There are 20 medical specialties that start with the letter P. From Palliative Medicine to Pediatric Orthopaedics. Medical specialties are fields within medicine that focus on specific functions, patient populations, or types of diseases. They have evolved to address the increasing complexity of healthcare, enabling practitioners to hone their skills and knowledge in particular areas. Specialists typically undergo extensive training that includes residency programs and sometimes additional fellowships, allowing them to provide advanced care and treatment options. The diversification into various specialties ensures that patients receive expert diagnosis and management of their medical conditions, thus enhancing the quality of care.
An interesting fact about medical specialties is that many of them have unique subspecialties that have developed around advancements in technology and research. For instance, within internal medicine, there are subspecialties like cardiology and gastroenterology that focus on specific organ systems or diseases, demonstrating a continuous evolution of medical practice to incorporate new knowledge and techniques.
Here’s what each of the columns in the table means:
Focus Area: This column indicates the primary domain or aspect of health care that the specialty addresses, such as cardiology focusing on heart diseases or pediatrics centering on children’s health.
Training Required: This column specifies the education and training commitments needed to practice within the specialty, typically involving medical school, residency, and possibly fellowships for further specialization.
Common Procedures: This column outlines the typical medical interventions or treatments that practitioners in the specialty perform regularly, such as surgeries, diagnostic tests, or therapeutic measures.
Description: This column provides a brief overview of the specialty, including its scope of practice, the types of conditions treated, and the patient population served, giving insight into the role of the medical specialty in overall healthcare.
Medical specialties That Start With P
| Medical specialties | focus area | training required | common procedures |
|---|---|---|---|
| Palliative Medicine | end-of-life care, pain and symptom management | 4-year residency in internal medicine, family medicine, or pediatrics; 1-year fellowship in palliative care | pain management, symptom relief, advance care planning, hospice care |
| Parasitology | study of parasites, their hosts, and the diseases they cause | 4-year doctoral degree in microbiology or veterinary science; 2-3 year fellowship in parasitology | diagnostic testing, treatment of parasitic infections, research on parasite life cycles and transmission |
| Pathology | Diagnosis of diseases through examination of bodily fluids and tissues | 4 years of medical school, 4 years of residency | Tissue biopsies, blood and urine tests, autopsies |
| Pediatric Allergy and Immunology | diagnosis and management of allergic and immunological disorders in children | 4-year pediatric residency; 2-3 year fellowship in allergy and immunology | skin testing, immunotherapy, medication management |
| Pediatric Anesthesiology | administration of anesthesia to infants and children during surgery and other medical procedures | 4-year pediatric residency; 1-2 year fellowship in pediatric anesthesiology | general anesthesia, regional anesthesia, pain management |
| Pediatric Cardiology | diagnosis and treatment of heart conditions in infants, children, and adolescents | 4-year pediatric residency; 3-4 year fellowship in pediatric cardiology | echocardiography, cardiac catheterization, arrhythmia management |
| Pediatric Critical Care Medicine | management of critically ill and injured children | 4-year pediatric residency; 3-year fellowship in pediatric critical care medicine | mechanical ventilation, hemodynamic monitoring, emergency procedures |
| Pediatric Dermatology | diagnosis and treatment of skin, hair, and nail conditions in infants, children, and adolescents | 4-year pediatric residency; 1-2 year fellowship in pediatric dermatology | skin biopsies, laser treatments, management of eczema and other skin disorders |
| Pediatric Emergency Medicine | emergency care for infants, children, and adolescents | 4-year pediatric residency; 2-3 year fellowship in pediatric emergency medicine | trauma evaluation and stabilization, resuscitation, management of acute illnesses |
| Pediatric Endocrinology | diagnosis and treatment of hormonal and metabolic disorders in children | 4-year pediatric residency; 3-year fellowship in pediatric endocrinology | management of diabetes, growth disorders, thyroid conditions, and other endocrine disorders |
| Pediatric Gastroenterology | diagnosis and treatment of digestive, nutritional, and liver disorders in children | 4-year pediatric residency; 3-year fellowship in pediatric gastroenterology | endoscopy, dietary management, treatment of conditions like inflammatory bowel disease, celiac disease, and liver disease |
| Pediatric Genetics | diagnosis and management of genetic disorders and birth defects in children | 4-year pediatric residency; 2-3 year fellowship in medical genetics and genomics | genetic testing, counseling, management of genetic conditions |
| Pediatric Hematology-Oncology | diagnosis and treatment of blood disorders and cancers in children | 4-year pediatric residency; 3-year fellowship in pediatric hematology-oncology | chemotherapy, bone marrow transplantation, management of leukemia, lymphoma, and other pediatric cancers |
| Pediatric Infectious Diseases | diagnosis and treatment of infectious diseases in children | 4-year pediatric residency; 2-3 year fellowship in pediatric infectious diseases | management of viral, bacterial, fungal, and parasitic infections, immunization recommendations |
| Pediatric Intensive Care Medicine | management of critically ill and injured children in the intensive care unit | 4-year pediatric residency; 3-year fellowship in pediatric critical care medicine | mechanical ventilation, hemodynamic monitoring, emergency procedures |
| Pediatric Nephrology | diagnosis and treatment of kidney diseases in children | 4-year pediatric residency; 2-3 year fellowship in pediatric nephrology | management of kidney failure, dialysis, kidney transplantation |
| Pediatric Neurology | diagnosis and treatment of neurological disorders in children | 4-year pediatric residency; 2-3 year fellowship in pediatric neurology | electroencephalography, management of seizures, developmental disorders, and neuromuscular conditions |
| Pediatric Neurosurgery | surgical treatment of neurological conditions in children | 4-year pediatric residency; 6-7 year residency in neurosurgery; 1-2 year fellowship in pediatric neurosurgery | surgical treatment of brain, spine, and peripheral nerve disorders in children |
| Pediatric Ophthalmology | diagnosis and treatment of eye conditions in children | 4-year pediatric residency; 1-2 year fellowship in pediatric ophthalmology | treatment of strabismus, amblyopia, congenital eye disorders, and pediatric eye trauma |
| Pediatric Orthopaedics | diagnosis and treatment of musculoskeletal conditions in children | 4-year pediatric residency; 1-2 year fellowship in pediatric orthopaedics | treatment of fractures, sports injuries, congenital deformities, and developmental conditions |
Descriptions
Palliative Medicine
A medical specialty focused on improving quality of life for patients with serious, life-limiting illnesses through comprehensive, interdisciplinary care and support for the patient and their family.
