Emergency medicine is a subspecialty that focuses on patients who need immediate and often intensive care. These physicians must be able to handle medical problems quickly to avoid potential complications with their patients. With their knowledge of emergency medicine comes knowledge about many other types of medicine, as they must be able to respond to patients who present a variety of symptoms and problems. They will also have a thorough understanding of emergency medical devices.

A general surgeon is a medical professional who performs surgery on patients. General surgeons typically perform common surgeries and have attended college and medical school to learn the skills needed to perform them successfully. They also care for their patients before and after operations and can give an accurate prognosis after the surgery is complete and the patient has had time to heal.