medical specialty with most problem solving

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Healthcare Insights

Top 20 medical specialties ranked by percent of total specialty physicians

Published Sep 15th, 2023

Life sciences companies rely on partnerships with key opinion leaders (KOLs) to inform the development and usage of their products . KOLs are well-respected external experts and influencers with proven experience in a specific therapy area.  A category of healthcare KOLs are specialty physicians who have experience on the management of specific conditions and systems of the body. Examples of specialty physicians include oncologists, cardiologists, neurologists, and more.  These highly skilled experts can greatly benefit pharma and medical device companies by helping to inform clinical trials , access target audiences , and grow patient market share for a brand or medical device.  to inform the development and usage of their products . KOLs are well-respected external experts and influencers with proven experience in a specific therapy area.  A category of healthcare KOLs are specialty physicians who have experience in the management of specific conditions and systems of the body. Examples of specialty physicians include oncologists, cardiologists, neurologists, and more.  These highly skilled experts can greatly benefit pharma and medical device companies by helping to inform clinical trials , access target audiences , and grow patient market share for a brand or medical device.

We analyzed more than 15 million external expert profiles tracked in Definitive Healthcare’s Monocl ExpertInsight to rank the top 20 medical specialties with the highest percentage of specialty physicians.

The table below lists the top medical specialties by the highest percentage of specialty physicians.

Fig. 1. Data is from the Definitive Healthcare Monocl ExpertInsight product, the Atlas Dataset and sources from publicly available databases, and proprietary research.  Only the top 20 medical specialties with the highest percentages of specialty physicians are included.

What are the top medical specialties?

Pediatricians and surgeons both tie for the top 2 top medical specialties at 13.8%.

The U.S. child population in 2023 is 73.6 million , which comprises 22% of the total population in the U.S.  With so many children in the country, pediatricians are likely to remain a top medical specialty for years to come.   And with more than a third of all surgeries performed on people age 65 and older, it’s no surprise that surgeons rank near the top of the list.

Psychiatrists rank the third highest in our list coming in at 8.3%.  While the Covid pandemic may be subsiding for now, its effect on mental health remains substantial and may continue for years to come.  In fact, at the height of the pandemic, 40% of adults reported symptoms of anxiety or depression.

Learn more

Healthcare Insights are developed with healthcare commercial intelligence from the Definitive Healthcare Monocl Expert Insight platform.  Want even more insights?  Start a free trial now and get access to the latest healthcare commercial intelligence on industry experts.

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Future Trends Help You Choose The Most Fitting Medical Specialty

Artificial intelligence, wearable sensors, virtual reality, medical robots, social media and the like – in a couple of years, disruptive technologies will completely change the way patients and doctors think and act about healthcare. A cultural transformation of how disruptive technologies that provide digital and objective data accessible to both caregivers and patients leads to an equal level of doctor-patient relationship with shared decision-making and the democratisation of care. Unlike before, digital technologies, social media, wearables, and trackers provide medical data and knowledge to many more stakeholders in healthcare beyond doctors. As patients have access to online medical information sources, patient communities on social media, wearables and health sensors providing medical data, they could present more questions and more knowledge related to their own health. The patient might assume a more “mature” position, while the doctor might become a guide in the jungle of digital health instead of being a declaratory reference point. Currently, and in the future more than ever, physicians should team up with technology to provide their best performance and the most efficient care to their patients.

