How often do you search for best surgical specialty, choosing a surgical specialty & medical specialties with best quality of life without getting the right answer? You need not search further as the article brings you the latest and best information on it all.

You will also find related articles on types of surgeons, surgery & types of surgeons and salary on collegelearners.

No one ever said becoming a doctor was easy. Medical school is competitive, rigorous and expensive. If you’re going to invest time, effort and money to earn your M.D. or D.O., then you want your medical career to be rewarding enough – financially and otherwise – to make your work worthwhile.

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The training takes persistence, and the work-life continues to be strenuous and demanding. Physicians and surgeons often work schedules with long, unpredictable hours. They may also work on-call. The hard work yields a high-paying career, and the opportunity to provide hope and healing to patients of all ages.

Medicine is known as a lucrative field, but even within the industry, earnings can vary substantially from one specialty to the next. The United States Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) notes that all physicians earn a median annual wage above $208,000 per year. As a whole, specialists make $284,000 per year on average, Medscape reported. Our list of the top 10 highest paying medical specialties delves into several of these rankings to show you which specialties truly pay the most money – and what to expect working in them.

1. Neurosurgeon
   Top 10 Highest Paying Medical Specialties 3Neurosurgery is the highest-paid specialty in the medical profession. With patients suffering from brain-related illness or injury, neurosurgeons must have experience and expertise with the brain, spine, spinal cord and nervous system. Neurosurgeons can specialize in adult or infant and child treatment.

Neurosurgeons will:

perform back surgery
remove tumors
care for brain and spine infections and injury
treat strokes and degenerative disease
diagnose and treat chronic pain, seizures and epilepsy
interpret radiological studies
Salary.com reports neurosurgery as the top-paid specialty in the medical field with an annual salary of $609, 201.

Neurosurgery impacts the life of a patient because the nervous system affects all areas of the body. Though the training is extensive, a neurosurgeon provides a significant contribution to the medical field.

What They Do: Brain, Spine and Nervous System Surgery

Annual Earning: $609,201

Training: 1 year internship in general surgery, 5-7 years in neurosurgery residency program

2. Invasive Cardiology
   Top 10 Highest Paying Medical Specialties 2If you don’t mind the pressure of holding a patient’s heart in your hands, then this top-paying field of invasive cardiology might be the right medical specialty for you to pursue. Forbes reported that doctors who practice invasive cardiology earn an average base salary of $525,000 per year. If you’re interested in heart health but not necessarily the high-stress invasive aspect of the specialty, cardiology more generally is still a rewarding choice. CBS News rated the specialty of cardiology second-highest, bringing in $376,000 in annually for patient care.

Cardiologists specialize in heart health. They assess heart function and cardiovascular health through blood flow, blood pressure and other health indicators.

Cardiologists:

order diagnostic tests
perform procedures
prescribe medication to improve suboptimal heart health
These doctors may work with patients who are in the advanced stages of heart failure and even those who need transplants. Invasive cardiologists are surgeons who carry out procedures such as repairing damaged heart valves, inserting pacemakers or defibrillators and performing heart bypass operations.

What They Do: Heart health and surgery

Annual Earnings: $525,000

Training: 1 year of subspecialty training on top of 3 years of general cardiology training

3. Orthopedic Surgery
   Top 10 Highest Paying Medical Specialties 4Orthopedic surgeons earn a base salary of $497,000 per year, according to Forbes. Other sources cite different earnings for the specialty, but it consistently ranks high on the list. For example, Medscape and CBS News listed the average wages for orthopedic surgeons as $421,000, but rank the field as the top-paying specialty in medicine.

Treating the musculoskeletal system means working on the spine, extremities, and related structures. Orthopedic surgeons treat:

patients who suffered injuries in a trauma
congenital (from birth) conditions
infections
cancer
degenerative (progressive) diseases
Even within the specialty of orthopedic surgery, there are numerous subspecialties. Some orthopedic surgeons work exclusively on procedures on the hand or foot and ankle. They may also focus on a particular type of condition, like cancer (oncology) or sports injuries (sports medicine). Orthopedic surgeons set broken bones, replace damaged joints, repair injured tendons and surgically remove tumors.

What They Do: Surgical procedures on the musculoskeletal system

Annual Earnings: $497,000

Training: 5 years

4. Gastroenterology
   Top 10 Highest Paying Medical Specialties 5Reporting a base salary of $455,000 per year, Forbes statistics rank gastroenterology the fourth highest paying specialty in medicine. Medscape also rated the specialty equally highly, though it listed annual earnings of $370,000.

