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Medicine is the field of study and practice that focuses on the prevention, care, and treatment of a person's mental and physical health.
The traditional form of medicine, practiced by most medical doctors in the United States, is known as "allopathic medicine". Physicians who practice this medicine hold an M.D. degree. Osteopathic medicine is another form of medicine that introduces muscular manipulation into the practice of medicine. Other than this unique aspect of treatment, the training of osteopathic doctors is similar to that of allopathic doctors. Osteopathic doctors hold a D.O. degree. Hospitals and clinics nationwide generally make little distinction between both groups and will hire physicians from either practice. Besides the titles after their names, these doctors are oftentimes indistinguishable to the patient.
Alternative or complimentary medicine has become a popular trend for people who seek relief that traditional medicine cannot provide.
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The core of scientific knowledge has advanced immensely over the past few decades. The discoveries of DNA, viruses, and novel biomedical techniques have catapulted the science of medicine. The amount of information generated is overwhelming. For AIDS/HIV research alone, thousands of journal articles are being published annually. This does not even include the related studies involving retroviruses, human defense mechanisms, and pharmacological strategies.
The Internet has also contributed to the impressive progress made in medicine. The distribution of information and collaboration among scientists greatly benefit from this tool. The global interaction among scientists during the outbreak of SARS (Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome) in 2003 illustrates how medicine and disease control has evolved.
Despite the strides in learning about new diseases and discovering treatments, there still lie many hurdles in medicine. The cure for AIDS (Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome) remains elusive to the scientific community after over twenty years. Malaria, autoimmune diseases, and Alzheimer's disease are just a few reminders of the long path ahead of us.
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The American Board of Medical Specialties (ABMS) certifies physicians in 24 principal specialties:
Allergy & Immunology, Anesthesiology, Colon & Rectal Surgery, Dermatology, Emergency Medicine, Family Practice, Internal Medicine, Medical Genetics, Neurological Surgery, Nuclear Medicine, Obstetrics & Gynecology, Ophthalmology, Orthopedic Surgery, Otolaryngology, Pathology, Pediatrics, Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation, Plastic Surgery, Preventive Medicine, Psychiatry & Neurology, Radiology, Surgery, Thoracic Surgery, and Urology.
Physicians can further pursue sub-specialty training in areas such as Cardiology, Reproductive Endocrinology, Pediatric Anesthesiology, and other advanced fields. There are also training certificates in specialized forms of medicine where there is no formal board certification.
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The scientific foundation of medicine comprises diverse disciplines that complement each other in the study of the human body: gross anatomy, histology, physiology, embryology, neuroscience, behavioral science, biochemistry, microbiology, immunology, pathology, and pharmacology.
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