As technology provides more and more responses to numerous medical questions that were answered by medical professionals before, personal patient-doctor communication will become less frequent and more valuable. Also, neither artificial intelligence nor virtual reality or health trackers will be able to solve complex cases, so in general, creativity and problem solving will become skills to nurture and look for in the future generation of medical professionals. As the landscape of medicine is as diverse as the metabolic composition of the human body, technological change affects the various medical specialties differently. The illustration shows that medical specialities that rely heavily on medical imaging and laboratories, will be significantly influenced by the digital health revolution including radiology, pathology – and other non-diagnostic fields, such as nephrology, rheumatology, haematology and dermatology. Chatbots could even become the first line of primary care – meaning that patients might only get a doctor’s appointment if the A.I.-based chatbot could not offer sufficient medical help. Moreover, artificial intelligence-based predictive algorithms could help epidemiologists better fight disease outbreaks, gene therapies, and digital contact lenses make eye care more efficient, virtual reality, exoskeletons or exercising machines could shorten rehabilitation time or alleviate pain. Certain medical fields will most likely experience a different effect of digital health technologies.

All specialities where human factors such as empathy and caring attention are the core of the practice, high levels of creativity and problem solving, and quick decision-making abilities will override any technological solution in the majority of cases. Regarding emergency medicine, portable diagnostic devices or medical drones can significantly reduce the time until a patient receives a proper diagnosis or specific treatment, but the ambulance crew will always remain indispensable on the spot. As the technological revolution has a different impact on every medical specialty, the necessary skill-set for successfully picking up the ins and outs of a healthcare field also widely varies. However, we could discern some general skills and principles based on the requirements of the digital age and technologically boosted healthcare. For decades, the medical community has left the single most important player out of every major decision regarding healthcare: the patient. Medical students and doctors should understand and embrace the idea once and for all that the patient is at the centre of our universe. Patient design should be the mantra of medical students, but physicians should also remind themselves from time to time – as it is still not as axiomatic as tourists around La Tour Eiffel.

Medical students, physicians, nurses and other medical professionals should try health apps, fitness trackers, and wearables themselves to be able to recommend those to patients. Besides, if they familiarise themselves with fitness and health technology, it will also get a lot easier to understand their patients’ concerns and questions about them, while they will realise that the recommendations are not just the results of pharmaceutical or other medical company sales representatives’ successful sales tactics. Knowing how to search for, find and assess information; assessing the quality of medical websites; knowing how to work with empowered patients should all be essential skills for physicians of the near future. Patients submit their cases to the site, and medical students, retired doctors, nurses or even laypeople offer their potential diagnoses. On top of that, interconnectedness and access to quality medical information by the patient communities can provide knowledge pockets that find their way to the literature years later.

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The Most Difficult Residency Specialties to Match Into & Why They’re So Competitive

Alina Khil, MD

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Introduction: Unveiling the Most Difficult Residency Specialties to Match Into

Choosing a medical specialty is a challenging task, especially when it comes to the most difficult residency specialties. These specialties stand out not only for their intense competition but also for the rigorous demands they place on aspiring doctors. With a limited number of residency positions available, some specialties have garnered a reputation for being highly competitive. In this blog post, we will delve into the factors that make these specialties the most difficult to pursue, including the lifestyle sacrifices, the high level of compensation, and the unwavering passion required to succeed. Whether you’re contemplating your career path or simply curious about these challenging specialties, join us as we explore what makes them the most difficult residency specialties.

Don’t forget to check out some of our other residency resources , such as our residency application timeline .

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The Competitiveness of the Most Difficult Residency Specialties to Match

In the realm of medical specialties, certain fields stand out as the most challenging to secure a residency position. These highly sought-after specialties, including Cardiac and Thoracic Surgery, Vascular Surgery, Dermatology, General Surgery, Neurosurgery, Orthopedic Surgery, Ophthalmology, Otolaryngology, Plastic Surgery, Urology, Radiation Oncology, and Interventional Radiology, consistently attract a significantly higher number of applicants than available slots. What drives the intense competition for these specialties? Let’s delve into the factors that make them so highly desired, unveiling the allure that sets them apart.

Intriguing Factors Fueling the Competitiveness of the Most Difficult Residency Specialties

When medical students choose their specialties, they carefully consider various aspects that define their career path. Among these, lifestyle, compensation, and passion for the specialty emerge as crucial elements, highly sought after by aspiring residents.

