Internal Medicine Residency Specialties

Written by: Sara Loch

After graduating medical school, a doctor’s training continues with a residency.  Residents get hands-on training, often caring for their own patients under the direct supervision of a board-certified doctor.  Different types of residencies prepare participants for different medical specializations.  Those who would like to focus on treatment, diagnosis, and prevention of adult diseases will often do an internal medicine residency.  This can help to prepare residents to become general practitioners, or they can choose an internal medicine subspecialty.  Internal medicine residency Baltimore subspecialties include cardiology, gastroenterology, dermatology, and endocrinology.  

You can learn about applying for an internal medicine residency program Baltimore at http://medstarhealth.org/education/affiliated-hospitals-2/medstar-union-memorial-hospital/internal-medicine-residency.

Common internal medicine residency Baltimore sub-specialties

Cardiology is defined as the branch of medicine that deals with diseases and abnormalities of the heart.  This encompasses a broad spectrum of conditions, and cardiologists require further, specialized training after their internal medicine residency Baltimore.  Heart disease is one of our country’s most serious health problems, and according to the American Heart Association, is the leading cause of death.  Those who specialize in cardiology will spend their internal medicine residency Baltimore and other training learning not only how to treat heart disease, but also how to help prevent it.

Gastroenterology specializes in the gastrointestinal tract and liver.  The gastrointestinal tract is responsible for digestion, absorbing nutrients, and expelling waste.  Those who specialize in gastroenterology after their internal medicine residency program Baltimore will have to be expertly familiar with many organs, including: the stomach, small intestine, large intestine, and every structure between the mouth and the anus.

Dermatology is the study of skin conditions and diseases.  Your skin is your largest organ, and because it is exposed to the environment it is vulnerable to growths, rashes, cysts, burns, injuries, infections, and other disorders.  A dermatologist might choose to start with an internal medicine residency Baltimore, but they will also need intensive residency training in dermatology.

An endocrinologist specializes in the treatment of hormonal conditions.  Your body uses hormones to control metabolism, energy levels, reproduction, growth, development, and response to injury and stress.  In medical practice, endocrinology is often linked with the study of diabetes and metabolism, or with the study of reproductive medicine and infertility.