On today’s episode, Lindsay and Michelle share a key suffix that is used to talk about doctors.
Listen in and learn the vocabulary for many different doctors.
We’ll also share a trick to make sure you have the correct pronunciation.
Have you seen the doctor lately?
Michelle shares that they are going to talk about doctors today.
She asks Lindsay if she has been to the doctor lately.
Lindsay says she was recently at her dermatologist.
She was also supposed to see the dentist but she missed her appointment.
Michelle also had a physical exam recently.
In today’s episode, they are going to dive into the different types of doctors.
It is important to know the specific kinds of doctors to be able to talk more about them.
A recent episode done by the All Ears English team that is related to today’s topic is episode AEE 1795: An Apple a Day – English Idioms Using Doctor.
Today Lindsay and Michelle will focus on a specific suffix used frequently to refer to different types of doctors.
Many different doctors
It can be tricky sometimes to know what type of doctor you need to consult with about a certain health concern.
Michelle asks Lindsay if she gets confused about this.
Lindsay says this is definitely confusing.
There are many types of doctors that specialize in different parts of the body.
Aside from knowing what type to go to, it can also be hard to pronounce these specialties.
Here are the official doctor names you can remember with a quick description for each:
#1: Cardiologist
This is the heart specialist.
Anyone who has a heart condition will meet regularly with a cardiologist.
They also work with those struggling with high cholesterol or other heart-related issues.
#2: Dermatologist
This is a doctor who deals with concerns related to the skin.
As a person gets older, they consult this specialist regularly.
A variety of skin issues can need treatment.
#3: Urologist
This is the doctor who treats illnesses related to the bladder.
For example, they might help an individual with urinary tract infections.
#4: Gynecologist
This is the doctor for the female reproductive organ.
They are the ones that make sure women are able to become pregnant.
They also help a woman go through a smooth pregnancy.
It is commonly abbreviated to ‘Gyno’ or ‘OBGYN.’
#5 Ophthalmologist:
This is a doctor of the eyes who specializes in eye surgery.
This is different from an Optometrist who performs initial eye screenings.
#6: Neurologist
This is the doctor that deals with the nervous system.
People with dementia would visit this type of doctor.
Bedside manner
Doctors have to have a good bedside manner.
All doctors have to interact well with patients to be excellent at their job.
Having good soft skills will help them to diagnose and help their patients properly.
Being a doctor doesn’t require a person to merely be intelligent.
Instead, they must also have the ability to be good with people.
Michelle’s favorite doctor is her cardiologist who she says has an excellent bedside manner.
Pronunciation and examples
The pronunciation of doctors can be very tricky.
Today we’re focusing on the suffix ‘-ologist.
These words have the stress on the ‘ol’ sound.
They can be tough to say, but today’s episode will help you understand the pronunciation.
Give your mouth muscles some exercise with these.
Examples
The following examples help you easily identify which doctor you have to go to for certain health concerns:
- I think I need new glasses. I’m gonna make an appointment with my ophthalmologist.
- My friend has a rash on her hand so I am going to drive her to the dermatologist.
- She went to the neurologist and everything was fine.
- It takes months to get an appointment with that gynecologist, so call early.
- She went to a urologist and he gave her some meds. She feels better now.
- A cardiologist came to give a lecture on heart health.
Roleplay
Lindsay and Michelle provide a roleplay.
This will help you hear these doctor names used in conversation.
In this scenario, they are talking about their doctors.
Lindsay: Can you make it at 11:00 am?
Michelle: No, sorry, I have a gynecologist appointment. What about 1:00 pm?
Lindsay: Ah, no! I have a neurologist appointment! So many doctors!
Michelle: That’s okay, we will do it another day. Just not Thursday because my husband has a urologist appointment that I have to drive him to. Did you ever find a new ophthalmologist?
Lindsay: Nah. But I’m going to ask around. My cardiologist always has good recommendations.
Michelle: That’s good. Okay, gotta head to the dermatologist! See you later!
Takeaway
It is always important to use the right vocabulary and pronunciation.
Talking about doctors will definitely come up in a conversation.
In today’s episode, Lindsay and Michelle share with you common official doctor names you can use.
Try these out and practice pronouncing each of them.
What other doctor names do you find difficult to pronounce?
Let us know in the comments below.
