A List of Different Kinds of Doctors

Who would not be happy if an M.D. appears after his name? Children are always fascinated by the glamor of medical jobs. But earning the title of M.D. is not an easy task. A doctor is a person who has a thorough knowledge of his field and excellent 'problem solving and critical thinking' skills.

Besides being intelligent, a doctor is determinant, compassionate, consistent, soft spoken and hard-working by nature. A successful doctor is always found willing to work 24 hours, and this indirectly exhibits his physical fitness and mental stability.

After several years in medical school and a medical residency, one can achieve the M.D. title. Only the one who is patient during all circumstances can examine, diagnose, treat and operate the patients well.

• Psychiatrist - Deals with mental health
• Pediatrician - Child doctor
• Neonatologist - Doctor who treats the newborn
• Podiatrist - Foot doctor
• Nephrologist - Kidney doctor

• Cardiologist - Deals with heart diseases
• Optometrist - Deals with eye problems
• Dentist - Tooth doctor
• Urologist - Deals with bladder
• Oncologist - Cancer doctor
• Obstetrician - Deals with pregnancy and childbirth

• Neurologist - Deals with the problems of brain and nerves
• Dermatologist - Deals with skin problems
• Gastrologist - Deals with digestive system problems
• Endocrinologist - Deals with the problems of thyroid and other ductless glands

• Rheumatologist - Deals with arthritis and other diseases of the joints, muscles and bones
• Anesthesiologist - One who 'puts you out' for surgery and who monitors the patient's vitals.
• Emergency Medicine Doctor - Responds to myriad medical conditions.
• General Practitioner - Examines regular patients, whole families, sees you for referrals to specialists.

• Gynecologist - Deals with female reproductive system health.
• Plastic or Cosmetic surgeon - Helps burns, breast augmentations, face lifts, etc.
• Thoracic Surgeon - Deals with chest and lung surgery
• Geriatrics Specialist - Deals with problems of the elderly

• Orthopedics Specialist - Deals with bone and joint surgery
• Ophthalmologist - Deals with the eyes and eye surgery
• Otolaryngology specialist - Deals with ear, nose and throat surgery
• Allergist or Immunologist - Diagnoses and treats illnesses and problems related to the immune systems. He treats asthma, allergies, insect bites and stings, etc.

There are so many other types of doctors from other branches of medicine like the doctors for sports medicine, sexually transmitted diseases, rehabilitation medicine, pathology, military medicine, AIDS/HIV, palliative medicine, toxicology, transplantation medicine, etc. which along your journey to becoming a doctor, you may like to choose as a specialty.

The branches mentioned before are again divided into sub-branches. There exist different types of eye doctors, for example, a 'retinal specialist' who studies 'vitreoretinal medicine', a subspecialty of ophthalmology.

All medical jobs are highest paying jobs but all kinds of doctors need to spend almost fifteen to twenty years in college and hospitals, before they can settle down as a successful doctor. Newly passed out doctors, interested in a highly specialized field, for example neurosurgery, are required to perform residencies that last for six years or more.

Once you complete your residencies, your formal medical training is finally complete. However, before you can practice medicine, you should get a license from the state in which you plan to work.

After getting the license, you may set up your own private practice or join a practice with other physicians or you may work for hospitals, health departments, laboratories or other medical organizations. Some doctors never see patients! They like to go for research in the laboratories.

Some like to teach in the medical schools. Some dedicated doctors spend their whole life for the welfare of the economically backward people or for eradication of some deadly diseases like polio, leprosy, etc.

Doctor's profession is a respectable profession and you can enjoy job satisfaction in this field. A career in medicine may be a lucrative career; but you may have to spend a lot of time helping the people with disabilities, when there is little reward for you.

Everyday, you may have to handle stressful situations. So, be sure that you have a passion for helping other people. Those who have a high ethical standard, those who are ready for hard work and those who can work with commitment and endurance may choose this profession.