So, after much deliberation, you’ve decided you want to become a doctor. You’re confident you’ve got what it takes, you’ve managed to get accepted into a top medical school, and you’ve even thought about where you’re going to work. But how much thought have you given into what type of doctor you’re going to be, in order to advance your career?
Once you are qualified, you will need to pick an area of medicine that you will practise day in and day out, so you’ll want to choose wisely. The good news, though, is that you shouldn’t be short of ideas; in this list, we will look at the many different types of doctors so that you can figure out which one might be right for you.
1. General Practice
Based usually in public or privately owned clinics (as opposed to hospitals), general practitioners (GPs) are generally the first port of call for most patients. ‘No two days are ever the same’, writes Australian GP Penny Wilson for HuffPost. ‘We have no idea what is going to walk through our door next, and it could be anything.’ GPs require an encyclopaedic knowledge of medicine, although good working hours help to ease the blow.
In the UK, you would undertake the GP Specialty Training (GPST) programme, a three-year course made up of hospital placements and a GP Registrar placement. It is worth noting that following recent contract changes, salaries for GPs are slightly different to all other specialisms; during your training, salaries start at around £36,000, with qualified GPs earning anything between £56,500 and £85,300 per year in the NHS. Alternatively, GPs can – and are increasingly being encouraged to – establish their own private practices, where they can earn more.
In the US, GPs are known as family physicians and undergo a three-year residency similar to the GPST programme after they complete medical school. Although salaries on average are good (around $201,000 per year), this is slightly lower than other fields – one of the causes attributed to the shortage of family physicians in the US.
2. Surgery
Surgery is seen as one of the more glamorous specialisms to go into, especially due to the popularity of TV shows such as Scrubs and Grey’s Anatomy. It is, however, also one of the toughest. Aside from needing very steady hands and a strong stomach, you would be required to work quickly under pressure and have a flawless knowledge of human anatomy. You would also need to be a good communicator, as you would have to explain the process and consequences of very complex procedures to your patients.
It is a very broad spectrum, too, and this is reflected in the long training periods. In the UK, you would undertake two years of core surgical training in a hospital, before specialising again in a particular type of surgery, where further training can last up to six years. These include:
- cardiothoracic surgery – complex and serious surgery related to the heart, lungs and chest
- neurosurgery – complex and serious surgery related to the brain
- oral and maxillofacial surgery – related to the mouth and the facial structure
- otolaryngology (ENT) – related to ailments or conditions involving the ears, nose, throat and neck
- paediatric surgery – surgery involving children (usually in collaboration with the relevant specialist)
- plastic surgery – related to cosmetic surgery as well as reconstructive and superficial surgery, such as on burn victims
- orthopaedic surgery – related to the diagnosis and treatment of injuries, conditions or diseases involving bones, joints and the wider musculoskeletal system
- urology – related to the study and treatment of diseases and conditions involving the kidneys, bladder and urethral tract
- vascular surgery – related to diseases in your blood
- general surgery – minor surgeries or anything not mentioned above.
In the US, surgical residencies can last between three and seven years depending on your chosen field, with average salaries slightly higher than other specialisms – a whopping $255,000 per year once qualified, in fact.
3. Emergency Medicine
Depending on your location, this is probably the most dynamic – and one of the most stressful – healthcare professions in the world. Based usually in a busy A&E department, you would have to work long shifts and deal with a large number of seriously sick patients. If you prefer the quiet life, this isn’t the job for you.
Whether alone or as part of a trauma team, your job would be to maximise the patient’s chances of survival and, as a result, you need to be comfortable making important decisions under enormous pressure. ‘There is constant variety and challenge’, says Jonathan Benger, a senior NHS consultant. “EM is… diverse and mentally challenging… [with] exposure to a great deal of ‘real life’”.
In the UK, EM training takes six years. Once experienced, there is the opportunity to work in the prehospital environment, such as with the air ambulance service or in paediatric emergency medicine. Additionally, there is considerable scope to earn extra income through locum work, which pays especially well for EM doctors.
The US is well known for its very high standard of EM residency training programmes, with courses lasting between three and four years; supplemental training programmes are delivered once you are qualified.
4. Paediatrics
Paediatrics is an enormously challenging but rewarding profession. Working with children from birth to the age of 16, you would not only take on the diagnosis and treatment of various illnesses but also build relationships with parents and take on social welfare responsibilities. Working with children requires patience and a creative mind, and it can also be emotionally draining when things do not go well. It is important to consider how you would deal personally with the impact of this.
