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.

Pathology is a medical subfield with a focus on the diagnosis of disease. Medical professionals who become pathologists often have background knowledge in several different areas of medicine, as this knowledge is helpful when it comes to diagnosis. Pathologists generally test for disease by analyzing tissue, body fluid, and cell samples. In this way, these doctors can diagnose problems caused by parasites, pathogens, and even non-infectious causes. This work can help other physicians make the proper treatment recommendations.