Doctors by Any Other Name

In the United States, most doctors are medical doctors (MDs), sometimes called allopaths. They are trained in conventional Western medicine. Some doctors, called doctors of osteopathic medicine (DOs) or osteopaths, also train in osteopathy. Osteopaths are taught that the whole person (body, mind, and spirit) and lifestyle should be considered and that the body has the ability to heal itself. Both types of doctors often obtain special training (specialize) in one area of medicine. Consequently, doctors go by many different names, indicating their specialty.

Allergists diagnose and treat allergies and certain sinus disorders.

Anesthesiologists provide care (particularly pain relief) just before, during, and just after surgery. They choose and administer the anesthetic. During surgery, they monitor the person so that they can adjust the amounts of anesthetic, other drugs, and fluids as needed.

Cardiologists are internists who diagnose and treat disorders of the heart.

Dermatologists diagnose and treat disorders of the skin, nails, and hair.

Endocrinologists are internists who diagnose and treat disorders of glands and hormones.

Family practice doctors study the needs of people from birth through old age. Thus, these doctors can provide continuous, comprehensive care for a person. They diagnose and treat a wide variety of disorders, referring people to other doctors as needed.

Gastroenterologists are internists who diagnose and treat disorders of the digestive tract.

Gynecologists provide health care for women. They perform preventive screening tests (such as yearly breast and pelvic examinations and Papanicolaou tests). They diagnose and treat disorders of the female reproductive system and perform surgery, such as hysterectomies.

Hematologists are internists who diagnose and treat disorders of blood and the organs that produce blood (such as the bone marrow).

Internists who provide comprehensive health care for adults are called general internists. They diagnose and treat a wide variety of common and complex disorders—an area called internal medicine. Some internists specialize in one area of medicine.

Nephrologists are internists who diagnose and treat kidney disorders. They also perform dialysis.

Neurologists diagnose and treat disorders of the brain, spinal cord, nerves, and muscles (which may be affected when nerves malfunction).

Oncologists are internists who diagnose and treat cancer. They may further specialize in cancers of one body system (such as the female reproductive system) or in a particular treatment of cancer (such as radiation or surgery).

Ophthalmologists diagnose and treat vision problems and eye disorders. They perform eye examinations, prescribe glasses and contact lenses, prescribe drugs to treat eye disorders, perform surgery, and manage eye problems due to other disorders.

Orthopedists, also called orthopedic surgeons, diagnose and treat disorders of the muscles and skeleton (including bones, ligaments, and tendons). They may further specialize in one part of the body (such as the foot) or in one area of care (such as trauma).

Otolaryngologists (otorhinolaryngologists) are surgeons who diagnose and treat ear, nose, and throat (ENT) disorders.

Physiatrists specialize in rehabilitation. They focus on helping people who have been disabled recover lost functions.

Psychiatrists diagnose and treat mental disorders (such as schizophrenia and bipolar disorder) and substance abuse. Some psychiatrists focus on counseling (psychotherapy), but most use a variety of treatments, including drugs. Geropsychiatrists specialize in mental health care for older people.

Pulmonologists are internists who diagnose and treat lung disorders.

Radiologists read x-rays and other images of internal structures taken to make a diagnosis. Radiologists also supervise imaging tests used for guidance during biopsies.

Rheumatologists diagnose and treat arthritis and other disorders that affect joints, muscles, bones, skin, and other tissues.

Surgeons perform operations for various disorders. They may further specialize in a specific part of the body, such as the heart and chest (as a cardiothoracic surgeon), or type of problem, such as malformed, missing, or lost tissues (as a plastic surgeon).

Urologists are surgeons who diagnose and treat disorders of the kidneys and urinary tract and male reproductive system.