Top 30 medical subspecialties English/Spanish
As interpreters, we all know that medical terminology can be challenging—and when it comes to subspecialties, things get even trickier. A single specialty like Internal Medicine can branch into many subspecialties, each with its own precise title. To make it more complex, these names don’t always translate neatly into Spanish, and some terms vary across regions (for example, Neumología vs. Neumonología).
That’s why I put together this list: to give you a quick, bilingual reference of some of the most common subspecialties you’re likely to encounter. I hope it helps you feel more confident and prepared when supporting patients and providers in these contexts. Feel free to add these words to your favorite words for easy reference later!
Remember: in medical interpretation, clarity is everything. Using the correct subspecialty term ensures patients understand the role of the doctor they’re seeing, and providers feel assured that their expertise is conveyed accurately.
🏥 Common Medical Subspecialties (English → Español)
- Cardiology – Cardiología
- Interventional Cardiology – Cardiología intervencionista
- Electrophysiology – Electrofisiología cardíaca
- Endocrinology – Endocrinología
- Gastroenterology – Gastroenterología
- Hepatology – Hepatología
- Hematology – Hematología
- Oncology – Oncología
- Hematology-Oncology – Hemato-oncología
- Infectious Disease – Enfermedades infecciosas
- Nephrology – Nefrología
- Pulmonology – Neumología / Neumonología
- Critical Care Medicine – Medicina crítica / Cuidados intensivos
- Rheumatology – Reumatología
- Allergy & Immunology – Alergología e inmunología
- Neonatology – Neonatología
- Pediatric Cardiology – Cardiología pediátrica
- Pediatric Endocrinology – Endocrinología pediátrica
- Pediatric Gastroenterology – Gastroenterología pediátrica
- Pediatric Hematology-Oncology – Hemato-oncología pediátrica
- Pediatric Nephrology – Nefrología pediátrica
- Pediatric Pulmonology – Neumología pediátrica
- Vascular Surgery – Cirugía vascular
- Colorectal Surgery – Cirugía colorrectal
- Surgical Oncology – Cirugía oncológica
- Trauma Surgery – Cirugía de trauma
- Transplant Surgery – Cirugía de trasplantes
- Pediatric Surgery – Cirugía pediátrica
- Child & Adolescent Psychiatry – Psiquiatría infantil y del adolescente
- Geriatric Medicine – Geriatría / Medicina geriátrica
Interpreting in healthcare means constantly learning and adapting. If you ever feel overwhelmed by subspecialty names, you’re not alone—it’s something we all navigate. The good news is that with resources like this, and by practicing consistent terminology, you can bring clarity and professionalism to every interaction.
I’ll continue to share more reference lists and practical tools here at InterpAscend to make your work smoother and more rewarding.
Stay tuned, keep growing, and remember: every accurate term you use makes a difference in patient care.