Board Certified Specialty Definitions

Allergy Immunology

Medical practice concerned with allergies.

Anesthesiology

The practice of medicine dealing with the relief and prevention of pain during and following surgical, obstetric, therapeutic and diagnostic procedures.

Cardiovascular

Branch of medicine relating to or involving the heart and blood vessels.

Colon and Rectal

Medical and surgical management of diseases of the intestinal tract, colon and rectum, anal canal, and perianal area.

Dentistry

The prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of diseases, injuries, and malformations of the teeth, jaws and mouth.

Dermatology

A branch of science dealing with the skin, its structure, functions and diseases.

Emergency Medicine

A medical specialty concerned with the care and treatment of acutely ill or injured patients who need immediate medical attention.

Endocrinology

The study of the glands and hormones of the body and their related disorders.

Family Medicine

A medical practice or specialty which provides continuing general medical care for the individual and family.

Gastroenterology

A branch of medicine concerned with the structure, functions, diseases, and pathology of the stomach and intestines.

General Surgery

A surgical specialty that focuses on surgical treatment of abdominal organs, e.g. intestines, including esophagus, stomach, colon, liver, gallbladder and bile ducts and often the thyroid gland and hernias.

Gerontology

The comprehensive study of aging and the problems of the aged.

Gynecology

A branch of medicine that deals with the diseases and routine physical care of the reproductive system of women.

Internal Medicine

The branch of medicine that deals with the diagnosis and treatment of nonsurgical diseases.

Neurology

A branch of medicine concerned especially with the structure, functions, and diseases of the nervous system.

Neurosurgery

Surgery of nervous structures (nerves, the brain or the spinal cord).

Oncology

The branch of medicine dealing with the physical, chemical and biological properties of tumors, including study of their development, diagnosis, treatment and prevention.

Ophthalmology

A branch of medical science dealing with the structure, functions and diseases of the eye.

Oral & Maxillofacial

Surgical specialists of dentistry who treat conditions, defects, injuries and esthetic aspects of the mouth, teeth and face.

Orthopedic Surgery

The branch of surgery that deals with the correction of injuries or disorders of the skeletal system and associated muscles, joints and ligaments.

Osteopathy

A system of medical practice based on a theory that diseases are due chiefly to loss of structural integrity which can be restored by manipulation of the parts supplemented by therapeutic measures.

Otolaryngology

A medical specialty concerned especially with the ear, nose and throat.

Pathology

The study of the essential nature of diseases and especially of the structural and functional changes produced by them.

Pediatrics

A branch of medicine dealing with the development, care and diseases of children.

Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation

A medical specialty concerned with diagnosis, evaluation, and management of persons of all ages with physical and/or cognitive impairment and disability.

Plastic Surgery

A branch of surgery concerned with the repair, restoration, or improvement of lost, injured, defective or misshapen parts of the body chiefly by transfer of tissue.

Podiatry

The medical care and treatment of the human foot.

Preventive Medicine

A branch of medical science dealing with methods (as vaccination) of preventing the occurrence of disease.

Psychiatry

A branch of medicine that deals with the science and practice of treating mental, emotional, or behavioral disorders.

Pulmonary

Relating to, functioning like, associated with or carried on by the lungs.

Radiology

A branch of medicine concerned with the use of radiant energy (as x-rays or ultrasound) in the diagnosis and treatment of disease.

Rheumatology

The branch of medicine dealing with the study and treatment of pathologies of the muscles or tendons or joints.

Thoracic

Relating to, located within, or involving the thorax (the part of the mammalian body that is situated between the neck and the abdomen and supported by the ribs, costal cartilages and sternum).

Urology

A branch of medicine dealing with the urinary or urogenital organs.

Vascular

Relating to or containing vessels that carry or circulate fluids, such as blood or lymph.