Active Lifestyles and Work-Life Balance

Many of the specialties on the aforementioned list offer an active lifestyle, allowing residents to strike a healthy work-life balance. A desirable lifestyle, subjective in nature, often translates to fewer work hours, enabling more time for personal commitments, socializing with loved ones, and engaging in leisure activities. For applicants who value time outside of work, a specialty that offers ample personal time while still ensuring reasonable compensation becomes an attractive choice.

Lucrative Financial Compensation

Competitive specialties are also known for their high compensation rates. After investing significant time and financial resources into their medical education, students may seek specialties that provide appropriate financial rewards. Many aspiring doctors carry substantial loans, and a higher income from their chosen specialty eases the burden of repayment. Considering the sacrifices made to become a physician, it’s only natural to aspire for appropriate financial compensation.

Passion and Interest in Matching Into Difficult Specialties

Interest and passion play a significant role in the competitiveness of certain specialties. Despite some specialties, like neurosurgery and CT surgery, not offering a desirable lifestyle, they remain highly sought after due to the strong interest expressed by many applicants. Surgical specialties, in particular, offer a unique appeal by being procedure-based. The opportunity to engage in hands-on procedures can make these specialties more captivating and appealing to passionate individuals.

While these most difficult residency specialties share desirable factors, each field possesses distinctive characteristics that attract a high number of applicants. By understanding the driving forces behind the competitiveness of these specialties, we gain valuable insights into the choices made by aspiring medical professionals. Let’s explore these specialties one by one.

Exploring the Most Difficult Residency Specialties to Match Into

Cardiac and thoracic surgery.

There is something about the heart. Cardiac and thoracic surgery involves long and complicated cases, but there is nothing like holding a beating heart in your hand. And certainly nothing like restarting the heart again. Furthermore, by treating some of the sickest patients, this specialty really allows a surgeon to save lives in a matter of one procedure. Though this is a demanding specialty in terms of work hours, it is one of the few specialties that offer such an adrenaline rush. Considering that a lot of medical students were driven to become doctors based on the desire to save lives, it is not surprising that this desire influences their choice of specialty. Passion is one of the main reasons behind what makes this one of the most difficult residency specialties to match into.

Vascular Surgery

For those medical students looking for diversity in their daily surgical work life, vascular surgery is an excellent choice. Vascular surgeons operate on every blood vessel in the body besides the heart and brain. So, as you can imagine, each day will likely be different. Procedures range from elective vein treatments to emergency aortic aneurysm rupture repairs. This specialty also provides the desired patient continuity, unlike most other surgical specialties. Often, vascular patients have many diseased blood vessels and require close follow-ups with their surgeon for many years. Additionally, patients sometimes undergo multiple surgeries, such as those bypasses that can save one’s leg.

Dermatology

Besides an excellent lifestyle and work-life balance, and high financial compensation, dermatology allows for both medical and procedural aspects. This is appealing for medical students who desire a mostly clinic-based practice while also being able to perform short, detail-oriented procedures. It is also known that dermatologists spend less time on paperwork and administrative tasks compared to other physicians. Oftentimes, the morbidity and mortality rates for dermatology patients are low. Few specialties can compare to what dermatology offers.

General Surgery

General surgery has become one of the most competitive specialties in recent years. Its appeal lies in the wide range of diseases and organs treated. A residency in general surgery encompasses training in abdominal, cardiac, thoracic, vascular, hepatobiliary, transplant, breast, endocrine, colorectal, and minimally invasive surgeries. From complex exploratory procedures to quick laparoscopic cholecystectomies, cases vary greatly.

As a general surgeon, you receive training not only in surgery but also in medicine. Surgical services manage their patients comprehensively, including conditions like diabetes and hypertension during hospitalization. General surgery residents also gain experience in caring for critically ill patients. Although surgical residency is challenging, sub-specializations such as breast, endocrine, hepatobiliary, colorectal, and minimally invasive surgery offer a more balanced lifestyle. By specializing further, surgeons can pursue their passion without sacrificing all their time. Moreover, general surgery serves as a gateway to other specialties, such as plastic, vascular, and CT surgery. Integrated programs in these specialties are often more competitive to match into than general surgery, providing applicants with a choice.

