There are 22 medical specialties that start with the letter U. From Ultrasonography to Uveoplasty. 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 U
| Medical specialties | focus area | training required | common procedures |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ultrasonography | Diagnostic imaging | Completion of a Radiology residency program. | Performing and interpreting ultrasound examinations. |
| Ultrasound Technician | Performing diagnostic ultrasound examinations | Associate’s degree or certificate program in diagnostic medical sonography | Abdominal, cardiac, obstetric, and vascular ultrasound |
| Ultrasound-Guided Core Needle Biopsy | minimally invasive tissue sampling | additional training in ultrasound-guidance | biopsy of lesions under ultrasound guidance |
| Umbilical Cord Blood Banking | preservation of stem cells | additional certification in cord blood banking | collection and cryogenic storage of umbilical cord blood |
| Unani Medicine | Traditional system of medicine originating in India | Specialized training in Unani principles and practices | Herbal remedies, cupping, bloodletting |
| Upstream Imaging Specialist | Optimizing medical imaging equipment and workflows | Advanced training in medical imaging technology and informatics | Deploying, calibrating, and troubleshooting imaging systems |
| Ureteroscopy | Examination and treatment of the ureter, the tube that carries urine from the kidney to the bladder. | Completion of a Urology residency program with training in Ureteroscopy. | Using a small, flexible camera to visually inspect the ureter and perform procedures such as stone removal. |
| Urethral Diverticulum Repair | Surgical repair of a pouch or sac that forms in the urethra. | Completion of a Urology residency program with additional training in Urethral Diverticulum Repair. | Incision and removal of the diverticulum, reconstruction of the urethra. |
| Urethral Reconstruction | Surgical repair of the urethra, the tube that carries urine from the bladder out of the body. | Completion of a Urology residency program with additional training in Urethral Reconstruction. | Urethroplasty, urethral dilation, and other surgical procedures to repair urethral abnormalities or damage. |
| Urgent Care Medicine | treatment of acute, non-life-threatening illnesses and injuries | residency in emergency medicine or family medicine | evaluation and treatment of minor injuries, illnesses, and infections |
| Urogynaecological Nursing | Nursing care for women’s pelvic floor disorders | Specialized training in urogynaecology nursing | Pelvic examinations, treatment of incontinence, pelvic organ prolapse management |
| Urogynaecology | pelvic floor disorders in women | subspecialty training in urology and gynecology | surgical and non-surgical management of pelvic organ prolapse, urinary incontinence, and other pelvic floor dysfunctions |
| Urologic Oncology | Diagnosis and treatment of cancers of the urinary system and male reproductive organs. | Completion of a Urology residency program with additional training in Urologic Oncology. | Prostate, bladder, kidney, and testicular cancer treatments, such as surgery, radiation, and chemotherapy. |
| Urological Nursing | Nursing care for urinary tract and reproductive system disorders | Specialized training in urology nursing | Catheterization, bladder irrigation, prostate exams |
| Urology | Diagnosis and treatment of diseases and disorders of the urinary tract and male reproductive system. | Completion of a Urology residency program. | Prostate exams, kidney stone removal, vasectomy. |
| Uropathology | Examination and diagnosis of diseases of the urinary system. | Completion of a Pathology residency program with subspecialty training in Uropathology. | Analysis of urine, kidney, and bladder samples. |
| Uroradiology | imaging of the urinary tract | subspecialty training in radiology and urology | imaging procedures such as IVU, VCUG, and retrograde pyelography |
| Urostomy Care | management of urinary diversions | specialized training in ostomy care | creation and management of urostomies |
| Urosurgery | Surgical treatment of urinary tract and male reproductive system diseases | Urology residency, potentially with subspecialty training | Kidney, bladder, and prostate surgery, reconstructive procedures |
| Uterine Artery Embolization | Minimally invasive procedure to treat uterine fibroids by blocking the blood supply to the fibroids. | Completion of a Radiology residency program with additional training in Uterine Artery Embolization. | Inserting a catheter into the femoral artery and injecting small particles to block the blood supply to uterine fibroids. |
| Uveitis | Inflammation of the uvea, the middle layer of the eye. | Completion of an Ophthalmology residency program with subspecialty training in Uveitis. | Steroid eye drops, immunosuppressant medications, intraocular injections. |
| Uveoplasty | Surgical procedure to treat uveitis by reducing inflammation and improving drainage of the eye. | Completion of an Ophthalmology residency program with subspecialty training in Uveoplasty. | Incision and removal of a portion of the uvea to improve fluid drainage and reduce pressure in the eye. |
Descriptions
Ultrasonography
Ultrasonography uses high-frequency sound waves to create images of structures within the body. It is commonly used to visualize organs, blood flow, and detect abnormalities.
