15 Types of Doctors With Different Specialties

Often the first stop for most patients, primary care physicians handle preventive care, routine exams and chronic conditions. They include family medicine doctors (who provide comprehensive care across all ages) and internal medicine specialists (who treat diseases in adults).

Pediatricians specialize in caring for children from infancy through adolescence. They handle growth monitoring, vaccinations and chronic illnesses specific to young patients.

Found in the emergency room, these emergency medicine specialists handle trauma, heart attacks, strokes and other acute conditions. Emergency medicine is all about quick assessments and lifesaving interventions.

These doctors specialize in the musculoskeletal system, treating sports injuries, fractures and degenerative joint conditions. Orthopedic surgeons often perform surgical procedures like joint replacements or spinal corrections.

Focused on the nervous system, neurologists treat conditions like multiple sclerosis, epilepsy and Parkinson’s. They use imaging tests and diagnostic tests to pinpoint complex disorders.

Experts in autoimmune and inflammatory diseases (such as lupus or rheumatoid arthritis), rheumatologists help manage long-term conditions that affect the immune system and joints.

Also known as physiatrists, they treat chronic pain conditions, spinal cord injuries and mobility limitations using physical therapy and treatment plans tailored to individual recovery goals.

Specialists in women's health, obstetrician gynecologists focus on the female reproductive system, women's reproductive health and prenatal care. They can perform procedures ranging from pap smears to C-sections.

Focused on skin health, dermatologists diagnose and treat acne, eczema and skin cancer. They may also perform cosmetic medical procedures.

These doctors focus on the urinary tract and male reproductive health. Urologists treat conditions like kidney stones, urinary infections and prostate issues.

Specialists in heart disease and blood vessels, cardiologists perform diagnostic tests, manage high blood pressure and assist with post-heart attack care.

Focused on cancer treatment, they include radiation oncologists, medical oncologists and surgical oncologists. They work closely with other specialists to coordinate care.

These specialists handle rare or complex infections like HIV, hepatitis or tuberculosis, especially in cases where an infection is severe, unusual or has not responded to standard treatment.

Experts in caring for elderly patients, geriatricians help manage multiple chronic conditions, improve quality of life and coordinate care across multiple providers.

Focused on keeping people well, these doctors work in preventive medicine, including public health, screenings and lifestyle changes to reduce risk factors for future illness.

We created this article in conjunction with AI technology, then made sure it was fact-checked and edited by a HowStuffWorks editor.