Healthcare is continuing to broaden and diversify. It’s gotten to the point where medical students are having a hard time sifting through the multitude of options in front of them. This post will discuss some of the paths a person can take in his or her medical career.
Oncology
Oncology is a field that deals with the treatment of cancer. The focus includes everything from small cell lung cancer to pancreatic cancer. People who get into this field should have a good understanding of chemotherapy, radiation therapy, and other treatments. They should also know how to properly check a patient for tumors and other growths.
Internal Medicine
Internal medicine is one of the most common medical fields. It’s a great choice for those who don’t want to only work with one organ or part of the body. Internists are responsible for diagnosing, treating, and managing internal diseases (as well as the comorbidities that often come with them.) They also play an important role in developing new medical treatments and educating the public about them. Dr. Jason Campbell, for example, has been writing extensively about new breakthroughs through various medical journals.
Cardiology
Cardiology is the medical specialty that deals with the heart. This is a vital field because it affects everything from the way the heart works to how blood flows through the body. Heart disease is the leading cause of death in the U.S., so there continues to be a high demand for heart specialists. Because open-heart surgery is one of the riskiest medical procedures, a person should have special training before entering this field.
Pathology
Pathologists study ailments and their causes, which allows them to develop new cures and treatments. Much of the work is done in a lab: Bodily fluid samples, tissues, cells, and other specimens are often examined. Not only do pathologists help patients directly, but some devote their attention to stopping the spread of pathogens in a community.
Obstetrics and Gynecology
Obstetrics and gynecology are responsible for managing women’s health. The primary focus of obstetrics is pregnancy, while gynecology focuses on women’s reproductive organs in general. Both fields are continuing to generate new discoveries and treatments for women of all ages, which could mean more opportunities for medical students in the future.
Pulmonology
Pulmonology is a branch of healthcare that deals with the respiratory system. This field includes everything from diagnosing and treating lung diseases to fixing injured windpipes. Almost anything that affects a person’s breathing falls under the pulmonological umbrella. There are many cases where this field overlaps other fields since patients often need life support or ventilation due to a problem outside of pulmonology (such as a heart attack or stroke.)
This post only scratches the surface of what a person can pursue in the medical sphere. Newer disciplines are continuing to branch off of older ones, and technology is drastically changing the way doctors approach certain things. That being said, medical students should at least understand some of the most common career paths that are available to them.
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