If you have a health concern, you may be looking for a medical professional to discuss your symptoms. Your search will likely lead you to many different providers across various specialties. How do you know which one to visit?

Your primary care provider (PCP) can help you start. They can discuss your symptoms, order initial tests, and refer you to the right specialist for your needs.

Here’s what to know about health specialists and who you might see at your appointment.

What’s the Difference Between a Medical Specialist and a Surgical Specialist?

When you look at different specialties, you may see some that sound similar. Neurologists and neurosurgeons, for example, sound alike. While their titles sound similar, these providers perform different functions.

A medical specialist focuses on the diagnosis and treatment of medical conditions. Their work is done externally, without surgical intervention. They may use tests such as imaging or bloodwork to diagnose conditions.

But some conditions require surgery to diagnose or treat.

Surgical specialists focus on the surgical care that may be necessary to diagnose and treat health conditions. They can perform diagnostic surgeries, such as a laparoscopy. They can also conduct lifesaving procedures, such as a kidney transplant. Their work can be critical to treating serious conditions.

For example, a neurologist may diagnose a patient with a condition like epilepsy. But if the epilepsy requires surgery for treatment, the patient would be referred to a neurosurgeon for care.

This difference is just one example of how highly specialized care can make a difference for you and your patient experience.

What Do Different Medical Specialists Treat?

Find everything you need to know about different specialists, what they treat, and how to find the right provider for you.

Cardiologists

Cardiologists offer specialized care for disorders of the blood vessels and heart. If you’re experiencing chest pain, difficulty breathing, dizziness, or high blood pressure, you may need to see a cardiologist.

A cardiologist can order tests to confirm a diagnosis and work with you to create a treatment plan. They can also help you determine your risk factor for serious heart conditions, such as heart failure.

Dermatologists

If you have concerns about your skin, hair, or nails, a dermatologist can help. Dermatologists specialize in skin cancer care, cosmetic surgery, and routine skin concerns. These routine concerns include acne, sunburn, or dandruff.

Dietitians

Dietitians are specialists who focus on your nutritional needs. If you have a medical condition like celiac disease or diabetes, a dietitian can help you manage your symptoms by finding the best foods for your needs.

Dietitians can also help with eating disorder recovery, creating a balanced diet for athletes, and weight management.

Otolaryngologists (ear, nose, and throat specialists)

Having trouble keeping your balance? Do you have frequent sore throats or ear infections? An otolaryngologist (also known as an ear, nose, and throat specialist) can help diagnose and treat your concerns.

Ear, nose, and throat specialists can help treat a wide range of conditions, including facial pain, hearing loss, or suspected allergies that affect your breathing.

Endocrinologists

Your endocrine system contains glands that make hormones and release them in your blood. These hormones affect almost every cell and organ in your body. Because of that, they also support many of the body's processes. They help us break down food, burn energy, and manage our mood.

If you have concerns about your body's function, you may need to see an endocrinologist. Endocrinologists specifically treat diabetes, thyroid disorders, and obesity, among other conditions. They can also treat specific cancers related to the endocrine system.

Gastroenterologists

If you have digestive health concerns, you may need to see a gastroenterologist. They focus on conditions that affect your gastrointestinal tract and digestive function.

Gastroenterologists diagnose and treat conditions that affect your esophagus, colon, stomach, and intestines. These might include frequent heartburn, stomach pain, or changes to your bowel movements. You can work with a gastroenterologist to assess your concerns and make lifestyle changes. They can also prescribe medications to manage your symptoms.

Hepatologists

A hepatologist is a doctor who treats liver diseases and provides long-term care for your liver. If you have a chronic, genetic, or autoimmune liver condition, a hepatologist can help diagnose and treat it.

Immunologists

Your immune system protects you from foreign bodies like allergens, bacteria, and viruses. If your immune system doesn't function properly, you may experience allergies or get sick more often.

Immunologists diagnose and treat disorders of your immune system. These conditions might be genetic, or they may be the result of an infection that reduced your immune system's ability to fight against outside factors. Immunologists can conduct testing and design a treatment plan to help improve your immune function.

Internal medicine doctors

Internal medicine doctors, also called internists, provide care for a range of conditions. Internal medicine doctors are often primary care providers who have training in another area of care. For example, they may specialize in blood disorders; kidney, heart, or lung health; or hormone issues.

These providers typically only see adults. You may want to see an internist if:

  • You have a chronic health issue that requires yearly monitoring.

  • You have consistent health concerns that you’d like to discuss.

Maternal-fetal medicine specialists

If you have a high-risk pregnancy, you may need extra support from a maternal-fetal medicine specialist. These specialists are obstetricians with extra training to manage difficulties in pregnancy. They're also known as perinatologists.

Maternal-fetal medicine doctors complete a four-year residency in obstetrics and gynecology and a three-year fellowship in perinatology. This additional training focuses on pregnancy complications and diseases that affect both the mother and the baby.

You may see a maternal-fetal medicine provider from the start of your pregnancy if you already have a high-risk condition. You may also get referred to one if problems, like pregnancy-induced high blood pressure, develop later in your pregnancy.

Mental health specialists

Your mental health is as important as your physical health. Mental health specialists can help with a broad range of mental health conditions.

These specialists cover a range of mental health needs. Psychiatrists can diagnose and provide medication for mental health conditions. Psychologists, therapists, and social workers can provide therapeutic approaches to treat many mental health conditions, such as anxiety, depression, and mood disorders.

The specialist you see will depend on your condition, your needs, and your treatment goals. Your PCP can help refer you to the right professional to get started.

