What medical specialty has the most shortages?

Medical specialties facing the most significant shortages often include primary care (family medicine, pediatrics), psychiatry, and surgical fields like vascular surgery, with projections also highlighting issues in anatomic/clinical pathology, ophthalmology, and urology, driven by aging populations, increased demand, and retirements.

What is the most underserved medical specialty?

Geriatrics. Despite the growing population of Americans over 60, geriatrics remains one of the most underrepresented fields in medicine. The specialty tends to attract fewer trainees due to lower compensation and limited visibility in medical education.

Which medical specialty is in highest demand?

Family medicine is currently the most in-demand physician specialty, according to AMN Healthcare's (formerly Merritt Hawkins) recent report on physician recruiting.

What type of doctor is there a shortage of?

General Surgery

New medical graduates are increasingly choosing specialties with better work-life balance, resulting in a critical shortage in general surgery. And once again, rural areas are being hit the hardest.

What is the hardest medical specialty to get into?

List of specialties of the hardest doctor to become:

• Dermatology. ...
• Plastic Surgery. ...
• Neurosurgery. ...
• Orthopedics and Traumatology. ...
• Radiology. ...
• Otorhinolaryngology (ENT) ...
• Urology.

5 RISKIEST Doctor Specialties

What specialty has the highest burnout rate?

The study found burnout varies across the medical field, with some specialties facing more severe challenges than others. Emergency medicine physicians experience the most intense burnout, with the highest emotional fatigue (68%) and depersonalization (55%).

What doctor makes $500,000 a year?

Doctors in surgical and high-demand procedural specialties frequently earn over $500,000 annually, with top earners often being Neurosurgery, Orthopedic Surgery, Plastic Surgery, Cardiology, and Thoracic Surgery, driven by complex skills, high demand (especially with aging populations), and lucrative elective procedures or emergency needs. Other fields like Radiology, Gastroenterology, Urology, and Anesthesiology also see average incomes exceeding this threshold.
 

What is the rarest doctor?

There isn't one single "rarest" specialty, as it varies by location and data, but fields like Pediatric Ophthalmology, Wound Care, Undersea & Hyperbaric Medicine, Medical Microbiology, and Fetal & Perinatal Pathology consistently rank among the least common due to extensive training, niche focus, or limited demand, with some specialties like Clinical Cardiac Electrophysiology also having very few active physicians. 

Which medical field is most in demand?

The most in-demand medical fields currently center on primary care (Family Medicine, Internal Medicine), mental health (Psychiatry), and specialized areas like Cardiology, Gastroenterology, Anesthesiology, and Hospital Medicine, driven by an aging population, chronic diseases, and workforce shortages. Key roles also include Registered Nurses (RNs) and Nurse Practitioners (NPs) due to growing patient needs across all settings. 

What is the least demanding doctor?

Below are some of the least stressful medical specialties:

• Dermatology. Dermatologists primarily deal with skin conditions that are rarely life threatening. ...
• Ophthalmology. Ophthalmology is another specialty that tends to offer a balanced lifestyle. ...
• Family Medicine. ...
• Psychiatry.

Which medical specialties will be replaced by AI?

Medical Specialties Integrating AI and Automation

AI's capacity to analyze images and recognize patterns faster, more accurately, and without fatigue is expected to automate many of the tasks currently performed by specialists in image-intensive fields such as: Radiology. Pathology. Dermatology.

What is a 7 star doctor?

A "7-star doctor" is a concept endorsed by the World Health Organization (WHO) (WHO) for an ideal physician, expanding on the original 5-star model to include being a Care Provider, Decision-Maker, Communicator, Community Leader, Manager, Researcher, and Lifelong Learner, with an added emphasis on teaching in some models. This framework defines comprehensive skills needed for modern medicine, focusing on compassionate patient care, ethical decision-making, community health, and continuous learning, not just clinical skill. 

What is the most underpaid medical specialty?

The lowest-paid doctor specialties consistently include Pediatrics, Family Medicine, Psychiatry, Public Health/Preventive Medicine, Endocrinology, and Infectious Diseases, often due to their primary care focus and lower volume of high-paying procedures, though exact rankings vary slightly by report. Subspecialties within Pediatrics, like endocrinology or infectious diseases, can also be among the lowest earners. 

What is the least desirable medical specialty?

