Physicians specializing in surgery can choose to become general surgeons or pursue a subspecialty in a specific area of the body, type of patient, or type of surgery. General surgeons provide a wide variety of life-saving surgeries, such as appendectomies and splenectomies. They receive broad training on human anatomy, physiology, intensive care, and wound healing.
The Association of American Medical Colleges and American College of Surgeons outline a number of surgical subspecialties and areas of practice, including the following:
- Colon and rectal surgery
- General surgery
- Gynecologic oncology
- Plastic surgery
- Neurological surgery
- Ophthalmic surgery
- Oral and maxillofacial surgery
- Orthopaedic surgery
- Otolaryngology
- Otology neurotology
- Pediatric surgery
- Surgical Intensivists, specializing in critical care patients
- Thoracic Surgery
- Vascular surgery
(definition from here)