The medical field is extremely multifaceted. For each intricacy of the human body, there is a corresponding specialization that sees to its care, treatment, and wellbeing. If you’re completing your bachelor’s degree with dreams of medical school on the horizon, how will you possibly choose between all of these intriguing areas of study?
There are many wonderful options for you to explore when it comes to medical specializations and subspecializations. Let’s explore several fascinating areas of focus for your career as a future doctor.
1. Nurse Practitioner
If you’re interested in providing quality, comprehensive healthcare while forming a personal relationship with your patients, you may consider becoming a nurse practitioner. Americans make over 1 billion visits to nurse practitioners per year, with many reporting that their nurse practitioner is their preferred healthcare professional. A nurse practitioner (NP) is a licensed clinician that helps individuals manage their health and prevent disease, and many NPs specialize in a specific area, such as family medicine, women’s health, or pediatric care.
The recommended education for this specialization is a Doctorate of Nursing Practice or a DNP. However, nursing is one of the only healthcare jobs that does not require a doctorate and you can start your medical career with a Masters in Nursing Science (MSN) and forego the extra schooling.
2. Gynecology
A gynecologist is a women’s health specialist that cares for a woman from her first period all the way through menopause. Gynecologists help women take control of their reproductive health as well as performing routine cancer screenings and treating any other condition affecting the female reproductive system.
If you’re passionate about women’s health and are interested in guiding women through fertility treatments, birth control options, and pregnancy checkups, you may be interested in specializing in gynecology.
3. Urology
Where a gynecologist is a specialist in women’s health, a urologist focuses on men’s health, specifically in the bladder, kidneys, and male reproductive organs. Urologists are genitourinary wellness experts, but they’re also trained to medically or surgically intervene when a disease is detected in these areas.
If you are interested in helping men take control of their health and wellbeing, a career in urology can be a rewarding path. If you’re searching for a job in urology, you can even focus on a subspecialty such as pediatric urology or male fertility.
4. Dermatology
Are you obsessed with skincare? You may want to consider a career in dermatology. As a dermatologist, you’ll specialize in treating the hair, skin, and nails of your patients. The skin is the largest organ on the body and dermatologists learn to treat over 3,000 different ailments, so you’ll likely be working on a new condition each day!
Dermatologists are medical doctors and surgeons who treat not only cosmetic woes but remove cancerous growths, treat hair loss, and observe skin abnormalities to diagnose serious diseases. If you’re interested in a fast-paced and multifaceted medical specialization, dermatology is a rewarding option.
5. Allergy And Immunology
Learn to treat one of the most common complaints in the world when you become an immunologist, also known as an allergist or allergy specialist. As soon as spring rolls around, your friends and family are likely talking about their bad allergies. You can be allergic to almost anything from cats to mold, and immunologists help patients overcome their suffering no matter what they’re allergic to.
Beyond allergy testing, immunologists can treat complications from allergies such as psoriasis, eczema, asthma, and hay fever. Like most specializations on this list, practicing immunology requires a medical degree, residency, and an immunology fellowship, and subsequent board certification.
Conclusion
This is by no means a comprehensive list; in fact, there are over 20 medical specialties and subspecialties for aspiring healthcare professionals to explore!
Whether you are a seasoned medical professional looking to make a career pivot or a college student looking to make your mark on the world, exploring a medical specialty will broaden your horizons and help you hone distinct, marketable medical skills that will make a difference in your community.
Be First to Comment