With that in mind, the five least competitive medical specialties are:

• Family medicine.
• Physical medicine and rehabilitation.
• Anesthesiology.
• Pediatrics.
• Psychiatry.

What is the easiest medical speciality to get into?

The "easiest" medical field depends on your definition, but Phlebotomy is often cited for the fastest entry (weeks/months for certification), while Medical Assisting, Medical Billing/Coding, and Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) offer quick, stable paths with short programs (under a year). For roles requiring slightly more education but offering good work-life balance, Dental Hygienist is praised for its low stress and high pay with an Associate's degree. 

Which medical specialty has the best future?

Here you find medical specialties that will benefit from the technological revolution.

1. General practice. Many doctors choose this medical specialty today to make a long-term impact on someone's life. ...
2. Pediatrics. ...
3. Radiology. ...
4. Ophthalmology. ...
5. Sports medicine and rehabilitation. ...
6. Oncology. ...
7. Dermatology. ...
8. Emergency Medicine.

What job pays $400,000 a year without a degree?

The most prominent "$400,000 job without a college degree" discussed in recent news is a Walmart Supercenter Store Manager, where compensation can reach that level through a combination of increased base pay (around $128k average), significant bonuses (up to 200% of base), and annual stock grants (up to $20k) for top performers, making the role lucrative for those rising from hourly work. Other paths to high income without a degree include skilled trades, tech sales, and specialized roles like power plant operators, often achieved through skills-based training, certificates, or apprenticeships rather than a traditional four-year degree.
 

What is the happiest job in the medical field?

According to a 2025 Medscape-based survey, some of the happiest specialties reported are Allergy & Immunology (94 %), Pathology (88 %), Dermatology (87 %), Public Health & Preventive Medicine (87 %), and Psychiatry (87 %). Medscape Physician Mental Health & Well-Being Report.

Which job is best without NEET?

Different Fields to Consider after 12th Science PCB without NEET

• Veterinary Science. Veterinary Science is a course that emphasises the medical diagnosis and treatment of diseases in animals. ...
• Agriculture. ...
• Psychology. ...
• Pharmacy. ...
• Nursing. ...
• Optometry. ...
• Food Engineering. ...
• Physiotherapy.

Which surgeon had a 300% mortality rate?

A surgeon with a "300% mortality rate" refers to a famous, likely exaggerated, story about Scottish surgeon Robert Liston in the 1800s, where an amputation supposedly killed the patient, his assistant (whose fingers he accidentally cut off), and a spectator who died of shock, making it the only surgery with more deaths than people involved, though primary sources are lacking, notes www.fibonaccimd.com. 

Which type of doctor has the highest rate of depression?

While findings vary slightly by study, recent data from organizations like the AMA and Medscape, often point to specialties like Urology, Emergency Medicine, Obstetrics & Gynecology (OB-GYN), and Family Medicine as having some of the highest rates of depression or burnout, with front-line roles often being particularly affected. These areas involve high-stress, time-intensive care, bureaucracy, and challenging patient interactions, contributing to mental health challenges. 

What are the least stressful high paid doctors?

Our list of the best medical specialties for work life balance takes concerns about salary, competitiveness, happiness survey data and scheduling into account.

• 10 Best Physician Specialties for Work Life Balance. ...
• Teleradiology. ...
• Anesthesiology. ...
• Dermatology. ...
• Otolaryngology (ENT) ...
• Endocrinology. ...
• Clinical Pathology. ...
• Psychiatry.

What jobs in the US pay $300,000 a year?

Jobs paying $300,000 or more in the U.S. are typically senior roles in technology, finance, law, and medicine, including roles like CEOs, Chief Technology Officers, Investment Bankers, Partner-Level Lawyers, Surgeons, and Specialized Physicians, along with top-tier Sales Directors, Management Consultants, and Private Equity Executives, often relying on bonuses, commissions, or profit-sharing for high earnings. High-income careers without traditional degrees can also be found in tech entrepreneurship, high-level skilled trades, and top-performing sales. 

Who makes more money, a do or md?

While average data suggests MDs tend to earn slightly more, the biggest factor in physician income isn't the degree (MD vs. DO) but the specialty, experience, and location, with more DOs historically entering lower-paying primary care or rural areas, leading to overall lower average DO salaries, though MDs and DOs in the same specialty often earn comparable pay.