Gastroenterologists treat disorders that occur in every part of the digestive system, from the esophagus through the stomach and even the bowels, and including organs like the liver, gallbladder, pancreas and others within the abdominal cavity. As part of the specialty of internal medicine, gastroenterology focuses on diagnosing and treating conditions like:

heartburn
diarrhea
acid reflux
ulcers
pain
These specialists play a role in preventing and diagnosing cancers of the digestive organs, including esophageal and colon cancer. Gastroenterologists perform minimally invasive procedures and diagnostic tests like endoscopies, which allow doctors to see inside the gastrointestinal organs.

What They Do: Digestive health

Annual Earnings: $455,000

Training: 3 years of subspecialty training on top of 3 years of internal medicine training

5. Radiology
   Top 10 Highest Paying Medical Specialties 6Radiology is the use of nuclear radiation for medical purposes, ranging from diagnostic tests to radiation treatments. Radiologists earn an average of $414,090, Salary.com reported. Radiologists work in hospitals and other healthcare settings.

Diagnostic radiologists read and interpret diagnostic imaging tests such as:

X-rays
ultrasounds
computed tomography (CT) scans
magnetic resonance imaging (MRIs)
Radiologists may also serve interventional roles, such as taking part in image guided therapy and administering radiation to cancer patients. Radiologists often specialize in imaging different regions of the body, like chest and cardiac imaging, abdominal imaging and performing mammograms to screen for breast cancer

What They Do: Diagnostic testing and radiation treatments

Annual Earnings: $414,090

Training: 5 years

6. Urology
   Top 10 Highest Paying Medical Specialties 7Urologists make an annual base salary of $412,000, Forbes reported. Medscape ranked the specialty lower on the list, with earnings of just $344,000 per year, but even on this list urology still made the top 10.

Urology is the medical specialty that focuses on the health of the urinary tract of both genders and the reproductive system of male patients. Several organs and structures fall under the domain of urologists, including the bladder, kidney, prostate and urethra as well as male genitals. Urologists diagnose and treat:

urinary tract and bladder infections
difficulty urinating
incontinence
kidney stones
enlarged prostate
male infertility
What They Do: Urinary tract

Annual Earnings: $412,000

Training: 5 years

7. Dermatology
   Top 10 Highest Paying Medical Specialties 8As the largest organ of the body, it’s no wonder skin gets its own specialist. Forbes lists a base annual salary of $412,000 for dermatologists, while Medscape reports earnings of $339,000.

Dermatologists diagnose and treat skin disorders of all kinds, from acne to cancer. They may perform routine skin examinations to screen for signs of melanoma or other forms of skin cancer, tracking any changes in the appearance or location of moles. They may perform diagnostic tests like biopsies on unusual skin conditions and changes. Dermatologists treat skin allergies, infections, eczema and other conditions. Many dermatologists also perform cosmetic procedures, ranging from laser surgery and excisions of unwanted skin conditions and markings to liposuction, chemical peels and injections of dermal fillers like Botox.

What They Do: Skin health

Annual Earnings: $412,000

Training: 4 years

8. Plastic/ Reconstructive Surgery
   Top 10 Highest Paying Medical Specialties 9Dermatologists may do some cosmetic procedures, but plastic surgeons are the physicians who devote their careers to medical aesthetics and reconstruction. Salary.com reports annual earnings of $393,073 for plastic surgeons. Earnings for plastic surgeons have increased consistently over the past 10 years.

Plastic surgeons may work on virtually any visual body part, from the appearance of the skin to the shape of the torso, breasts, and limbs and even external reproductive structures. While the goal of cosmetic surgery is often to enhance the aesthetic appearance of the body, some plastic surgery procedures are reconstructive, intended to repair damage done by an injury, congenital defects or disease that affects function as well as appearance. Plastic surgeons typically use skin grafts, implants, liposuction techniques, tissue transfers and other methods to achieve the appearance improvements desired by their patients. As with other specialties, plastic surgery includes subspecialties like surgery on the head and face (craniofacial surgery), the hand and serious burns.

What They Do: Cosmetic procedures

Annual Earnings: $393, 073

Training: 2 years

9. Emergency Medicine Physician
   Top 10 Highest Paying Medical Specialties 10Emergency medicine is what it sounds like – the specialty that focuses on caring for and stabilizing patients during medical emergencies. Forbes lists the annual base salary for specialists in the field of emergency medicine as $345,000. Medscape puts the salary somewhat lower, at $306,000 per year, but within its ranking of the top 10 highest paying specialties.

