Types of Doctors and Their Specialties

Primary Care & General Medicine

✅ General Practitioner (GP) – Treats common illnesses, provides preventive care, and refers patients to specialists.
✅ Family Medicine Doctor – Similar to a GP but provides care for all ages, from children to the elderly.
✅ Internist (Internal Medicine Doctor) – Specializes in treating adult diseases and chronic conditions.

Specialists

1. Surgical Specialties

🔹 Surgeon – Performs general or specialized surgeries.
🔹 Neurosurgeon – Specializes in brain, spinal cord, and nervous system surgeries.
🔹 Cardiothoracic Surgeon – Operates on the heart, lungs, and chest organs.
🔹 Orthopedic Surgeon – Treats bone, joint, and muscle conditions, including fractures.
🔹 Plastic Surgeon – Focuses on reconstructive and cosmetic surgery.

2. Internal Medicine Specialties

🔹 Cardiologist – Treats heart diseases and conditions like high blood pressure.
🔹 Endocrinologist – Specializes in hormone-related disorders (diabetes, thyroid problems).
🔹 Gastroenterologist – Diagnoses and treats digestive system issues (stomach, intestines).
🔹 Pulmonologist – Focuses on lung and respiratory conditions like asthma and COPD.
🔹 Nephrologist – Specializes in kidney diseases.
🔹 Hematologist – Treats blood disorders, such as anemia and leukemia.
🔹 Oncologist – Diagnoses and treats cancer.
🔹 Infectious Disease Specialist – Treats viral, bacterial, and fungal infections.
🔹 Rheumatologist – Specializes in autoimmune and joint diseases like arthritis.

3. Pediatric & Women’s Health

🔹 Pediatrician – Treats infants, children, and teenagers.
🔹 Neonatologist – Specializes in newborn care, especially premature babies.
🔹 Obstetrician-Gynecologist (OB/GYN) – Focuses on pregnancy, childbirth, and female reproductive health.

4. Neurology & Psychiatry

🔹 Neurologist – Diagnoses and treats brain and nervous system disorders like epilepsy.
🔹 Psychiatrist – Treats mental health disorders such as depression and schizophrenia.

5. Eyes, Ears, Nose, and Skin

🔹 Ophthalmologist – Treats eye diseases and performs eye surgeries.
🔹 Optometrist – Provides eye exams, prescribes glasses, and detects vision problems.
🔹 Otolaryngologist (ENT Doctor) – Treats ear, nose, and throat disorders.
🔹 Dermatologist – Specializes in skin, hair, and nail conditions.

6. Emergency & Critical Care

🔹 Emergency Medicine Doctor – Provides urgent care for critical conditions.
🔹 Intensivist (Critical Care Doctor) – Treats patients in intensive care units (ICU).

7. Other Specialties

🔹 Anesthesiologist – Manages pain and anesthesia during surgeries.
🔹 Radiologist – Interprets medical imaging (X-rays, MRI, CT scans).
🔹 Pathologist – Studies diseases by analyzing body tissues and fluids.
🔹 Allergist/Immunologist – Treats allergies and immune system disorders.
🔹 Sports Medicine Doctor – Treats sports injuries and musculoskeletal conditions.

Which Doctor Should You See?

• For a general checkup → GP or Family Medicine Doctor

• For heart issues → Cardiologist

• For diabetes → Endocrinologist

• For pregnancy → OB/GYN

• For skin problems → Dermatologist

• For bone or muscle pain → Orthopedic Surgeon