Neurosurgery

Neurosurgery is appealing to those applicants who are fascinated with the human brain and nervous system and enjoy surgery. This makes it one of the most difficult residency specialties to match into. Neurosurgeons tackle diverse cases, each presenting unique challenges. This demands strong problem-solving and critical thinking skills under pressure. Aspiring neurosurgeons care for critically ill patients in fast-paced, high-pressure settings. Despite the lengthy seven-year residency, neurosurgery offers some of the highest financial compensation among physician careers.

Orthopedic Surgery

Orthopedic surgery requires a deep knowledge and appreciation of the musculoskeletal system. One of the best parts of this field is helping patients recover and getting to see them return to their active lifestyle. This is appealing to many applicants who live an active lifestyle themselves and those who love surgery and want to see their patients from the start to the finish line. This specialty also allows for working with a variety of patients of all ages and performing a variety of surgeries, ranging from the repair of traumatic fractures to elective knee replacements. There is also a lot of ongoing innovation in this field, allowing room for research and creativity.

Ophthalmology

Ophthalmology, one of the most difficult residency specialties to match into, offers a remarkable work-life balance. It minimizes call duties, and weekends are usually free, even during residency. What sets ophthalmology apart is the instant gratification it provides. Patients experience immediate relief and swift recovery after surgeries. With shorter procedure durations, ophthalmologists can care for a large number of patients. Attention to detail is crucial in this specialty, given the delicate nature of the operative field. Medical students who choose ophthalmology enjoy this meticulous work.

Otolaryngology

Besides being another surgical specialty that offers a great lifestyle, otolaryngology is a great field for those who love head and neck anatomy. This specialty also allows for the use of a wide variety of operative techniques, including large open operations, endoscopic procedures, and surgeries using microscopes. Along with a wide variety of operative techniques comes a broad range of conditions that are treated by otolaryngologists. These include cancers of the head and neck, hearing loss, and diseases of the vocal cords. Often, otolaryngologists have the opportunity to develop long-term relationships with their patients. 

Plastic Surgery

For those who enjoy the technically demanding aspect of surgery but also want to employ their creativity at work, plastic surgery is the perfect field. Very few specialties in medicine and surgery offer the chance to be creative. Plastic surgeons operate on nearly every part of the body. A large field of plastic surgery is reconstructive surgery, which is very appealing to many medical students. There is a particular accomplishment that is derived from reconstructive surgery that is unlike that of regular procedures. Plastic surgery has the power to make a substantial impact on patients’ quality of life. Though it is possible to have a great lifestyle with plastic surgery, especially if doing private practice, this specialty can require long hours and calls. 

Urologists have a good balance of clinic, clinic-based procedures, endoscopic procedures, and major surgeries. They take care of any conditions that impact the urinary tract in both females and males. A lot of the conditions that urologists treat impact patient’s lives significantly and results can be obtained rapidly. Urology is amongst the top innovative fields, using lasers and robots in practice. Because urologists take care of patients’ most intimate problems, they often develop genuine patient-physician relationships. Furthermore, urology allows for a dramatic improvement in patients’ lives.

Radiation Oncology

This specialty can be seen as an intersection between science, technology, and patient care. Radiation oncologists perform radiation treatments for patients with cancerous and benign conditions. This is a great specialty for those who enjoy taking care of cancer patients and building long-term relationships with their patients. This specialty extends beyond just knowledge of medicine and patient care. Radiation oncologists have a deep understanding of radiation technology, which they employ when designing treatment plans. This is the perfect specialty for those who like to integrate their medical and scientific knowledge. There is also a lot of innovation within this specialty, as technology is constantly evolving. 