In a medical emergency, doctors have to act fast. Making the wrong decision could endanger the patient’s life or leave them with permanent disabilities, but so could waiting too long to take action. Specialists in emergency medicine work in both emergency department and pre-hospital settings to recognize and treat acute diseases and severe injuries. Quick and accurate decision-making is essential to saving the lives of emergency patients., These physicians need a strong background in clinical and technical skills and a breadth of medical knowledge to draw from when evaluating patients and planning patient care.

What They Do: Emergency care

Annual Earnings: $345,000

Training: 3 years

10. Anesthesiology
    Top 10 Highest Paying Medical Specialties 11Anesthesiologists are the doctors responsible for keeping patients pain-free, sedated or unconscious during surgical procedures. The important job comes with a high earning potential – $261,730 according the Bureau of Labor and Statisics– though salaries for specialists like urologists and dermatologists overshadow that of anesthesiologists in other publications.

Though not surgeons themselves, anesthesiologists work primarily with patients undergoing surgery. They prepare the patient for diagnostic procedures and operations that would be painful or uncomfortable by administering anesthetics, pain relief medications. During surgery, anesthesiologists observe the patient’s pulse, blood pressure, breathing, body temperature and other vital signs for any signs of pain or stress and adjust pain medications accordingly. They monitor patients after surgery and contribute to postoperative care. Anesthesiologists also use their expertise in pain medications to help patients with chronic pain, those in the intensive care unit (ICU) and mothers going through childbirth find effective and safe pain relief.

What They Do: Pain relief during surgery

Annual Earnings: $261,730

Training: 4 years

Also Note: General Surgery
Top 10 Highest Paying Medical Specialties 12General surgery rounds out the top 10 highest paying medical specialties, with BLS reporting a yearly base salary of $252,040.

Many other specialties – including some among the highest paying, like orthopedic surgery and invasive cardiology – practice surgery. A doctor who specializes in general surgery has a broad base of knowledge that allows them to treat a wide range of medical conditions through operations with specialized tools. Most general surgeons perform procedures that involve the skin, neck, breasts, abdomen and arteries, referring patients with orthopedic, neurologic, cardiac and similar conditions to surgeons in the appropriate specialties. General surgeons work with their patients throughout the surgical process, from diagnosing the medical condition that requires surgery and prepping them for the procedure to providing postoperative care.

What They Do: Operations

Annual Earnings: $252,040

Training: 5 years

13 Types of Surgeons: Dissecting the Differences
MEDICAL PRACTICE 08.19.2020
It is difficult to find a workplace that matches the intensity of the operating room. On top of that, the satisfaction that a surgeon feels after getting a patient back on his or her feet, and on the road to a complete recovery, is difficult to match too. Few career paths offer the same personal and professional satisfaction as that of a surgeon.

If you’ve been considering a career in medicine—specifically as a surgeon—the career outlook could not be brighter, both emotionally and in terms of stability. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, median annual wage for surgeons in 2019 came in over $200,000, with some salaries surpassing $250,000. And the demand for specialized surgeons is significant according to the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC), with a projected shortage of 23,000 surgeons in the US by 2032.

So if you’re committed to working your way toward becoming a surgeon, good news: you’ve made a solid choice. But before you launch your career, there are still plenty of considerations that you have to make, among them being the type of surgeon you’d like to become.

To help you weigh your options, we compiled a list that examines some of the most common surgical specialties as outlined by the American College of Surgeons. This will give you a glimpse of the ailments and scope of work that each specialty addresses, as well as how each surgeon makes a profound difference in the lives of their patients on an everyday basis.

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EXAMINING 13 SIGNIFICANT SURGICAL SPECIALTIES

When a patient requires surgery, they can’t necessarily just go to any surgeon. All surgeons develop core knowledge of anatomy, physiology, metabolism, immunology, pathology, wound healing, shock and resuscitation, intensive care, and more. But the complexities of the human body require more specific study, which is why there are specific surgical specialties physicians can devote their careers to.

So before you start your MD training, familiarize yourself with the differences between these types of surgeons to better understand your options.

1. GENERAL SURGEON
   Like the name implies, a general surgeon’s work involves a broad range of conditions that can affect almost any area of the body.

• Duties: Establishes diagnosis and provides preoperative, operative and post-operative care. Responsible for the comprehensive management of trauma victims and critically ill patients.

• Common conditions addressed: Conditions related to the head and neck, breast, skin, soft tissues, abdominal wall, extremities, and gastrointestinal, vascular, and endocrine systems.

2. COLON AND RECTAL SURGEON
   When a patient is facing issues of the intestinal tract, colon, rectum, anal canal, perianal area, he or she will likely be referred to a colon and rectal surgeon. While primarily focused on those areas of the body, surgeons in this field also deal with other organs and tissues including the liver, urinary and female reproductive systems.

