anesthesiologist: a doctor who specializes in giving drugs or other agents that cause a complete or total loss of feeling or relieve pain, especially during surgery. These medications may put the patient into a deep sleep so that he or she is not aware of procedures or surgery.

case manager: the member of a cancer care team, often a nurse or cancer nurse specialist, who coordinates the patient's care throughout diagnosis, treatment, and recovery. The goal of case managing is that one person is directing or overseeing a patient's care. For example, a case manager may guide the patient through the complex system of health care by working with the health insurance company, getting quicker responses to important questions, managing crises, and connecting the patient and family to needed resources.

chaplain: a member of the clergy who provides for the spiritual needs of the patient and family. Often a chaplain is trained to minister to patients of many denominations and faith belief systems.

dermatologist: a doctor who specializes in the diagnosis and treatment of skin diseases. A dermatological oncologist has specialized training in diagnosing and treating skin cancers.

dietitian, registered (RD): an expert in the area of nutrition and food who has at least a bachelor's degree and has passed a nationally administered board exam. Many RDs specialize in areas such as weight management, exercise science, cancer care, or cardiac rehabilitation. See also, nutritionist.

doctor of osteopathic medicine (DO): a doctor with licensing and educational backgrounds similar to medical doctors (MDs). They tend to be primary care physicians and are specially trained to use a "whole person" approach to medicine rather than just treating specific symptoms.

dosimetrist: a person who calculates and plans the proper radiation dose (the amount, rate, and how the dose is spread out) for cancer treatment or other disorders that require radiation treatment. Some of the factors that determine radiation dose include body size, sex, and age.

endocrinologist: a doctor who specializes in diseases related to the glands of the endocrine system, such as the thyroid, pituitary, pancreas, pineal, and adrenal glands

enterostomal therapist: a registered nurse who is qualified by education in an accredited program in enterostomal therapy to teach people how to care for ostomies (surgically created openings such as a colostomy or urostomy) and other wounds

gastroenterologist: a doctor who specializes in diseases of the digestive (gastrointestinal or GI) tract including the stomach, intestines, gallbladder, and bile duct

genetic counselor: a specially trained health professional who:

• helps people decide whether to have genetic testing done
• helps people understand information about the risk of occurrence of a genetic disorder within a family
• provides information and advice about the courses of action available depending on the results
• helps determine whatever screening and preventive measures are best for them

gynecologic oncologist: a doctor who specializes in cancers of women's reproductive organs

gynecologist: a doctor who specializes in women's health, including their sexual and reproductive function and the diseases of their reproductive organs, except diseases of the breast that require surgery

hematologist: a doctor who specializes in diseases of the blood and blood-forming tissues

home health nurse: a nurse who gives nursing care in the home, including administration of medications and certain treatments; teaches patients and families about their care; and checks out the patient’s condition to see if further medical attention is needed

medical oncologist: a doctor who is specially trained to diagnose and treat cancer with chemotherapy and other drugs. A medical oncologist is different from a surgical oncologist, who mostly treats cancer with surgery and other invasive procedures.

neonatologist: a doctor who specializes in the care of the newborn (until about 4, weeks of age)

nephrologist: a doctor who specializes in diseases of the kidneys

neurosurgeon: a doctor specializing in operations to treat disorders involving the brain, spinal cord, or nerves

nurse practitioner: a registered nurse with a master's or doctoral degree who has advanced training and clinical experience in a certain area of medical practice. Licensed nurse practitioners diagnose and manage illness and disease, usually working closely with a doctor. In many states, they may prescribe medications.

nutritionist: a term used sometimes interchangeably with dietician, but there are no educational requirements that come with this title. See also, dietician, registered.

occupational therapist (OT): a licensed and specially trained health professional who uses purposeful activity with people who are limited by physical illness or injury, psychosocial problems, poverty or cultural differences, or the aging process to maximize independence, prevent disability, and maintain health. The practice of occupational therapy includes evaluation, treatment, and consultation.

oncologist: a doctor with special training in the diagnosis and treatment of cancer

oncology clinical nurse specialist: a registered nurse with a master's degree and advanced clinical practice in oncology nursing who specializes in the care of cancer patients. Oncology nurse specialists have several different roles depending on the setting. They may give direct patient or family care; supervise staff’s care of patients and families; do nursing research related to cancer patients; or teach patients, families, and staff about cancer, treatment, and side effects.

oncology social worker: usually a person with a master's degree in medical social work who is an expert in coordinating and providing help with the social and emotional needs of the cancer patient and family. The oncology social worker may do counseling, help patients and families manage financial problems, work on housing or child care issues (when treatments must be taken at a facility away from home), and help people cope with different types of emotional distress.

