair. They treat conditions such as eczema, skin cancer, acne, and psoriasis. Additionally, they sometimes perform in-office procedures, including mole or spot removal. ⁶

Infectious Disease Doctors

These doctors focus on contagious disease. Some examples include:

cellulitis
influenza
bacterial infections
infections after surgery or hospital care
tuberculosis
pneumonia
parasite infections
HIV

Ophthalmologists

These doctors specialize in eye and vision related care. They carry out evaluations/check-ups, treat conditions/ailments and are responsible for eye/vision-related surgical procedures. You usually will see one to get an eye-glass prescription.

Obstetrician/gynecologists (OB/GYNs)

Provide preventive care and disease management for female health conditions. Common examples include:

female reproductive health
cancer prevention and diagnosis in the female reproductive organs
breast care
pregnancy
labor and delivery
infertility
menopause

Many women will see an OB/GYN regularly throughout pregnancy and for labor and delivery. They may also visit them for regulaar checkups and tests.⁷

Gastroenterologists

Gastroenterologists focus on the digestive system. This includes the esophagus, pancreas, stomach, liver, small intestine, colon, and gallbladder. Additionally, these doctors perform procedures such as endoscopy, sigmoidoscopy, and colonoscopy.⁸

Urologists

These doctors treat conditions of the urinary tract in both males and females. They also focus on male reproductive health. However, some urologists focus on a specific area within urology, such as female urology or male infertility.⁹

Pulmonologists

Pulmonologists focus on the organs involved with breathing. These include the lungs and heart.

Pulmonologists may work in hospitals to provide ventilation or life support. They also see people in the office to treat breathing disorders, lung conditions, and allergies. ¹⁰

Otolaryngologists

Otolaryngologists aka “ear, nose, and throat” (ENT) doctors treat problems with the sinuses, throat, tonsils, ears, mouth, head, and neck. However, some ENT doctors go through additional training to focus on one specific area, such as pediatrics or rhinology, which refers to the nose and sinuses. ¹¹

Neurologists

Treat conditions related to the nerves, spine, and brain. Some examples of conditions they treat are:

Psychiatrists

A psychiatrist is a doctor who focuses on mental health conditions. They may use counseling, medication, or hospitalization as part of their treatment. However, some psychiatrists specialize in a specific area, such as adolescent mental health or addiction medicine. ¹³

Oncologists

Oncologists treat cancer and its symptoms. During treatment for cancer, a person may have several types of healthcare professional in their care team.

According to the American Cancer Society, some cancer care professionals have specific training in:

certain types of cancer
specific cancer treatments
certain areas of the body
cancer-related health problems
care coordination ¹⁴

Radiologists

Specializes in diagnosing and treating conditions using medical imaging tests. They may read and interpret scans such as X-rays, MRIs, mammograms, ultrasound, and CT scans.

They may be one of three types:

Diagnostic radiologists – use imaging procedures to look for health problems. They can also interpret images on tests and provide information to a person’s doctor about the results
Interventional radiologists – use imaging, including X-rays and MRI scans, paired with medical procedures. They may help treat conditions such as heart disease, stroke, and cancer
Radiation oncologists – prescribe cancer treatment using radiation therapy ¹⁵

General Surgeons

Perform surgical procedures on many organs and bodily systems. They may have have experience working with the following body parts/systems:

abdomen
breast
endocrine system
gastrointestinal system
skin

A general surgeon also cares for a person both before and after the surgery. ¹⁶

Orthopedic Surgeons

Specializes in diseases and conditions of the bones, muscles, ligaments, tendons, and joints. Some examples of ailments they treat are:

arthritis
sports injuries
bone tumors
back pain
broken bones
osteoporosis
repetitive strain injuries, such as carpal tunnel syndrome or tennis elbow¹⁷

Cardiac Surgeons

A type of specialist surgeon that performs heart surgeries and often works with a cardiologist to determine what a patient needs. Cardiac surgeons perform procedures including heart bypass surgery and placing stents in the heart.¹⁸

What types of skills are necessary to be a successful Specialist Doctor?

Personable/Communication Skills – to work well with patients and other doctors
Attention to details – to provide precise and good services to your patients
Good reasoning, analytical thinking, and decision-making ability – to diagnose patient ailments appropriately
Medical School Graduate
Extensive expertise for the given speciality
Ability to work well under stress
Have a Medical license to practice in the local region you work
Must have completed an approved residency in the specialty

What are some challenges of being a Specialty Doctor?

Need to get a Medical School Degree and then complete your residency which takes a long time (4 years of college + 4 years of medical school + 3-7 years of residency + sometimes even more work for your speciality)
Medical School can be expensive
Hours can be long and unpredictable (depending on the type of doctor you are)
Can be stressful trying to help a patient if problems are not solved simply
A lot of pressure to perform well and help your patient(s)

What are some benefits of being a Speciality Doctor?

Strong pay/compensation
Personally satisfying to help your patients
Lots of learning
Stable Job/Job Security
Often get to work with other doctors and nurses
Usually can work/live wherever you want

Typical Salary?

While the average salary varies a lot based on location, experience, and type of patients you see/your specialization, according to ZipRecruiter, the average salary is between $173k and $236k.

Should I become a Specialty Doctor?

If you are interested in medicine, being a doctor, and/or a specific type of practice, you should consider a career as a Specialty Doctor. Specialists usually have to solve more complex, and specific problems for their patients, and their work can have life-changing and sometimes live-saving impacts. If you want to be a doctor and/or study medicine but know you are mostly interested in a specific type of medicine, it usually makes sense to focus on one specialization. Additionally, some specializations are paid more and/or have different work-life balances.

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