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Types of Doctors: 25 Medical Doctor Specialties in High Demand
October 4, 2021
There are hundreds of different types of doctors in various medical specialties, covering almost every major system in the body. If you are considering a position as a doctor, you have a surfeit of career options. Here, we present 25 of the most in-demand types of doctor roles including their respective job descriptions and average salaries.
Different types of doctors
Medical school is a long process. Doctors go to medical school for four years, complete a one-year internship and then, a three- to seven-year residency, depending on the specialty they choose. Many of us know the names of certain specialists but may not know what they do. Read on to learn about different types of doctors and what they do.
1. Audiologist
National average salary: $83,050
Primary duties: An audiologist specializes in ear-related issues. In particular, they help children suffering from hearing loss, helping them to learn to communicate. Generally, audiologists work in audiology clinics, hospitals, physicians' offices and sometimes in schools.
2. Epidemiologist
National average salary: $86,393
Primary duties: Epidemiologists look for potential diseases that could appear, causing a lot of problems. They search for vaccinations for current terminal diseases such as HIV/AIDS and cancer.
3. Podiatrist
National average salary: $114,074
Primary duties: A podiatrist cares for issues afflicting the feet or ankles. They are often called foot doctors, treating afflictions such as calluses, nail disorders, athlete's foot or other foot infections or injuries.
4. Otolaryngologist/ENT specialist
National average salary: $146,808
Primary duties: An otolaryngologist commonly known as an "ENT specialist" concentrates on issues related to the ear, nose and throat. They also care for diseases related to the neck and heat, doing reconstructive and plastic surgery on the neck and head.
5. General practitioner
National average salary: $167,275
Primary duties: A general practitioner or family physician cares for the whole family from children to the elderly, giving basic care. They do routine check-ups and screening tests, attending to ongoing medical conditions. Usually, they are the first to recognize major health problems, referring patients to a specialist.
6. Pediatrician
National average salary: $179,777
Primary duties: A pediatrician cares for children from birth to adolescence, treating them for a variety of health issues from a common cold to more severe conditions. Their consolation rooms are usually bright and cheerful, appealing to children.
7. Rheumatologist
National average salary: $182,798
Primary duties: A rheumatologist diagnoses and treats allergies and autoimmune diseases. They also treat joint and tissue disorders afflicting the immune system.
8. Dentist
National average salary: $194,523
Primary duties: Dentists are doctors of the mouth. They examine teeth and gum health, checking for different issues such as bleeding gums and cavities.
9. Oncologist
National average salary: $196,965
Primary duties: Oncologists care for cancer patients. They focus on the treatment and prevention of cancer, administering chemotherapy and working along with radiation oncologists and surgeons to help patients suffering from cancer. Oncologists spend time with cancer survivors with follow-up sessions.
10. Obstetrics and gynecology physician
National average salary: $197,262
Primary duties: Obstetrics and gynecology physicians specialize in medical care related to pregnancy and childbirth. They help to prevent diseases of women, especially those related to the reproductive system.
11. Surgeon
National average salary: $216,124
Primary duties: Surgeons are known for performing a wide variety of surgeries at the operating table. Surgery is broken up into different specialties such as neurosurgery, cardiovascular surgery, oral surgery, ENT surgery, cardiovascular surgery and general surgery.
12. Geriatric physician
National average salary: $203,314
Primary duties: Geriatric physicians care for the elderly. They treat patients in doctors' offices, their homes, hospitals and assisted living centers.
13. Urologist
National average salary: $221,558
Primary duties: Urologists care for issues related to the urinary tract. They treat urinary tract infections as well as issues related to the kidneys, bladder, male reproductive organs and adrenal glands.
14. Psychiatrist
National average salary: $224,357
Primary duties: Psychiatrists are medical doctors, they diagnose and treat disorders of the mind. They treat these disorders through a combination of psychotherapeutic treatment and medication.
15. Dermatologist
National average salary: $224,266
Primary duties: Dermatologists care for skin issues such as acne, skin allergies, moles, scars and sun damage. An important aspect of their job is checking patients for skin cancer risk factors.
16. Orthopedist
National average salary: $229,690
Primary duties: An orthopedist specializes in correcting disorders, deformities or injuries to the skeleton. They correct functional or congenital bone abnormalities with bracing, surgery or casting.
17. Endocrinologist
National average salary: $235,097
Primary duties: An endocrinologist treats the endocrine systemthe glands producing and secreting hormones that regulate and control almost all of the body's functions. They often treat patients suffering from diabetes or thyroid disease.
18. Neurologist
National average salary: $239,509
Primary duties: A neurologist specializes in care for the nervous system. This includes the brain, nerves and spinal cord. They care for patients who have Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, brain and spinal tumors, epilepsy or have just suffered a stroke and need care and monitoring.
19. Plastic surgeon
National average salary: $242,561
Primary duties: Plastic surgeons surgically restore, reconstruct or alter the human body. A plastic surgeon usually performs reconstructive surgery if a patient has body parts damaged by an accident, illness or malformation.
20. Nephrologist
National average salary: $248,793
Primary duties: Nephrologists treat kidney disease and mineral and fluid imbalances linked to kidney disease. They also treat high blood pressure.
21. Radiologist
National average salary: $251,292
Primary duties: Radiologists use x-rays and other imaging technologies to diagnose and detect physiological ailments. Using these methods of technology, they are able to scan a patient's body for cancer cells or look for breaks in fractures in accident victims.
22. Gastroenterologist
National average salary: $264,860
Primary duties: A gastroenterologist specializes in digestive organs, including the gallbladder, stomach, bowels, liver and pancreas. Patients with persistent heartburn, stomach pain or diarrhea are usually sent to a gastroenterologist.
23. Neonatologist
National average salary: $278,226
Primary duties: Newborn premature infants or critically-ill infants are the focus of neonatology, a subspecialty of pediatrics. Neonatologists generally work in neonatal intensive care units.
24. Anesthesiologist
National average salary: $319,218
Primary duties: An anesthesiologist administers drugs to numb pain or sedate patients during surgery. They monitor patients during surgery, keeping watch on their vital signs. They also often manage hospital emergencies such as sudden breathing problems and cardiac arrest.
25. Cardiologist
National average salary: $334,291
Primary duties: Cardiologists focus on the treatment of the heart, its blood vessels and heart-related issues and diseases. This specialty requires extensive training. They assess a patient's family and medical history to determine potential risk factors, taking action to prevent cardiovascular diseases.
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