ophthalmologist: a medical doctor who specializes in the diagnosis and treatment of diseases of the eye

oral and maxillofacial surgeon: a surgeon who specializes in surgery of the mouth, jaw, and face

orthopedic surgeon: a surgeon who specializes in diseases and injuries of the muscles and bones, also called the musculoskeletal system

otolaryngologist: a doctor who specializes in diseases and injuries of the ear, nose, and throat. Also called a head and neck surgeon.

pain specialists: oncologists, neurologists, anesthesiologists, neurosurgeons, and other doctors, nurses, or pharmacists who are experts in pain management. Often there is a team of health professionals who are available to address issues of pain control.

pathologist: a doctor who specializes in the diagnosis and classification of diseases by laboratory tests such as examination of tissue and cells under a microscope. The pathologist determines whether or not a tumor contains cancer, and, if it is cancer, the exact cell type and grade.

pediatrician: a doctor who specializes in the prevention of illness and primary health care and treatment of diseases in children

pediatric oncologist: a doctor who specializes in the care of children with cancer

physical therapist (PT): a licensed health professional, who has at least a bachelor's degree in physical therapy, who assists in the examination, testing, and treatment of physically disabled people by the use of exercises, application of heat or cold, and other methods to restore or maintain the body's strength, mobility, and function

plastic and reconstructive surgeon: a surgeon specializing in altering or restoring appearance or in the reconstruction of removed or injured body parts. In reconstruction, the surgeon may use tissue from the patient or some special material with the right consistency to hold a shape or form over time.

primary care physician: the doctor a person would normally see first when a medical symptom or problem arises. A primary care doctor could be a general practitioner, a family practice doctor, a gynecologist, a pediatrician, or an internal medicine doctor (an internist).

psychiatric clinical nurse specialist (CNS): a registered nurse with a master's degree in psychiatric/mental health nursing who specializes in the mental health of patients. The psychiatric CNS may provide assessment, counseling, or teaching for patients or families. He or she may also have a role in supervising mental health care or doing research in psychiatric nursing.

psychiatrist: a medical doctor specializing in the causes, treatment, and prevention of mental, emotional, and behavioral disorders. Psychiatrists provide counseling therapy and can also prescribe medications or other treatments.

psychologist: a health professional who specializes in the study of the structure and function of the mind and related mental processes in humans and animals. A clinical psychologist has a graduate degree in psychology and training in clinical psychology, and may provide testing and counseling services to patients who may have an emotional or mental health problem.

pulmonologist: a doctor who has specialized experience and knowledge in the diagnosis and treatment of pulmonary (lung) conditions and diseases

radiation oncologist: a doctor who specializes in the use of radiation to treat cancer

radiation therapist: a person with special training to work the equipment that delivers radiation therapy. This expert often assists the patient in getting into the correct position for treatment and then actually gives the treatment.

radiation therapy nurse: a registered nurse who is an expert in the radiation therapy care of patients. This nurse may educate the patient about treatment before it is delivered and help manage any side effects of treatment.

radiologic technologist: a health professional (not a doctor) trained to position patients for x-rays, take the images, and then develop and check the images for quality. The films taken by the technologist are then sent to a radiologist to be read.

radiologist: a doctor with special training in diagnosing diseases by interpreting (reading) x-rays and other types of imaging studies. Two examples are CT scans and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).

respiratory therapist: a graduate of a program which has been approved by the American Medical Association designed to qualify the person for a national exam given by the National Board of Respiratory Care. The respiratory therapist gives respiratory care under the direction of a doctor. This can include breathing treatments and managing patients on ventilators. A CRTT or certified respiratory therapy technician may also examine the patient, collect additional information about lung function, and may assemble and maintain respiratory equipment, such as ventilators.

sex therapist: a mental health professional with special training in diagnosing and treating sexual disorders and problems with sexual functioning. These problems may include erectile dysfunction (often called impotence), orgasm dysfunction, premature ejaculation, and lack of sexual desire. Sex therapy may include education, special exercises, and work on improved communication between partners. It is common for a sex therapist to work with a couple and not just an individual.

social worker: a health professional with special training in dealing with social, emotional, and environmental problems associated with illness or disability. A social worker may help people find community resources, and provide counseling and guidance to assist with issues such as insurance coverage, nursing home placement, and emotional distress.

speech therapist: a person specially trained to work with people who have problems with their speech, such as a loss of the ability to speak or problems speaking clearly. Speech therapists treat patients with exercises and other techniques to restore speech or other communication skills and also make sure that patients can eat and drink safely with a normal swallowing reflex.

surgeon: a doctor who performs operations

surgical oncologist: a doctor who specializes in using surgery to treat cancer

thoracic surgeon: a doctor who performs surgery to the chest cavity, including the lungs, ribs, the sternum, the diaphragm, and associated muscles

urologist: a doctor who specializes in treating problems of the urinary tract in men and women, and of the genital organs in men

Revised: 07/12/2007