Interventional Radiology

The unique aspect of interventional radiology is being able to perform valuable and sometimes life-saving procedures in the most minimally invasive way possible, usually through a tiny incision. IR integrates imaging and procedures and is perfect for those who love both. This specialty includes a broad spectrum of practice, ranging from biopsies to peripheral arterial disease intervention. Interventional radiologists could tailor their practice and specialize further, or practice a wide range of procedures. 

Embrace the Challenge and Good Luck in the Most Difficult Residency Specialties to Match Into!

Don’t be discouraged from applying to these competitive specialties if you’re interested in them. Seek mentors in your desired specialty during medical school to gain insights and strengthen your application. For additional assistance with your residency application, consider consulting an Elite Medical Prep residency advisor . Schedule a complimentary consultation to discover how we can support your success. Best of luck!

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The Enneagram and Picking a Medical Specialty

Doctors choose specialties depending on their “career strengths.”.

Posted January 12, 2011

Cartoon by Elizabeth Wagele

Ideally, by the time you have finished reading " The Career Within You, " you will have decided on your own Enneagram type. We ask you to then go back to your type's chapter and take its "Wagele-Stabb Career Finder." First, you'll select your favorite two strengths from five career strengths we've listed that are typical for your type. Then you'll see which careers your strengths fit the best - and which appeal to you the most - out of about 180 careers that are most compatible with your type.

When Ingrid Stabb and I devised our Career Finder, we looked for how doctors' specialties might differ throughout the nine Enneagram types. Dr. James Campbell and others helped us with this.

We found that Perfectionists easily make use of all five of their career strengths as doctors: "courteousness, logical thinking, making improvement, meticulousness, and responsibility." They're most likely to specialize as anesthesiologists or cardiologists; or to work in the fields of endocrinology, hematology, radiology, surgery, plastic surgery, emergency, or public health. Some prefer being on the medical faculty.

Helpers as doctors especially enjoy using three out of the five strengths we've chosen: "perceptiveness, problem solving, and reliability," as general practitioners, internists, ob-gyns, pediatricians, or working in physical medicine or rehabilitation.

Achiever doctors especially like to use their "drive to win and problem solving" strengths in emergency, ob-gyn, plastic surgery, or surgery.

Romantic doctors prefer to use their "ability to discern, compassion, and sense of meaning" in emergency, internist, pediatric, physical medicine, plastic surgery, or rehabilitation roles.

Observers as doctors use their career strengths of "complex thinking, objectivity, and sensitivity" in cardiology, endocrinology, hematology, internal medicine, neurology, radiology, or research; or they join the medical faculty.

When Questioners become doctors, they enjoy using all five career strengths: "critical thinking, exactness, identifying with others, skepticism, and taking precautions" to become anesthesiologists, or specialize in ob-gyn, neurology, pediatrics, public health, neurology, radiology, research, surgery, or join the medical faculty.

Adventurers as doctors are often found in emergency rooms, ob-gyn, physical medicine, rehabilitation, surgery, or as general practitioners. They use the career strengths of "idealism, seeking challenges, and synthesizing information."

Asserters use all five career strengths as doctors: "competitiveness, leadership , logical thinking, protectiveness, and self-reliance." They are most likely to choose working in emergency, orthopedics, or surgery.

Peace Seekers who become doctors tend to use two of their five career strengths: "empathy and synthesizing information" and choose anesthesiology, GP, ob-gyn, pediatrics, or public health.

Lawyers and other professions vary in their specialties depending on their Enneagram types as well, so learning the Enneagram can help you select the branch of the field you're interested in early on instead of going through a time-consuming and possibly expensive process of trial and error.

Order " The Career Within You - How to Find the Perfect Job for Your Personality."

Elizabeth Wagele was the co-author with Ingrid Stabb of The Career Within You: How to Find the Perfect Job for Your Personality.

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