Parasitology
A branch of medicine that focuses on the identification, study, and treatment of parasites that can infect humans and animals, causing various diseases and conditions.
Pathology
Pathologists are physicians who specialize in the diagnosis and study of diseases. They use laboratory tests and analyses to identify the causes and nature of a patient’s medical condition.
Pediatric Allergy and Immunology
A medical specialty that deals with the evaluation, diagnosis, and treatment of allergic and immune system disorders in infants, children, and adolescents, including asthma, eczema, food allergies, and immune deficiencies.
Pediatric Anesthesiology
A subspecialty of anesthesiology that focuses on the unique considerations and techniques required for administering anesthesia to pediatric patients, ensuring their safety and comfort during surgical, diagnostic, and therapeutic procedures.
Pediatric Cardiology
A medical specialty dedicated to the evaluation, diagnosis, and management of congenital and acquired heart diseases in children, including conditions such as congenital heart defects, arrhythmias, and cardiomyopathies.
Pediatric Critical Care Medicine
A medical subspecialty that focuses on the comprehensive care of critically ill and injured children, including those with life-threatening conditions, organ failure, and complex medical or surgical needs, often in an intensive care unit setting.
Pediatric Dermatology
A subspecialty of dermatology that specializes in the evaluation, diagnosis, and treatment of a wide range of skin, hair, and nail conditions that occur in the pediatric population, with a focus on the unique considerations and approaches required for children.
Pediatric Emergency Medicine
A medical specialty that focuses on the evaluation, diagnosis, and treatment of children with acute, critical, or life-threatening conditions in the emergency department setting, addressing the unique anatomical, physiological, and developmental needs of pediatric patients.
Pediatric Endocrinology
A subspecialty of pediatrics that specializes in the evaluation, diagnosis, and treatment of hormonal, metabolic, and growth-related conditions in infants, children, and adolescents, such as diabetes, thyroid disorders, and growth abnormalities.
Pediatric Gastroenterology
A medical specialty that focuses on the evaluation, diagnosis, and management of gastrointestinal, nutritional, and liver disorders in infants, children, and adolescents, addressing the unique anatomical and physiological considerations of the pediatric population.
Pediatric Genetics
A subspecialty of pediatrics that focuses on the identification, diagnosis, and treatment of inherited genetic disorders, chromosomal abnormalities, and congenital malformations in children, as well as genetic counseling for patients and their families.
Pediatric Hematology-Oncology
A subspecialty of pediatrics that specializes in the evaluation, diagnosis, and multidisciplinary treatment of blood disorders, such as anemia and bleeding disorders, as well as childhood cancers, including leukemia, lymphoma, and solid tumors, in infants, children, and adolescents.
Pediatric Infectious Diseases
A medical specialty that focuses on the evaluation, diagnosis, and treatment of infectious diseases affecting infants, children, and adolescents, including common childhood illnesses as well as rare and complex infectious conditions.
Pediatric Intensive Care Medicine
A medical subspecialty that provides comprehensive, specialized care for critically ill and injured children in the intensive care unit setting, addressing the unique physiological and developmental needs of pediatric patients.
Pediatric Nephrology
A medical specialty that focuses on the evaluation, diagnosis, and treatment of congenital, acquired, and chronic kidney diseases in infants, children, and adolescents, as well as the management of related conditions such as hypertension and electrolyte imbalances.
Pediatric Neurology
A subspecialty of neurology that specializes in the evaluation, diagnosis, and treatment of neurological conditions affecting infants, children, and adolescents, including epilepsy, developmental delays, movement disorders, and neuromuscular diseases.
Pediatric Neurosurgery
A highly specialized surgical subspecialty that focuses on the diagnosis and surgical management of congenital, traumatic, and acquired neurological conditions in infants, children, and adolescents, addressing the unique anatomical and developmental considerations of the pediatric population.
Pediatric Ophthalmology
A medical specialty that focuses on the comprehensive eye care of infants, children, and adolescents, including the evaluation, diagnosis, and treatment of a wide range of eye conditions and disorders that are specific to the pediatric population.
Pediatric Orthopaedics
A subspecialty of orthopaedic surgery that specializes in the evaluation, diagnosis, and management of musculoskeletal disorders, injuries, and deformities in infants, children, and adolescents, addressing the unique anatomical, physiological, and developmental considerations of the pediatric population.
If you think there is a missing term, let us know using the contact form.