In the UK, it takes eight years to qualify as a paediatrician, with the training pathway split into several stages. Due to the huge physiological differences between children and adults, your knowledge would be well-valued, and you would likely be asked to consult on a wide variety of cases. Further subspecialties include:
- paediatric cardiology – related to heart problems in children
- paediatric endocrinology – related to gland and hormone problems in children
- paediatric oncology – related to treating cancer in children.
In the US, paediatric residencies typically last for three years, followed by further subspecialty training.
5. Psychiatry
With the stigma around mental health gradually declining, research and treatment in this field is becoming more prominent year on year. As a result, there is plenty to explore in this fascinating profession. ‘There [is] no factory line, no standard procedure, and no mindless protocol’, blogs psychiatrist Neel Burton. ‘Each patient is unique, and each patient has something unique to return to the psychiatrist.’ If you are empathetic and good at listening and giving advice, then psychiatry might appeal to you.
You would undertake three years of core psychiatry training in the UK, then choose a subfield that you would study over a further three years. These could include:
- general psychiatry – the study, diagnosis and treatment of mental disorders and behavioural problems
- neuropsychiatry – relating to clinical mental health issues in the brain, such as psychosis
- geriatric psychiatry – related to mental complications in elderly people, such as Alzheimer’s disease
- forensic psychiatry – related to the correlation between psychology and criminal behaviour.
In the US, you would complete a four-year residency, with psychiatrists attracting average salaries (once qualified) of around $216,000.
6. Pathology
Pathology is the study of disease based on laboratory analysis of body tissues and fluids. Unlike the other fields on this list, you would not have any contact with patients, although the impact of your findings would likely have a huge effect on their diagnosis and treatment – especially in cancer patients.
You would still need a strong stomach, though. While the reality of the job is somewhat different to its portrayal on TV shows such as Silent Witness, forensic autopsies are still an important component of the role. If you are particularly interested in the biology and physiology of the human body, this field might be worth considering.
In the UK, pathologists train for five years. During this time, you would be expected to choose and develop a specific area of interest, such as in one of the following:
- immunology – the study and treatment of the immune system and any related conditions
- neuropathology – related to the brain
- cytopathology – the study of diseases at the cell level
- cytogenetics – the study of chromosomes and associated conditions, such as Down’s syndrome
- autopsy – thorough surgical examination of a corpse to try and determine the cause of death.
Pathology residencies in the US typically last between three and four years, with supplemental rotations in various hospital departments. You would again be expected to pursue a specific area of interest.
7. Radiology
Clinical radiologists use a variety of imaging techniques such as ultrasound, X-rays and CT scans to investigate and diagnose conditions and disease. If you enjoy working with technology and have a very keen eye for detail, radiology could be a good fit. You will usually work as part of a wider team in the radiography department and provide expert guidance and advice to other doctors on your findings.
Radiologist training in the UK takes between five and six years to complete, with the option to subspecialise in either diagnostic or interventional radiology.
In the US, radiology residencies last four years, and are usually followed by a one or two-year fellowship in a subspecialty such as breast imaging or nuclear medicine.
8. Anaesthetics
As the name suggests, anaesthetists are primarily concerned with the use of anaesthesia (a drug designed to numb the senses) during surgeries and extreme trauma cases, although they are also prominent in intensive care departments where patients require detailed monitoring, as well as in palliative care environments where they can dose and administer pain relief. Alongside theatre nurses and operating department practitioners (ODPs), they are also responsible for the airway management of a patient.
If you are interested in how different types of drugs interact with the body and want to be hands-on with patients, you should consider anaesthetics.
You would undertake between seven and eight years of speciality training, with an early emphasis on working independently.
In the US, anaesthetists are known as anaesthesiologists and undergo a four-year residency programme. The average salary for a fully qualified anaesthesiologist is $266,000.
9. Ophthalmology
Although it may be difficult to pronounce, ophthalmology relates to problems with the eyes; therefore, it stands to reason that if you are interested in how the eye works, this is the field for you. Ophthalmologists work in operating theatres, clinics and community care locations with patients of all ages; you would need to be dexterous with your hands and possess huge attention to detail.