• Duties: Consults and diagnoses patients in office, and treats patients experiencing problems of the intestine and colon. Performs operations, including abdominal surgical procedures, to address these problems. This may include robotic surgery.

• Common conditions addressed: Hemorrhoids, fissures, abscesses, fistulae, conditions of the bowel lining, cancer, polyps, inflammatory conditions, chronic ulcerative colitis, Crohn’s disease, and diverticulitis.

3. NEUROSURGEON
   Commonly known as a “brain surgeon,” a neurosurgeon handles disorders and illnesses related to the central, peripheral, and autonomic nervous systems, including their supporting structures and vascular supply.

• Duties: Diagnoses and treats patients through surgical procedures. Works with emerging technologies like computer-based neuro-navigation, spinal biomechanics and instrumentation, gene therapy, and catheter-driven endovascular techniques. Also handles surgical emergencies such as bleeding within the brain and sudden compression of the spinal cord.

• Common conditions addressed: Brain tumors, intracranial aneurysms, head injuries, and disorders affecting the spine, including spinal canal stenosis, herniated discs, tumors, fractures, and spinal deformities.

• Subspecialties: Cerebrovascular neurosurgery, spinal surgery, pediatric neurosurgery, complex seizure disorders, and functional surgery (movement disorders).

4. OBSTETRICIAN AND GYNECOLOGIST
   Typically coupled into one comprehensive field, an obstetrician and gynecologist (OB/GYN) technically operates in two areas of expertise. Obstetrics refers to physicians who work with pregnant patients, deliver babies, and care for them just after the baby is born. The gynecologist primarily treats conditions of the female reproductive system.

• Duties: Provides medical and surgical care to treat conditions that affect the female reproductive system. Consults patients and other physicians on health maintenance and preventive care for women.

• Common conditions addressed: Issues related to pregnancy, fertility, menstruation and menopause, family planning, sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) and infections (STIs), ovarian cysts, breast disorders, pelvic inflammatory diseases, and congenital abnormalities of the female reproductive tract.

• Subspecialties: Urogynecology, pelviscopy, adolescent/pediatric gynecology, infectious diseases, maternal-fetal medicine (care for and consult on patients with high-risk pregnancies), reproductive endocrinologists (infertility, assisted reproduction), gynecologic oncology (cancers that affect the female reproductive system).

5. OPHTHALMOLOGIST
   A doctor who many would refer to as an “eye doctor” is known clinically as an ophthalmologist. These medical professionals handle comprehensive care for the eyes and vision.

• Duties: Diagnoses and treats all eye and visual problems. Provides vision services such as glasses and contact lenses. Performs surgical procedures for treatment.

• Common conditions addressed: Amblyopia (“lazy eye”), astigmatism, cataracts, conjunctivitis (“pink eye”), corneal dystrophies, dry eye, eye cancer, glaucoma, macular degeneration, myopia (“nearsightedness”), retinal detachment, strabismus and uveitis.

• Subspecialties: Anterior segment surgery, cataracts and refractive surgery, cornea and external diseases, glaucoma, neuro-ophthalmology, ocular oncology, oculoplastics and orbit surgery, ophthalmic pathology, pediatric ophthalmology, uveitis and immunology, vitreo-retinal surgery.

6. ORAL AND MAXILLOFACIAL SURGEON
   Professionals who work at the intersection of medicine and dentistry are commonly known as oral surgeons. Oral and maxillofacial surgeons handle issues related to the head, neck, face, jaw, and hard and soft tissues of the oral and maxillofacial region (jaw, cheek bone, nasal and facial structures).

• Duties: Diagnoses, consults, and treats patients in office. Administers anesthesia and performs operations.

• Common conditions addressed: Extracting wisdom teeth, misaligned jaws, tumors and cysts in the jaw and mouth, cleft palate, and dental implant surgery.

• Subspecialties: Head and neck cancer, craniofacial facial deformity, oral medicine, craniofacial trauma, and cosmetic surgery.

7. ORTHOPAEDIC SURGEON
   Orthopaedic surgeons handle the diagnosis and treatment of issues of the musculoskeletal system, including bones, joints, muscles, associated nerves, arteries, and overlying skin.

• Duties: Treats patients through surgical procedures as well as through the use of braces, casts, splints, or physical therapy.

• Common conditions addressed: Conditions that may be present at birth or develop during the lifetime, including congenital deformities, trauma, infections, tumors, degenerative conditions, and metabolic disturbances. May treat secondary muscular issues in patients with central or peripheral nervous system lesions like cerebral palsy, paraplegia, or stroke.

• Subspecialties: Hand surgery, sports medicine, pediatric orthopaedics, spine surgery, foot and ankle orthopaedics, joint replacement, trauma surgery, and oncology.

