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Revision as of 02:00, 11 February 2025
Internal medicine is a medical specialty dedicated to the diagnosis and medical treatment of adults. A physician who specializes in internal medicine is referred to as an internist. Subspecialties of internal medicine include allergy and immunology, cardiology, endocrinology, gastroenterology, hematology, infectious disease, nephrology, oncology, rheumatology, and pulmonology.
Overview
Internal medicine physicians, or internists, are specialists who apply scientific knowledge and clinical expertise to the diagnosis, treatment, and compassionate care of adults across the spectrum from health to complex illness. They are especially well trained in the diagnosis of puzzling medical problems, in the ongoing care of chronic illnesses, and in caring for patients with more than one disease. Internists also specialize in health promotion and disease prevention.
Training
After medical school, an internist completes a residency in internal medicine, which typically lasts three years. After residency, internists may choose to subspecialize in a narrower field of internal medicine, which requires additional fellowship training.
Subspecialties
There are many subspecialties in internal medicine:
- Allergy and Immunology: This subspecialty focuses on the diagnosis and treatment of immune system disorders such as allergies, asthma, and autoimmune diseases.
- Cardiology: This subspecialty focuses on diseases of the heart and blood vessels.
- Endocrinology: This subspecialty focuses on diseases of the endocrine glands, which regulate hormones.
- Gastroenterology: This subspecialty focuses on diseases of the digestive system.
- Hematology: This subspecialty focuses on diseases of the blood, spleen, and lymph nodes.
- Infectious Disease: This subspecialty focuses on diagnosing and managing infections.
- Nephrology: This subspecialty focuses on kidney diseases.
- Oncology: This subspecialty focuses on the diagnosis and treatment of cancer.
- Rheumatology: This subspecialty focuses on diseases of the joints, muscles, and bones.
- Pulmonology: This subspecialty focuses on diseases of the lungs and respiratory tract.