You would undertake seven years of specialist training, with frequent re-appraisals once qualified. It is worth noting that competition for consultancy posts is unusually high in the UK.
In the US, ophthalmology residencies are typically three years in length.
10. Ear, Nose and Throat (ENT)
Otolaryngologists (or just ENT doctors to you and me) are – as the name suggests – responsible for treating any issues related to the ears, nose or throat. Given the high number of common medical conditions that are located in these areas, ENT doctors are, unsurprisingly, in high demand.
Otolaryngology is still a highly complex field, though. You’d be expected to diagnose, treat and/or perform surgery on any number of conditions, from cancerous lumps to swimmer’s ear. This diversity is reflected in the number of ENT specialists who go on to pursue further study in a particular field, including plastic surgery, paediatrics or even sleep disorder.
In the UK, you would need to complete two years of core surgical training, followed by six years of specialist surgery. In the US, meanwhile, you’d be expected to undergo around five to eight years of training after medical school.
11. Obstetrics and Gynaecology
While these are technically two different professions (generally, obstetricians focus on the health of pregnant women and the unborn baby, whereas gynaecologists focus on anything related to the female reproductive system), they are intertwined and usually studied together. Once qualified as a consultant, you could choose to focus on one particular field, such as one of the following:
- infertility – the study and treatment of causes of infertility in men and women
- gynae-oncology – the study and treatment of cancer in the female reproductive organs
- uro-gynaecology – the study and treatment of urology within the female urinary system
In the UK, specialist training lasts for seven years, while in the US, residencies are four years long.
12. Oncology
Oncologists are committed to the research, diagnosis and treatment of cancer. While oncology is generally a mixture of specialisms working together, an oncologist will typically manage the overall treatment of a patient and provide counselling as well as administer certain therapies. Many oncologists are attracted to the research-heavy nature of the job – if you are looking for a more academic role, this could be a good fit.
Oncology training in the UK is typically five years long and places considerably more emphasis on scientific activity than other fields. In the US, oncology residencies also last five years and are generally followed by a two or three-year fellowship.
13. General Internal Medicine
There are several other types of medical fields that can be categorised under internal medicine, and you would likely practise these roles within a hospital inpatient setting:
- cardiology – related to the heart; subspecialties include stroke medicine, heart failure and intervention procedures, such as the insertion of a pacemaker
- endocrinology – the study and treatment of conditions associated with the endocrine glands, such as diabetes and various thyroid conditions
- dermatology – conditions and diseases involving the skin
- gastroenterology – the study, diagnosis and treatment of conditions and diseases involving the stomach and intestines
- hepatology – a subspecialty of gastroenterology focused on the liver
- nephrology – conditions and diseases involving the kidneys
- andrology – anything involving the male reproductive system
- sexual health medicine – the study, diagnosis and treatment of sexually transmitted diseases
- proctology – conditions and diseases in the anus, colon and rectum
- rheumatology – conditions involving the rheumatic system, such as arthritis
- podiatry – related primarily to feet
- periodontology – related to teeth supporting structures.
The training periods for each of these specialities vary in both the UK and the US.
14. Non-Clinical Medicine
If you want to be a doctor but would prefer not to spend so much time with patients, there are other research and consultancy opportunities available. These include:
- parasitology – the study of parasites and parasitic disease, and the effect this has on human populations
- diagnostics – studying the symptoms and medical reports of patients to diagnose a disease
- epidemiology – studying the causes and patterns of certain diseases in human populations or areas and how to prevent or eradicate them.
In both the UK and the US, you do not necessarily need to have a medical degree to pursue some of these fields, as the emphasis is on statistical understanding and awareness. A medical degree is accepted as a prerequisite to get on the relevant postgraduate course.
Final Thoughts
If all this choice has given you cause for concern, don’t worry just yet – you don’t have to commit to a decision until after medical school. Some fields are very competitive, though, and it is beneficial to have some idea of the direction you want to take early on so that you can chase relevant placements during your foundation years in the UK and the last few years of medical school in the US.
Are you currently trying to decide which medical route you want to take? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.
Note: Before you can study any of these specialisms, you would need to complete at least five years of medical school followed by two foundation years as a junior doctor in the UK, or complete four years of medical school in the US. Salary information has been compiled from Prospects.ac.uk and the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
This article is an updated version of an earlier article originally published back on 1 November 2017.