8. OTOLARYNGOLOGIST
   Commonly known as “head and neck” doctors, otolaryngologists address conditions related to the ears, nose, throat, and related structures (respiratory and upper alimentary systems).

• Duties: Performs hearing tests, administers radiotherapy, performs cosmetic and reconstructive surgery, handles procedures that remove polyps, corrects cleft palates, and removes tumors. Refers patients to other medical specialists related to communication sciences, like audiologists, speech-language pathologists, and specialists in the chemical senses.

• Common conditions addressed: Hearing loss, balance disorders, ringing in the ears, sinus and nasal cavity disorders, snoring, deviated septum, allergies, smell and taste disorders, migraine headaches, and disorders of the throat, esophagus and larynx.

• Subspecialties: Otology and neurology, laryngology, facial reconstructive and plastic surgery, and sleep disorders.

9. PEDIATRIC SURGEON
   Pediatric surgeons specialize in diagnosing, treating, and providing post-operative care for children—from the newborn stage through the teenage years. Some form of pediatric specialty can also usually be found in other surgical professions due to the unique and complex nature of diseases and illnesses affecting children.

• Duties: Collaborates with other neonatologists, pediatricians, and family physicians to determine if surgery is the best treatment option for the child.

• Common conditions addressed: Birth defects, fetal surgery (corrective surgery before a baby is born), traumatic injuries, and malignant and benign tumors.

• Subspecialties: Neonatal, prenatal, trauma, and pediatric oncology.

10. PLASTIC AND MAXILLOFACIAL SURGEON
    Many people think of plastic surgeons as exclusively focused on cosmetic surgeries, but this surgical specialty entails much more. They handle the repair, replacement, and reconstruction of form and function defects of the body. This can include the musculoskeletal system, craniofacial structures, oropharynx, upper and lower limbs, breast, and external genitalia.

• Duties: Conducts surgical procedures that involve transfer of skin flaps, transplantation of tissues, and replantation of structures. Manages complex wounds and leverages knowledge in surgical design, surgical diagnosis, surgical and artistic anatomy, and more.

• Common conditions addressed: Congenital deformities, nose reshaping, breast augmentation for cosmetic purposes or following mastectomy, reconstructive surgery for individuals who have sustained burns, scars, or trauma to the face, hands and lower limbs, and removal of excess skin or body fat.

• Subspecialties: Cranio-maxillofacial surgery, microvascular surgery, hand surgery, and cosmetic surgery.

11. THORACIC SURGEON
    A thoracic surgeon is more commonly known as a “heart surgeon.” Professionals in this field handle pathological conditions and injuries within the chest, including the coronary artery, lung, esophagus, chest wall, great vessels and heart valves, mediastinum, diaphragm, and management of the airway.

• Duties: Consults and diagnoses patients experiencing intrathoracic abnormalities, performs operations and uses processes and systems like extracorporeal circulation, cardiac assist devices, cardiac dysrhythmia management, pleural drainage, respiratory support systems, endoscopy, and more.

• Common conditions addressed: Congenital anomalies of the chest, tumors of the mediastinum, diseases of the diaphragm, lung cancer, benign diseases and tumors of the lung, esophageal cancer, chest reconstruction after major trauma or surgery, mesothelioma, and lung transplants.

• Subspecialties: Adult cardiac surgery, congenital or pediatric heart surgery, and general thoracic surgery.

12. UROLOGIST
    A urologist addresses conditions of the adrenal gland and the genitourinary (reproductive and urinary) system. He or she typically operates on the kidneys, ureters, bladder, prostate, urethra, and testes.

• Duties: Treats patients through in-office practice, minimally-invasive endoscopies, and major open surgical procedures.

• Common conditions addressed: Nephrolithiasis (kidney stones), incontinence, cystoscopies, prostate biopsies, vasectomies, nephrectomy, transurethral resection of prostate (TURP).

• Subspecialties: urologic oncology, pediatric urology, stone disease, infertility, impotence, female urology, and laparoscopy.

13. VASCULAR SURGEON
    When a patient has a disease or illness related specifically to arteries and veins, he or she will likely be referred to a vascular surgeon. Vascular surgeons focus specifically on the circulatory system.

• Duties: Consults, diagnoses, and treats patients with complex blood or circulatory diseases or illnesses. Operates in both open, complicated surgeries as well as minimally-invasive endovascular procedures. May also treat patients outside of surgical means, like through medication or exercise regimens.

• Common conditions addressed: Atherosclerosis (hardening of the arteries), stroke, aneurysms, blood clots as well as the after effects of any arterial conditions or conditions of the vascular system.

