An internist is a medical doctor who specializes in the care of adults.

Internists can further specialize in areas such as:

• Adolescent medicine (conditions and diseases common to teenagers).
• Cardiology (diseases and conditions of the heart and blood vessels).
• Endocrinology (diseases of the endocrine glands, which regulate hormones).
• Gastroenterology (diseases of the digestive system).
• Geriatric medicine (conditions and diseases in older adults).
• Hematology (diseases of the blood and blood system).
• Infectious disease (complex infections).
• Nephrology (diseases of the kidney and urinary system).
• Oncology (cancer).
• Respirology (lung diseases such as asthma, emphysema, and pneumonia).
• Rheumatology (immune system diseases and diseases of the joints).
• Sports medicine (the treatment of injuries to the bones, muscles, joints, tendons, or ligaments that result from physical activity).

Internists are certified by the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada.