You are now in the process of considering what you want to do with your life and where you want to go. In this blog post, you’ll learn some popular types of medical fields and what they entail so you can make an informed decision on which way to take your career. The medical field is a broad one, but there are some specific specializations that you should know about before making your decision.
Review Your Motivations And Interests
Take a look at your motivations and interests when you were in high school. What types of activities did you enjoy doing? Think about all the classes you took and how they related to each other. These are good starting points when determining which type of medical field will be best suited for your personality. Afterward, you’ll need more research before picking one.
To help you get started, here’s a rundown on what you need to consider:
Family Physician
A family physician has broad medical expertise. They are known as primary care physicians because they manage your health from childhood through old age. Their job requires them to give you advice, educate you about staying healthy, and prescribe medication when necessary.
Pediatrics
A pediatrician is an expert in children’s medicine who cares for infants, kids, teens, and young adults up into their 20s or 30s, depending on the state they are practicing. As with any doctor specializing in one area, you’ll need more extended visits. But generally, you can provide better outcomes for patients since doctors can focus exclusively on pediatrics during their entire career if they choose to do so.
Surgery
Becoming a surgeon means going through extensive training after medical school and residency. Their whole lives revolve on cutting into a patient to cure an ailment or illness affecting them, whether it’s because of cancer or something as simple as a broken bone. Surgeons are known for their precision, making this specialty one of the most difficult and potentially most rewarding.
Dentistry
A dental practitioner is a lot like a primary care physician in that they focus on the health of your mouth and teeth. It means not only doing checkups every six months but also performing surgeries or prescribing medicine to treat any issues with gums, jawbones, and tooth pain. Dentists are considered medical doctors, which makes this easier for patients regarding insurance coverage for procedures.
Psychiatry
A psychiatrist diagnoses mental illness such as depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder, etc., then prescribes medications and psychotherapy or counseling. Psychiatry often overlaps with psychology since psychiatrists can give therapy prescriptions if necessary. Their goal is to help patients live happy lives while managing their medication to avoid becoming dependent upon them over time.
Neurology
A neurologist is a medical doctor specializing in diagnosing and treating diseases that affect the nervous system, such as epilepsy, brain tumors, Alzheimer’s disease, etc. Neurologists work closely with patients to make sure their symptoms are manageable and that they live happy lives, even if they have some form of permanent damage from an illness or injury.
Ophthalmology
An ophthalmologist is a practitioner who deals specifically with eyesight and eye health. Suppose you’re having trouble seeing things clearly. In that case, it can be time for an appointment with an opthalmologist since this specialist has extensive training on how your eyes operate so that they can check them properly during examinations at least once every two years.
Podiatry
Podiatrists specialize in foot problems and are experts in diagnosing and treating them. They work with patients to make sure they have the right shoes for their feet, help treat common injuries that affect the foot bone structure like ankle sprains or fractures, prescribe medication when necessary, and assess any abnormalities related to your feet.
Geriatrics
A geriatrician specializes in elders who need medical attention as they age. As you get older, many changes to your body can cause problems if not addressed by a doctor. Hence, you must see someone experienced in dealing with many different ailments from old age.
Nurse Practitioner
Nurse practitioners focus on family health and specialize in specific areas such as pediatrics, geriatrics, women’s health, etc. They work closely with primary care physicians to ensure that patients have all the necessary exams and prescriptions for their condition.
There are many more specializations for you to know. But seeing what’s right for you is crucial in deciding if you want a career in medicine.
Medical specializations can be extremely rewarding, but some are more difficult than others. So make sure to weigh the pros and cons before making a decision. These fields hardly overlap, which means you must focus on one particular area of expertise every day rather than juggle multiple responsibilities.
Students often take years to become medical specialists and obtain enough experience in their chosen field. Often, it can take decades before a practitioner can have any job satisfaction, stability, or success. This is why specialization doesn’t happen until after college when everyone has had time to explore many different careers while still getting an education.