What are the surgical specialties?

The American College of Surgeons recognizes 14 surgical specialties: cardiothoracic surgery, colon and rectal surgery, general surgery, gynecology and obstetrics, gynecologic oncology, neurological surgery, ophthalmic surgery, oral and maxillofacial surgery, orthopaedic surgery, otorhinolaryngology, pediatric surgery, plastic and maxillofacial surgery, urology, and vascular surgery. The information that follows presents information on the various surgical specialties. The material was adapted from definitions put forth by the nationally recognized authority on the topic, the American Board of Medical Specialties (ABMS), and its approved surgical specialty boards.

General Surgery
A general surgeon is a specialist who is trained to manage a broad spectrum of surgical conditions affecting almost any area of the body. The surgeon establishes the diagnosis and provides the preoperative, operative, and post-operative care to patients and is often responsible for the comprehensive management of the trauma victim and the critically ill patient. During at least a five-year educational period after obtaining a medical degree, the surgeon acquires knowledge and technical skills in managing medical conditions that relate to the head and neck, breast, skin, and soft tissues, abdominal wall, extremities, and the gastrointestinal, vascular, and endocrine systems.

American Board of Surgery

Thoracic Surgery
Thoracic surgery involves the operative management, perioperative care, and critical care of patients with pathological conditions within the chest. Specifically, it includes surgical care for coronary artery disease; cancers of the lung, esophagus, and chest wall; abnormalities of the great vessels and heart valves; congenital anomalies; tumors of the mediastinum; and diseases of the diaphragm. The management of the airway and injuries to the chest are also areas of surgical practice for the thoracic surgeon. A thoracic surgeon possesses the knowledge, experience, and technical skill to diagnose accurately, to operate upon safely, and to manage effectively patients with intrathoracic abnormalities that are appropriate for surgical treatment. The ability to provide this kind of treatment requires a substantial knowledge of cardiorespiratory physiology and oncology, as well as capability in the use of extracorporeal circulation, cardiac assist devices, management of cardiac dysrhythmias, pleural drainage, respiratory support systems, endoscopy, and other invasive and noninvasive diagnostic techniques.

Society of Thoracic Surgeons

The American Board of Thoracic Surgery

Colon and Rectal Surgery
As a result of their extensive training and experience, colon and rectal surgeons develop the knowledge and skills necessary to diagnose and treat various diseases of the intestinal tract, colon, rectum, anal canal, and perianal area through medical and surgical means. They are also able to deal surgically with other organs and tissues (such as the liver, urinary, and female reproductive systems) involved with primary intestinal disease. A colon and rectal surgeon has expertise in diagnosing and often managing anorectal conditions in the office, such as hemorrhoids, fissures (painful tears in the anal lining), abscesses, and fistulae (infections located around the anus and rectum).

Colon and rectal surgeons also treat problems of the intestine and colon and perform endoscopic procedures to detect and treat conditions of the bowel lining, such as cancer, polyps (precancerous growths), and inflammatory conditions. Colon and rectal surgeons also perform abdominal surgical procedures involving the small bowel, colon, and rectum, including treatment of inflammatory bowel diseases, such as chronic ulcerative colitis, Crohn’s disease, diverticulitis, and cancer.

Training in colon and rectal surgery also provides the surgical specialist with an in-depth knowledge of intestinal and anorectal physiology, which is required for the evaluation and treatment of problems such as constipation and incontinence (loss of bowel control). Colon and rectal surgeons are committed to the highest standards of care for patients with diseases that affect the lower gastrointestinal tract.

American Society of Colon and Rectal Surgeons

American Board of Colon and Rectal Surgery

Obstetrics and Gynecology
A specialist in obstetrics and gynecology is a physician who has been trained to provide medical and surgical care for the pregnant patient, to deliver babies, and to provide medical and surgical care to treat conditions that affect the female reproductive system.

Some obstetricians/gynecologists have a strong professional interest in a specific area such as urogynecology, pelviscopy, adolescent/pediatric gynecology, or infectious diseases, and they focus their practice on one or more of these particular areas of the specialty. All of these physicians are also trained in health maintenance and preventative care for women, and they have a particular knowledge and skills that enable them to serve as consultants to physicians who practice in other areas of medicine.

There are also subspecialties in obstetrics and gynecology, which require additional training: maternal-fetal medicine specialists are obstetricians /gynecologists who are prepared to care for, and to consult on, patients with high-risk pregnancies; and reproductive endocrinologists are capable of managing complex problems related to reproductive endocrinology and infertility, including aspects of assisted reproduction, such as in vitro fertilization (IVF).

