Specialty Definitions
Click any link below to get a directory listing of all related physicians on the medical staff in the Texas Health Resources family of facilities.
Note: Physician specialty definitions are provided for reference only. Please check with the physician(s) directly to verify accuracy of the related information.
A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H | I | J | K | L | M
N | O | P | Q | R | S | T | U | V | X | W | Y | Z
Adolescent Medicine
A branch of medicine that deals with the unique health care problems of adolescents and teenagers.
Aerospace Medicine
A branch of medicine that focuses on the prevention and treatment of diseases and injuries occurring in relationship with air and space travel.
Allergy and Immunology
Allergy is the branch of medicine that involves the diagnosis and treatment of sensitivities to substances of environmental elements.
Immunology is the branch of medicine that deals with resistance to or protection from disease.
Anesthesiology
A branch of medicine that deals with monitoring and lessening pain before, during and after surgery.
Bariatric Surgery
Bariatric surgery, or weight-loss surgery, is performed on the stomach and intestine of significantly obese individuals for the purpose of losing weight.
Breast Surgery
Surgery that focuses on conditions of the breast, such as breast cancer.
Cardiology
A branch of medicine dedicated to study of the functions and diseases of the heart. Cardiologists are specially trained to diagnose and treat heart conditions.
Cardiovascular and Thoracic Surgery
Surgery that involves organs within the chest cavity including the heart, lungs, esophagus and major blood vessels.
Colon & Rectal Surgery
Surgery that focuses on the lower intestinal tract.
Critical Care
A branch of medicine that focuses on treatment of life threatening disorders in a hospital setting.
Dentistry
Dentistry focuses on diagnosis and treatment of diseases affecting the teeth and gums.
Dermapathology
A branch of medicine that diagnoses and monitors diseases of the skin.
Dermatology
A branch of medicine concerned with diagnosis and treatment of diseases and disorders of the skin.
Diagnostic Radiology
A branch of medicine that uses X-ray, ultrasound or electromagnetic radiation for diagnosis and treatment of disease.
Electrophysiology
A branch of cardiology that uses technical procedures to evaluate and treat heart rhythms.
Emergency Medicine
A branch of medicine concerned with resuscitation, transportation and care of patients from point of injury or onset of illness through hospitalization or treatment at another emergency facility.
Endocrinology
Scientific study of the function and pathology of human glands, which include the thyroid, pituitary, pancreas, ovaries and testes.
Family Medicine
A branch of medicine concerned with comprehensive primary health care for the entire family.
Gastroenterology
The diagnosis and treatment of disease and disorders affecting the stomach, intestines and associated organs.
Geriatrics
A branch of medicine practiced by a family physician or doctor of internal medicine who focuses on the aging process and the diagnostic, therapeutic, preventative and rehabilitative aspects of illness in the elderly.
Gynecologic Oncology
A branch of gynecology that focuses on study and treatment of cancers associated with the female reproductive system.
Gynecology
A branch of medicine that involves the diagnosis and treatment of disorders affecting the female reproductive organs.
Hand Surgery
Surgery that focuses on treatment of diseases and injuries of the hand and wrist.
Hematology/Oncology
A branch of medicine that focuses on the diagnosis and treatment of numerous blood disorders, including cancer, anemia, leukemia and Hodgkin's disease, and the diagnosis and treatment of benign and malignant cancers and tumors.
Hematology
A branch of medicine that focuses on the diagnosis and treatment of numerous blood disorders, including cancer, anemia, leukemia and Hodgkin's disease.
Hospitalist
A branch of medicine whose primary professional focus is the general medical care of hospitalized patients.
Hyperbaric Medicine
A branch of medicine that uses the administration of oxygen in a special pressurized, airtight chamber to treat carbon monoxide poisoning, burns and nonhealing wounds.
Infectious Disease
A branch of medicine that concentrates on diagnosing and treating diseases that can spread from person to person through direct contact or other means.
Infertility
A branch of obstetrics and gynecology devoted to the diagnosis and treatment of infertility.
Internal Medicine
A branch of medicine that concentrates on the diagnosis and nonsurgical treatment of diseases affecting the internal organs of the body in adults and adolescents.
Interventional Cardiology
A branch of cardiology that focuses on the use of specialized imaging and diagnostic techniques to evaluate blood flow and pressure in the coronary arteries and heart.
Maternal/Fetal Medicine
A branch of obstetrics that provides diagnosis and treatment of patients with complications involving pregnancy.
Neonatal-Perinatal Medicine
A branch of obstetrics that deals with medical and surgical complications of pregnant women, unborn babies and premature babies.
Neonatology
A branch of pediatrics that involves the diagnosis and treatment of disorders affecting premature newborn infants.
Nephrology
A branch of medicine that specializes in the diagnosis and treatment of kidney diseases and disorders.
Neurodevelopmental Disabilities
A branch of medicine that concentrates on early identification, diagnosis and treatment of developmental delays or learning disorders, including visual and hearing impairment and chronic neurologic conditions.
Neurology
A branch of medicine that treats diseases of the nervous system.
Neurosurgery
A surgical specialty that deals with treatment of diseases and disorders of the brain, spinal cord and peripheral and sympathetic nervous system.
Nuclear Medicine
A branch of medicine that provides diagnosis and treatment of disorders and diseases with the use of radioactive materials and specialized equipment.
OB/GYN (Obstetrics/Gynecology)
A branch of medicine dealing with the care of women during pregnancy, childbirth and the period in which they recover from childbirth.
