Australian Medical Specialty Areas that doctors can specialise in

Written by Dr Ashe Coxon (MBBS, FRACGP, DCH, MClinEd, GC Career Dvt)

Did you know that there are > 80 areas recognised as specialties (including subspecialties) by the Medical Board of Australia?  It is no surprise then that some doctors have career indecision!  A very useful tool in navigating uncertainty is to arm yourself with knowledge of all the options you have, in particular having knowledge of the skills and attributes of the particular career. 

An incredibly useful exercise in career decision making is to consider ever single training program available and consider the skills and attributes of that profession then question if it would suit you as an individual.  If you have never considered that particular career pathway, the next step would one to find out more information about the career, shortlist it and continue the exercise. 

There are some training programs in which you need to complete the entire program start to end, and other programs in which you can pursue advanced training after completing a fellowship in another specialty (Eg Palliative Care, Addiction Medicine, Pain Medicine and Sexual health) 

There will be some training programs that require you to move locations, and others which can be done in one location. 

Some important considerations to help with your career choice is; 

• What YOUR interests are
• What you are looking for in a career
• If you have any 'non-negotiables' (Location of training, return to service requirements, income required etc) 
• What you imagine your ideal career to look like 

Below is a list of the Medical Specialties recognised by the Medical Board of Australia and if you want to know more in depth information about any of the areas, head to their corresponding college website, or register for the 'Complete guide to specialty training pathways' course on the Medical Career Planning website. 

Addiction Medicine

• Specialist in addiction medicine
  • https://www.racp.edu.au/ about/college-structure/ adult-medicine-division/ australasian-chapter-ofaddiction-medicine

Anesthesia

• Specialsit anaesthetist
  • http://www.anzca.edu.au

Dermatology

• Specialist dermatologist
  • https://www.dermcoll.edu.au

Emergency Medicine

• Specialist emergency phyician
• Specialist paediatric emergency physician
  • https://acem.org.au

General Practice

• Specialist general practitioner
  • https://www.racgp.org.au/

Intensive Care Medicine

• Specialist intensive care physician
• Specialist paediatric intensive care physician
  • https://www.cicm.org.au

Medical Administration

• Specialist medical administrator
  • https://www.racma.edu/

Obstetrics and Gynaecology

• Specialist obstetrician and gynaecologist
• Specialist gynaecological oncologist
• Specialist in maternal-fetal medicine
• Specialist in obstetrics and gynaecology ultrasound
• Specialist in reproductive endocrinology and infertility
• Specialist urogynaecologist
  • https://ranzcog.edu.au

Occupational and Environmental Medicine

• Specialist occupational and environmental physician

Opthalmology

• Specialist opthalmologist
  • https://ranzco.edu/

Paediatrics and Child Health

• Specialist paediatrician
• Specialist paediatric clinical geneticist
• Specialist in community child health
• Specialist general paediatrician
• Specialist neonatologist
• Specialist neonatologist
• Specialist paediatric clinical pharmacologist
• Specialist paediatric emergency physician
• Specialist paediatric endocrinologist
• Specialist pediatric gastroentorologist and hepatologist
• Specialist paediatric haematologist
• Specialist paediatric immunologist and allergist
• Specialist paediatric infectious disease physician
• Specialist paediatric intensive care physician
• Specialist paediatric medical oncologist
• Specialist paediatric nephrologist
• Specialist paediatric neurologist
• Specialist paediatric nuclear medicine physician
• Specialist paediatricpalliative medicine physician
• Specialist paediatric rehabilitation physician
• Specialist paediatric respiratory and sleep medicine physician
• Specialist paediatric rheumatologist
  • https://www.racp.edu.au/
  • https://www.cicm.org.au

Pain Medicine

• Specialist pain medicine physician
  • https://www.anzca.edu.au/

Palliative Medicine

• Specialist palliative medicine physician
  • https://www.racp.edu.au/

Pathology

• Specialist pathologist 
• Specialist general pathologist
• Specialist anatomical pathologist
• Specialist chemical pathologist
• Specialist haematologist
• Specialist immunologist
• Specialist in immunopathology
• Specialist microbiologist
• Specialist in forensic odontology
• Specialist forensic pathologist
• Specialist in genetic pathology
• Specialist in genetic pathology
• Specialist in oral and maxillofacial pathology
  • https://www.rcpa.edu.au/
  • https://www.racp.edu.au/

Physician

• Specialist infectious disease physician
• Specialist medical oncologist
• Specialist nephrologist
• Specialist neurologist
• Specialist nuclear medicine physician
• Specialist respiratory and sleep medicine physician
• Specialist rheumatologist
  • https://www.racp.edu.au/
  • https://www.racp.edu. au/trainees/advancedtraining/advancedtraining-programs/ nuclear-medicine

Psychiatry

• Specialist psychiatrist 
  • https://www.ranzcp.org/home

Public Health Medicine

• Specialist public health physician
  • https://www.racp.edu.au/

Radiation Oncology

• Specialist radiation oncologist
  • https://www.ranzcr.com/

Radiology

• Specialist radiologist (radiology)
• Specialist radiologist (ultrasound)
• Specialist in nuclear medicine
  • https://www.ranzcr.com/

Rehabilitation Medicine

• Specialist rehabilitation physician
  • https://www.racp.edu.au

Rural and Remote Medicine

• Specialist in rural and remote medicine
  • https://www.acrrm.org.au/

Sexual Health Medicine

• Specialist sexual health physician
  • https://www.racp.edu.au

Sports and Exercise Medicine

• Specialist sport and exercise physician
  • https://www.acsep.org.au/

Surgery

• Specialist surgeon
• Specialist cardio-thoracic surgeon
• Specialist general surgeon
• Specialsit neursurgeon
• Specialist orthopaedic surgeon
• Specialist otolaryngologist - head and neck surgeon
• Specialist oral and maxillofacial surgeon
• Specialist paediatric surgeon
• Specialist plastic surgeon
• Specialist urologist
• Specialist vascular surgeon
  • https://surgeons.org/

Arming yourself with the knowledge of career options is so useful in career planning and uncertainty! The next steps is to start to define what your interests are, what your skills are, your values and non negotiables. 

Discussing your career pathway with a career development practitioner can be so useful to help you define all of the above. Reach out at [email protected] or look at our services on our website www.medicalcareerplanning.com.au 

Happy career planning!