Medicine is the science and practice of preserving and restoring human health through diagnosis, treatment and prevention of disease. It is an interdisciplinary field that depends on many other sciences and professional skills. In modern times, medical care is usually provided by a team of doctors and nurses working together in hospitals and clinics. Medical practitioners must be licensed or registered in most countries. This ensures patients receive safe and effective care from trained professionals. It also limits the scope of practice to those who have proven knowledge and abilities.
In the history of medicine, many branches have emerged. Epidemiology is the study of diseases in populations; pharmacology is the study of drug actions; radiobiology is the interaction between radiation and living systems; physiology is the study of normal body functions; and pathology is the scientific study of disease, including the causes, processes, progression and resolution of illness. Other branches include gynecology, which is concerned with the reproductive system; nutrition and dietetics; occupational medicine; conservation medicine (also known as environmental medicine); hyperbaric medicine; and gender-based medicine, which studies the biological differences between men and women and how they affect disease rates.
Medical research is often highly collaborative, and the work of individual physicians overlaps with that of other professionals, notably nurses, emergency medical technicians and paramedics, laboratory scientists, pharmacists, dietitians, physiotherapists, psychologists, speech therapists and occupational therapists. Most specialized fields of medicine have their own professional societies and organizations.
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