Medical is the study of disease, injury and human health, combining art (practical skill) with science (understanding what happens at the cellular or molecular level). The modern system of medical education and training involves studying for a Doctor of Medicine degree, abbreviated MD, or Doctor of Osteopathy degree, abbreviated DO. This is supplemented with supervised practice and internships, as well as extensive research and a rigorous examination process.
There are many branches of medicine. Some are based on scientific inquiry, while others are based more on experience and tradition. In the ancient world, physicians like Hippocrates and Vesalius began to replace a belief in the authority of past teachings with a more rational approach based on observation and experimentation.
Other branches of medical science include genetics, which is the study of heredity, and pathology, which is the diagnosis of diseases based on examining tissues under a microscope. Forensic medicine is used to examine evidence for legal cases such as determination of the time and cause of death, type of weapon used, and facial reconstruction for identification purposes.
Medical practitioners are supported by many highly trained allied health professionals that work as part of an interdisciplinary team. These professionals include nurses, emergency medical technicians and paramedics, doctors’ assistants, pharmacists, laboratory scientists, dietitians, physiotherapists, occupational therapists and speech therapists. In addition, medical records are kept on paper or electronically. The interdisciplinary nature of medical care requires collaboration between all members of the healthcare team.