Nephrologists 

Nephrologists are kidney specialists. They treat kidney disease, manage dialysis care, and provide treatment before and after kidney transplant.

These specialists treat the full range of kidney diseases to help improve your well-being.

Neurologists

You may have thought that neurologists only treat brain conditions. However, neurologists specialize in conditions that affect your entire nervous system. This includes the brain, spine, and nerves.

If you have concerns about your memory, experience a brain injury or stroke, or worry about a movement disorder, you may need to see a neurologist.

Neurosurgeons

Like neurologists, neurosurgeons specialize in conditions that affect your nervous system. Neurosurgeons, however, use surgical interventions to diagnose or treat neurologic conditions.

Using innovative treatments, neurosurgeons treat the full scope of brain, skull base, and spine disorders. These conditions may include aneurysms, scoliosis, or tumors.

Obstetrician-gynecologists

Obstetrician-gynecologists, also known as ob-gyns, are doctors who prevent, diagnose, and treat health problems involving the female reproductive system.

Ob-gyns can provide cancer screenings, help with family planning, and diagnose and treat gynecological problems. A gynecologist specialist cares for women's health issues other than pregnancy. A gynecologist diagnoses and treats problems involving the vagina, uterus, fallopian tubes, and ovaries. They also treat many hormone-related issues.

An obstetrician, or ob for short, is someone who cares for people during pregnancy, birth, and during the postpartum period.

Oncologists

Oncologists specialize in the diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of cancer. If you are at risk for cancer, if you have cancer, or if you've had cancer in the past, you'll visit an oncologist for your care.

Ophthalmologists

If you have concerns about your vision, you may need to see an ophthalmologist.

While optometrists help with routine vision needs, ophthalmologists specialize in complex eye conditions. These conditions may include macular degeneration, glaucoma, or cataracts. They can also treat conditions that affect the eye muscles, including crossed eyes (also known as strabismus) and Bell's palsy.

Orthopaedic specialists

Orthopaedic specialists diagnose and treat bone, joint, and muscle conditions. This can include traumatic injuries, scoliosis, and arthritis pain. They also treat cancers of the musculoskeletal system.

An orthopaedic specialist may be the right provider for you if you have joint pain. If you have an injury that affects your range of motion, an orthopaedic specialist can help you recover.

Pathologists

If your doctor needs more information about your health, they'll order tests. Pathologists conduct and read tests on tissues, blood, and other bodily fluids to interpret the results.

Pathologists will work with your provider to fill in the blanks of your condition. They perform blood and lab tests, including tissue and cell samples, to find changes that cause or indicate disease.

They conduct the tests, provide results, and make diagnoses. They'll then provide your doctor with a detailed report and diagnosis to help in the treatment of your condition.

Because of pathologists, you and your doctor will have more information to help you understand and improve your condition.

Podiatrists

Podiatrists diagnose and treat foot and ankle problems. They cover everything from the muscles, bones, and tendons to the ligaments, nerves, and skin.

If you have a suspected ankle sprain, nerve pain in your feet, or concerns such as bunions or warts, a podiatrist can help.

Pulmonologists

If you have trouble breathing, or signs of sleep apnea, you may need to visit a pulmonologist. These specialists diagnose and treat diseases and conditions that affect the lungs.

Your lungs serve a critical role in your well-being. Your pulmonary function is vital to feeling your best. If you experience seasonal allergies, have symptoms of asthma, or show signs of a sleep disorder like sleep apnea, a pulmonologist can help. They can also help treat pulmonary disruptions caused by other diseases, such as cystic fibrosis or rheumatoid arthritis.

Radiologists

Radiologists use imaging services to screen for and diagnose a range of conditions that cannot be seen externally. Examples include x-rays, MRIs, CT scans, and ultrasounds.

Radiology is vital to detecting and diagnosing many serious illnesses, such as cancer, cardiac conditions, and bone disorders.

Your PCP or another specialist may order imaging to help in their diagnosis and treatment of your condition. Radiologists will conduct the imaging and evaluate the results for your doctor. This collaboration is just one example of different specialists working together to improve your care.

Rehabilitation specialists

Rehabilitation specialists cover a range of specialties and conditions. These specialists include physical therapists, occupational therapists, and speech language pathologists, among others. If you have an injury or an illness, you may need rehabilitation services to get back to your full function.

These specialists can treat chronic conditions, such as arthritis, nerve disorders, and inflammation. They can also help if you experience an injury, such as a concussion or a broken bone.

If you have concerns about your balance, have frequent pain, or have a limited range of motion, you may need to visit a rehabilitation specialist. They can help assess your function, build a treatment plan, and give you the resources you need to improve your quality of life.

Rheumatologists

If you're experiencing unexplained joint pain, swelling, or instability, you may need to visit a rheumatologist. Rheumatologists diagnose and treat rheumatic diseases, which affect your joints and autoimmune system. These diseases include lupus, rheumatoid arthritis, and gout.

Urologists

Urologists diagnose and treat diseases of the male and female urinary tract and the male reproductive organs. These conditions may include kidney stones, bladder infections, and urinary tract infections.

Urologists can also help with conditions affecting men's sexual and reproductive health. They can also diagnose and treat prostate and urologic cancers in both men and women.

How Do I Find a UPMC Specialist?

UPMC has specialists to meet many different medical needs. You can browse UPMC's broad range of clinical services to connect with a provider. Or you can talk to your PCP about any health questions at your next appointment. They can help refer you to a provider and help you get started with specialized care.