American Board of Obstetrics and Gynecology

American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology

Gynecologic Oncology
A Gynecologic Oncologist is a specialist trained in the comprehensive management of patients with gynecologic cancer–cancers that affect the female reproductive system. Surgeons practicing in this specialty study these conditions, which differ significantly in the cause, prevention, detection, treatment, and survival rates.

American Board of Obstetrics and Gynecology

Society of Gynecologic Oncologists

Society of Surgical Oncology

Neurological Surgery
Neurological surgery is the discipline of medicine and the specialty of surgery that deals with the diagnosis, evaluation, and treatment of disorders of the central, peripheral, and autonomic nervous systems, including their supporting structures and vascular supply. Neurological surgery involves the evaluation and treatment of pathological processes that modify the function or activity of the nervous system, including the pituitary gland.

American Board of Neurological Surgeons

American Association of Neurological Surgeons

Ophthalmic Surgery
An ophthalmologist is concerned with the comprehensive care of the eyes and vision, and is the only medical practitioner who is medically trained to diagnose and treat all eye and visual problems. Ophthalmologists provide vision services (glasses and contact lenses), treat medical disorders of the eye, and perform surgical procedures for treatment.

American Board of Ophthalmology

American Academy of Ophthalmology

Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery
Oral and maxillofacial surgeons are trained to recognize and treat a wide spectrum of diseases, injuries, and defects in the head, neck, face, jaws, and the hard and soft tissues of the oral and maxillofacial region. They are also trained to administer anesthesia, and provide care in an office setting. They are trained to treat problems such as the extraction of wisdom teeth, misaligned jaws, and tumors and cysts of the jaw and mouth, and to perform dental implant surgery.

American Board of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery

American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons

Orthopaedic Surgery
Orthopaedic surgery is a surgical specialty that is specifically devoted to the care of the musculoskeletal system. This system includes bones, joints, muscles, associated nerves, arteries, and the overlying skin. Much of the orthopaedic surgeon’s practice involves the performance of surgical procedures, but many conditions are treated medically or physically through the use of braces, casts, splints, or physical therapy.

Orthopaedic surgeons take care of a wide variety of problems that may be present at birth, or that may develop at any time during the lifetime of the person. Such problems can include congenital deformities, trauma, infections, tumors, degenerative conditions, and metabolic disturbances that fall into the category of musculoskeletal abnormalities. Orthopaedics may also involve the treatment of secondary muscular problems in patients who suffer from various central or peripheral nervous system lesions such as cerebral palsy, paraplegia, or stroke.

The field of orthopaedic surgery has become very broad and now encompasses a number of specialty areas. Following a standard residency experience in orthopaedic surgery, an orthopaedist may continue with an additional one- to two-year fellowship to achieve added qualifications in the following special interest areas.

Hand Surgery
This specialty focuses on the investigation and treatment of diseases, injuries, or abnormalities affecting the upper extremities. This specialty includes the performance of microvascular surgery, which is necessary for reattachment of amputated fingers or limbs.

Sports Medicine
This specialty addresses the various concerns of the person who is involved in athletics, including conditioning, equipment, and, of course, injuries to the musculoskeletal system.

Pediatric Orthopaedics
Specialists in pediatric orthopaedics address their practice to children with orthopaedic problems including scoliosis, cerebral palsy, congenital dislocation of the hips, clubfoot, and a wide variety of other conditions specifically seen in children–including trauma.

Spine Surgery
Spine surgeons work with patients who have major spine problems as a result of disease, degeneration, or trauma. Orthopaedic spine surgeons frequently work in conjunction with neurosurgeons.

Foot and Ankle Orthopaedics
This specialty is concerned with problems predominantly involving the foot and ankle that are amenable to treatment by both surgical and nonsurgical techniques.

Joint Replacement
Specialists in joint replacement take care of damaged or worn-out joints usually by surgically replacing the joint with an artificial device. The majority of cases involve the hip or knee–and sometimes the ankle or shoulder. Most joint replacement in the hand falls into the area of expertise of the hand surgeons.

Trauma Surgery
Because of the complex nature of injuries seen today, a special area of orthopaedics is now related to the management of persons with critical or multiple injuries to the musculoskeletal system. This specialty is largely surgical in nature and involves close cooperative efforts with many other specialties in surgery.

Oncology
The orthopaedic tumor surgeon specializes in the management of benign and malignant tumors affecting the musculoskeletal system. Options for treatment have expanded greatly in the past few years with the advent of chemotherapy and radiotherapy coupled with the excision of the tumor and replacement with preserved bone or joint specimens.

