Medical specialties come in many forms, and this list covers 13 of them, from “Nephrology” to “Naturopathic medicine.” These fields range from surgical disciplines that operate on newborns to diagnostic areas that rely on imaging and lab work. Doctors, students, and patients use this kind of overview to understand who treats what and to find the right kind of care for a specific health concern.

Medical specialties are branches of medicine that focus on a particular organ, condition, age group, or method of treatment. Many of them grew out of a single broader field, like how neurology split into related areas such as neuro-oncology and neuropsychiatry as doctors learned more about the nervous system. Nuclear medicine even traces its roots back to early 20th-century research into radioactivity.

Below you’ll find the table with the specialty and its description.

Specialty: the name of the medical field, so you can quickly spot the one you’re curious about or need for a referral.

Description: a short, plain-language explanation of what each specialty treats and how it helps patients in practice.

Medical specialties

Specialty
Nephrology
Neurology
Neurosurgery
Neonatology
Neuropathology
Neuroradiology
Neuro-otology
Neuro-oncology
Neuropsychiatry
Neonatal surgery
Nuclear medicine
Nutritional medicine
Naturopathic medicine

Descriptions

Nephrology
The branch of medicine focused on kidney function, kidney diseases, dialysis, and kidney transplantation.
Neurology
The medical specialty dealing with disorders of the brain, spinal cord, and nerves, such as strokes, epilepsy, and migraines.
Neurosurgery
A surgical specialty that treats conditions of the brain, spine, and nervous system through operations.
Neonatology
A subspecialty of pediatrics focused on the medical care of newborn infants, especially those born premature or ill.
Neuropathology
The study of diseases of the nervous system tissue, often performed by examining biopsies or autopsy samples.
Neuroradiology
A subspecialty of radiology that uses imaging techniques to diagnose diseases of the brain, spine, and nervous system.
Neuro-otology
A specialty focusing on disorders of the ear and balance system that involve the nervous system, such as vertigo.
Neuro-oncology
A field dedicated to diagnosing and treating tumors of the brain and spinal cord.
Neuropsychiatry
A field combining neurology and psychiatry to treat mental disorders caused by diseases of the nervous system.
Neonatal surgery
A surgical subspecialty dedicated to operating on newborn infants to correct birth defects or other conditions.
Nuclear medicine
A specialty that uses small amounts of radioactive material to diagnose and treat diseases, including certain cancers.
Nutritional medicine
A field of medicine that studies how diet and nutrition affect health and uses food-based approaches to treat disease.
Naturopathic medicine
An alternative medicine approach that emphasizes natural remedies and the body’s own healing abilities.
If you think there is a missing term, let us know using the contact form.