9 popular branches of Medicine

With specialties and super-specialties, Medicine offers a wide range of career prospects for the aspirants pursuing studies in the medical field. To make it easy for a student, Shiksha lists nine most popular branches of medicine that you could opt for. 

Medicine is considered to be among the most coveted career option, providing aspirants with multiple specialties and super-specialties to choose from. With new branches emerging, medicine has progressed considerably with technology advancement and innovative ideas. For aspirants who are planning to pick a particular specialisation they want to pursue in the future, Shiksha lists nine popular branches they could choose from: 

Cardiology

This field deals with the diagnosis, assessment and treatment of ailments related to the heart. The profession of Cardiology provides treatments for heart failure, hereditary heart defects, electrophysiology and valvular heart disease. Electrocardiograms, cardiac catheterisation, radiology studies, stress tests, among others are a few of the areas which cardiologists primarily handle. Due to the upsurge in the number of heart patients, many super-speciality heart care centres have been opened, thus broadening the scope for cardiologists. Cardiologists can pursue a career both in the private/public sector. Apart from that, cardiologists can work as doctors in a hospital or can become lecturers in medical colleges. Furthermore, those who prefer to undertake research relating to the heart can become scientists in cardiology.

Paediatrics

Paediatricians handle different health services, including preventive healthcare to the diagnosis and treatment of chronic and acute diseases affecting infants, children and teenagers. This field has different sub-specialities such as oncology, neonatology, rheumatology, neuro-disability, neurology, nephrology, among others. A career as a paediatrician has arisen as one of the most prominent career options in India since the demand for proficient and talented paediatricians is increasing and one can find lucrative job profiles in India and abroad as well. Paediatricians also take care of the physical, emotional and health of children from birth to teenage years. As such, they also work as counsellors of children and infants, advising parents on childcare to aid them in dealing with different kinds of health-related concerns.

Neurology

This field comprises the diagnosis and treatment of nervous system ailments, encompassing diseases of the brain, nerves, muscles and spinal cord. The field is separated into three sub-specialities, namely, child neurology, pain medicine and clinical neurophysiology.  A neurologist is also involved in clinical trials/research along with basic and translational research.  Since various factors affect the nervous system, to deal with this, different sub-specialities has evolved in this field such as a specialist in epilepsy, cerebrovascular medicine, stroke, movement disorders and multiple sclerosis. In India, the scope of neurology is rising since the numbers of patients with neuro disorders are increasing each day. The demand for neurologists is expanding since healthcare centres and hospitals relating to this speciality are increasing.

Oncology

This field deals with the diagnosis, assessment and treatment of cancer. There are three types of oncologists, namely, surgical, radiation, and medical oncologists who usually work together when treating cancer patients. Apart from the above three sub-specialities, others comprise gynecologic oncology, interventional oncology, paediatric oncology, and so on. Witnessing the upsurge in cancer cases, the govt. has made it compulsory for each hospital to have an oncology department. By 2020, the emerging world is likely to have 60-75 per cent of the projected 21 million cancer patients worldwide, necessitating the need for more oncologists.

Obstetrics-Gynaecology

Obstetrics is the treatment of women during pregnancy or prenatal care, whereas, gynaecology involves the health and well-being of the woman’s reproductive organs. As these two fields are closely related, the specialities are often practised together. Obstetricians/gynaecologists perform operations such as caesarian, hysteroscopy and laparoscopy. They also deal with ovarian cancer and other diseases related to the reproductive system. Obstetricians/gynaecologists also undertake an optional fellowship to sub-specialise in different areas such as reproductive endocrinology, maternal-fetal medicine, gynaecological oncology, urogynaecology, and so on. The scope for gynaecology is excellent since there is always a demand for such experts as they deal with both women's health and also aid with pregnancy and fertility.

Anesthesiology

An anesthesiologist/anaesthetists help in the surgical process making it painless for the patient. Anaesthetists are the single largest hospital medical speciality and their skills are utilised in all facets of patient care. Anesthesiologists are allied healthcare professionals who assist in the management and monitoring of anaesthesia and has an all-encompassing knowledge of anaesthesia techniques, technology, supplies, and instruments. Besides, anaesthetists have a range of practice that expands beyond anaesthesia comprising intensive care and pain management.

Otolaryngology (ENT)

This field of medicine involves diagnosis and treatment of ailments related to the head and neck. One who specialises in this field is known as an otolaryngologist and they perform surgical and medical therapy for prevention of ailments, neoplasms, allergies, disorders, sinuses, respiratory and upper alimentary systems, deformities and injuries of the nose, ears, throat, jaw, face, and other neck and head systems. Sub-specialities of this branch comprise pediatric otolaryngology, neurotology, plastic surgery within the neck and head, sleep medicine, and so on. The scope of otolaryngology practice has significantly risen in recent years. One reason is that the ailments of nose, throat, and ears have become more prevalent while ENT experts are called upon frequently to attend to birth defects and tumours.

Emergency Medicine

This is a medical speciality which equips doctors with the skills and knowledge necessary for patient care with critical healthcare requirements. It comprises planning, overseeing, and medical management for emergency medical response, disaster preparedness and medical control. Those who train in emergency medicine speciality have a lucrative career ahead of them as several institutes across the nation and overseas are in desperate need of qualified and expert emergency medical doctors

Dermatology

This branch specialises in the diagnosis and treatment of the skin, hair, scalp and nails, and the area of healthcare that focuses on diagnosing infections or other conditions in these areas.  A dermatologist also diagnoses and treats moles, melanomas, skin cancers, and tumours of the skin. The branch has been segregated into different sub-specialities comprising cosmetic dermatology, immunodermatology, dermatopathology, teledermatology, and Paediatric dermatology. There is a vast scope in dermatology presently since there is an increase in the number of skin diseases today because of the pollution and rise of toxic elements in our daily life.