Ultrasound Technician
Operates ultrasound equipment to capture images of internal structures, assists physicians in diagnosis and treatment planning.
Ultrasound-Guided Core Needle Biopsy
Procedure to obtain tissue samples from suspicious masses or lesions using ultrasound imaging for guidance, often used for diagnosis of cancer and other conditions.
Umbilical Cord Blood Banking
The process of collecting, testing, and storing a newborn’s umbilical cord blood for potential future medical use, such as in stem cell therapies or transplants.
Unani Medicine
Holistic approach to health, emphasizing balance of bodily humors and use of natural therapies.
Upstream Imaging Specialist
Ensures high-quality medical imaging by managing equipment, data, and IT infrastructure to support radiologists and other clinicians.
Ureteroscopy
Ureteroscopy is a minimally invasive procedure used to diagnose and treat conditions affecting the ureter, such as kidney stones, ureteral strictures, or tumors.
Urethral Diverticulum Repair
Urethral Diverticulum Repair is a surgical procedure to treat a urethral diverticulum, a pouch or sac that forms in the urethra, often causing recurrent infections, pain, and other urinary symptoms.
Urethral Reconstruction
Urethral Reconstruction is a subspecialty of Urology that focuses on the surgical repair and reconstruction of the urethra, which can be necessary due to trauma, congenital abnormalities, or other conditions.
Urgent Care Medicine
Specialty focused on providing immediate, walk-in medical care for patients with conditions that require prompt attention but are not serious enough for an emergency department visit.
Urogynaecological Nursing
Provides nursing care and education for women experiencing urinary, bowel, or pelvic floor dysfunction.
Urogynaecology
Specialty that addresses issues related to the female pelvic floor, including the diagnosis and treatment of conditions such as urinary incontinence, pelvic organ prolapse, and other pelvic floor disorders.
Urologic Oncology
Urologic Oncology is a subspecialty of Urology that focuses on the diagnosis and treatment of cancers affecting the urinary system, including the kidneys, bladder, prostate, and male reproductive organs.
Urological Nursing
Supports urologists in the management of kidney, bladder, prostate, and other genitourinary conditions.
Urology
Urology is a surgical specialty that focuses on the urinary system and male reproductive organs. Urologists diagnose and treat conditions such as kidney stones, urinary tract infections, and prostate cancer.
Uropathology
Uropathology is a subspecialty of Pathology that deals with the study and diagnosis of diseases affecting the urinary system, including the kidneys, ureters, bladder, and urethra.
Uroradiology
Specialty that focuses on the radiologic diagnosis and treatment of diseases and conditions affecting the urinary system, including the kidneys, ureters, bladder, and urethra.
Urostomy Care
Specialty focused on the care and management of individuals who have had a urostomy, a surgical procedure to divert urine from the bladder to an opening on the abdominal wall.
Urosurgery
Performs complex surgical interventions to treat conditions affecting the kidneys, ureters, bladder, urethra, and male reproductive organs.
Uterine Artery Embolization
Uterine Artery Embolization is a non-surgical treatment for uterine fibroids that involves blocking the blood supply to the fibroids, causing them to shrink and relieving symptoms such as heavy bleeding and pelvic pain.
Uveitis
Uveitis is a group of inflammatory eye conditions that can cause redness, pain, and vision problems. It requires prompt treatment to prevent vision loss and other complications.
Uveoplasty
Uveoplasty is a surgical intervention used to treat severe or recurrent uveitis by creating a new drainage pathway for the eye to reduce intraocular pressure and inflammation.
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