American Board of Orthopaedic Surgery

American Association of Orthopaedic Surgeons

Otolaryngology
An otolaryngologist is a physician who has been trained to provide comprehensive medical and surgical care to patients who have diseases and disorders that affect the ears, the respiratory and upper alimentary systems, and related structures. The otolaryngologist has a command of the core of knowledge, skills, and understanding of: the basic medical sciences relevant to the head and neck; the respiratory and upper alimentary systems; the communication sciences, including knowledge of audiology and speech-language pathology; the chemical senses; and allergy, endocrinology, and neurology as they related to the head and neck. Head and neck oncology and facial plastic and reconstructive surgery are also fundamental areas of expertise for the otolaryngologist.

American Board of Otolaryngology

American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery

Pediatric Surgery
Pediatric surgeons are primarily concerned with the diagnosis, preoperative, operative, and postoperative management of surgical problems in children, and they operate on children whose development ranges from the newborn stage through the teenage years.

Some medical conditions in newborns are not compatible with a good quality of life unless these problems are corrected surgically. These conditions must be recognized immediately by neonatologists, pediatricians, and family physicians. Pediatric surgeons cooperate with all of the specialists involved in a child’s medical care to determine whether surgery is the best option for the child.

Pediatric surgery focuses on providing surgical care for all problems or conditions affecting children that require surgical intervention. They may also have particular expertise in the following areas of responsibility.

Neonatal
Pediatric surgeons have specialized knowledge in the surgical repair of birth defects, some of which may be life threatening to premature and full-term infants.

Prenatal
In cooperation with radiologists, pediatric surgeons use ultrasound and other technologies during the fetal stage of a child’s development to detect any abnormalities. They can then plan corrective surgery and educate and get to know parents before their baby is born. In addition, prenatal diagnosis may lead to fetal surgery, which is a new forefront in the subspecialty of pediatric surgery. Application of most fetal surgical techniques is still in the experimental stage.

Trauma
Because trauma is the number one killer of children in the United States, pediatric surgeons are routinely faced with critical care situations involving traumatic injuries sustained by children that may or may not require surgical intervention. Many pediatric surgeons are involved with accident prevention programs in their communities that are aimed at curbing traumatic injuries in children.

Pediatric Oncology
Pediatric surgeons are involved in the diagnosis and surgical care of children with malignant tumors as well as those with benign growths.

American Board of Surgery

American Pediatric Association-Surgery Section

American Pediatric Surgical Association

Plastic and Maxillofacial Surgery
The specialty of plastic surgery deals with the repair, replacement, and reconstruction of defects of the form and function of the body covering and its underlying musculoskeletal system, with emphasis on the craniofacial structures, the oropharynx, the upper and lower limbs, the breast, and the external genitalia. This surgical specialty also focuses on the aesthetic surgery of structures with undesirable form.

Special knowledge and skill in the design and transfer of skin flaps, in the transplantation of tissues, and in the replantation of structures are vital to the performance of plastic surgery. The plastic surgeon must also possess excellent skill in the performance of excisional surgery, in the management of complex wounds, and in the use of allopathic materials. Knowledge of surgical design, surgical diagnosis, surgical and artistic anatomy, surgical pathology, surgical oncology, surgical physiology, pharmacology, bacteriology, biomechanics, embryology, and surgical instrumentation are other fundamental areas of expertise within the specialty. Furthermore, the judgment and technical capacity for achieving satisfactory results are mandatory qualities for the plastic surgeon.

After completing a residency in plastic surgery, a plastic surgeon may subspecialize in:

Hand Surgery
This subspecialty focuses on the investigation, preservation, and restoration by medical, surgical, and rehabilitative means of all of the structures of the upper extremity that directly affect the form and function of the hand and wrist.

American Board of Plastic Surgery

American Society of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeons

Urology
A urologist is a physician who manages benign and malignant medical and surgical disorders of the adrenal gland and of the genitourinary system. Urologists have comprehensive knowledge of, and skills in, endoscopic, percutaneous, and open surgery of congenital and acquired conditions of the reproductive and urinary systems and their contiguous structures.

American Urological Association

Vascular Surgery
Vascular surgeons care for patients with diseases that affect the arteries and veins throughout the body. Hardening of the arteries, atherosclerosis, is the most common problem that vascular surgeons treat. In addition, vascular surgeons are trained to diagnose and treat strokes, which can be brought on by a blockage or narrowing of the arteries in the neck. Because the damage done by strokes is often irreversible, vascular surgeons must be able to make early diagnoses of potential stroke victims. The surgeon who treats the vascular system must also be able to diagnose and treat aneurysms and blood clots in the arteries and veins, as well as the after effects of conditions of the vascular system.