Which medical field requires the most knowledge or use of chemistry?

[AHossain]

As you can tell I'm really interested in chemistry and was just wondering about which field in medicine uses it the most?


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[Oxygen206]

As you can tell I'm really interested in chemistry and was just wondering about which field in medicine uses it the most?


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Have you looked into pharmacy?

 

[DAPI]

As you can tell I'm really interested in chemistry and was just wondering about which field in medicine uses it the most?


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Pharmacology?

 

[Captain Fantastic]

What exactly do you mean by "use chemistry"? Pretty much every physician that sees patients will order chemistry panels and interpret the results. The reactions themselves are largely automated, but the physician in charge of the lab and understanding the processes and reagents is a Pathologist.

 

[TheMightySmiter]

Do you mean medical specialty? My guesses would be that pathology, maybe radiation oncology, maybe endocrinology (?) are more likely to use chemistry than most specialties. Your best bet would be to get an MD/PhD and do some basic science research along with clinical work.

 

[AHossain]

I have looked into pharmacy, but I'd like to find out about a medical specialty, plus pharmacy doesn't really have that much patient interaction, does it? I'm just learning stuff so please don't criticize me for asking "dumb" questions.


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[Praefectus]

what exactly do you mean by "use chemistry"? Pretty much every physician that sees patients will order chemistry panels and interpret the results. The reactions themselves are largely automated, but the physician in charge of the lab and understanding the processes and reagents is a pathologist.

+1

 

[TheMightySmiter]

I have looked into pharmacy, but I'd like to find out about a medical specialty, plus pharmacy doesn't really have that much patient interaction, does it? I'm just learning stuff so please don't criticize me for asking "dumb" questions.


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I don't think anyone was criticizing you? There were several suggestions offered. But most medical specialties just aren't all that chemistry-heavy.

 

[ComradeDoktor]

I'd say nephrology. It seems like you have to understand the chemical properties of metabolites very well if you want to understand the kidney. Also, they have to understand osmolar gaps, acid/base disruptions etc.

 

[AHossain]

I don't think anyone was criticizing you? There were several suggestions offered. But most medical specialties just aren't all that chemistry-heavy.

No lol no one wasn't, I just had the sense that I was asking a "dumb" question.


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[zeppelinpage4]

I always figured anesthesiology did, cause of all the various drugs they deal with. I could be wrong though, I've only spoken with two or three anesthesiologists.

 

[AHossain]

I always figured anesthesiology did, cause of all the various drugs they deal with. I could be wrong though, I've only spoken with two or three anesthesiologists.

I think anesthesiology does too,can someone confirm this?


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[Frazier]

Anesthesiology, heme/onc, and nephrology come to mind.

 

[pietachok]

You can find a niche in every specialty that is chem heavy or at least p-chem heavy:
Psych & neuro -- become a specialist in neuropharmacology
Path -- become a specialist in toxicology
OB/GYN -- become a specialist in teratogens & the pathophysio of malformations
Pediatrics -- become a specialist one of many rare genetic defects in handling of a metabolic byproduct
Heme/Onc -- all the hemoglobinopathies & genetic RBC defects (inability to properly handle disulfide bonding with cell age, poor membrane fluidity, etc.) can be interesting from a chem standpoint
Derm -- yes, even derm...chemical injury & chemical influences on healing & the molecular level concerns of collagen disorders
GI/Hep & Nephro -- kidneys & livers are all about the chemistry
...etc

I suspect in many of those scenarios you will be so specialized you will have to practice at an academic insitution & would need a career with some sort of bench research to justify/maintain your expertise