Occupational Medicine
A branch of medicine that focuses on the prevention and treatment of diseases and injuries occurring at work or in specific occupations.
Oncology
A branch of medicine that deals with cancer.
Ophthalmology
A branch of medicine that deals with diseases and disorders of the eye.
Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery
A branch of dentistry dealing with the diagnosis, surgical and adjunctive treatment of diseases and injuries of the mouth, facial bones and jaw.
Orofacial Pain
A branch of medicine that deals with the diagnosis and treatment of orofacial (face and mouth) pain and temporomandibular (the joint connecting the temple of the skull and the jaw) disorders.
Orthopedics (Orthopedic Surgery)
A branch of medicine that deals with the use of surgery to remedy disorders in joints, muscles, tendons, ligaments, cartilage and related structures.
Orthopedic Oncology
A branch of medicine that deals with the diagnosis and treatment of tumors and cancers of the bone and associated structures.
Otolaryngology
A branch of medicine that deals with diagnosis and treatment of disorders and diseases of the ear, nose and throat (ENT).
Otorhinolaryngology (ear, nose, throat)
See Otolaryngology.
Pain Management
A branch of anesthesiology that deals with the management of chronic pain through invasive techniques.
Pathology/Anatomic & Clinical
A branch of medicine that studies the nature and of disease and its causes, processes, development and consequences on the body.
Pathology
A branch of medicine that studies the nature of disease and its causes, processes, development and consequences on the body.
Pediatric Allergy & Immunology
A branch of medicine that focuses on the diagnosis and treatment of children with allergic conditions and diseases of the immune system.
Pediatric Cardiology
A branch of medicine that deals with study of the structure, function and diseases of the heart affecting children.
Pediatric Dentistry
A branch of dentistry that focuses on the care of children's teeth.
Pediatric Endocrinology
A branch of medicine concerned with function and pathology of the endocrine glands in children, including the thyroid, pituitary, pancreas, ovaries and testes.
Pediatric Gastroenterology
A branch of medicine that deals with diagnosis and treatment of children's diseases and disorders affecting the stomach, intestines and associated organs.
Pediatric Hematology/Oncology
A branch of medicine that involves the diagnosis and treatment of blood disorders in children, including cancer and leukemia.
Pediatric Infectious Disease
A branch of medicine that concentrates on the diagnosis and treatment of diseases in children that can spread from person to person through direct contact or other means.
Pediatric Nephrology
A branch of medicine that specializes in the diagnosis and treatment of kidney diseases and disorders in children.
Pediatric Neurology
A branch of medicine that involves the diagnosis and treatment of nervous system diseases afflicting children.
Pediatric Ophthalmology
A branch of medicine that focuses on children's vision care, including diagnosis and treatment of eye diseases and disorders.
Pediatric Pulmonology
A branch of medicine pertaining to children's lungs.
Pediatric Surgery
A branch of medicine dealing with the treatment of children's diseases, injuries and deformities by means of surgical operations.
Pediatric Urology
A branch of medicine that focuses on childhood disorders of the male and female urinary tracts, as well as the male reproductive system and genitals.
Pediatrics
A branch of medicine that deals with the health, growth and development of infants, children and adolescents.
Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation
A branch of medicine concerned with the use of physical agents, mechanical apparatus and manipulation in rehabilitating physically diseased or injured patients.
Plastic Surgery
A field of surgery that seeks to reduce scarring or disfigurement that may occur as a result of accidents, birth defects or treatment for diseases.
Podiatry
A branch of medicine that deals with diagnosis and treatment of disorders affecting the foot.
Psychiatry
A branch of medicine that deals with diagnosis, treatment and prevention of mental illness.
Pulmonary Disease
A branch of medicine pertaining to the lungs.
Radiation Oncology
A branch of medicine that uses radiation (X-ray) to study and manage disease and cancer.
Reproductive Endocrinology
A branch of obstetrics and gynecology devoted to infertility and complex female reproductive hormonal management.
Rheumatology
A branch of medicine dedicated to diagnosis and management of diseases that involve joints, tendons, muscles and ligaments. Rheumatologists, for example, treat patients with arthritis.
Sleep Medicine
A branch of medicine dedicated to the diagnosis and treatment of sleep disorders and daytime alertness.
Spine Surgery
A branch of medicine that focuses on medical and surgical treatment of the spine.
Sports Medicine
A branch of medicine that deals with the diagnosis and treatment of sports injuries.
Surgery
A branch of medicine that utilizes surgery to treat disease, injury or deformity.
Urology
A branch of medicine that deals with diagnosis and treatment of diseases affecting the urinary tract and urogenital system.
Vascular Surgery
A branch of medicine that utilizes surgery to diagnose and treat diseases of the blood vessels.
Wound Care
A branch of medicine that deals with treatment of patients with chronic nonhealing wounds usually due to diabetes, venus disease, arterial disease or pressure ulcers.
Sources: The American Board of Medical Specialties, American Medical Association Specialty Definitions, Society of Hospital Medicine, Taber's Cyclopedic Medical Dictionary 18th Edition.
Note: Physician information is provided for reference only. Please check with the physician(s) directly to verify accuracy of the information provided. Follow this link to verify a physician's status with the American Board of Medical Specialties.
For more information, contact the Texas Health Resources Call Center toll-free at 1-877-THR-WELL (1-877-847-9355).