Remember

1. In British English, the verb is spelt practise and the noun is spelt practice but have the same pronunciation.

2. Names of specialties usually end in -ology; names of specialists usually end in -ologist. If the name of a specialty ends in -ics, the name of the specialist ends in -ician. There are some exceptions, e.g. anaesthetics and anaesthetist.

3. The collocation good with is followed by a noun.

The paediatricians are good with children.

The collocation good at is followed by the -ing form (gerund) of a verb, or by a noun.

The nurses are good at giving injections.

The tutor is good at explanations.

4. Idiom- to give a hand (it means- to help)

Exercises

1.1 Write sentences to describe the work of the specialist in each branch of medicine. The first has been done as an example.

1 dermatology- A dermatologist specializes in diseases of the skin.

2 gynecology

3 cardiology

4 paediatrics

5 obstetrics

6 traumatology

7 anaesthetics

8 cardiology

9 ophthalmology

10 nephrology

1.2 Complete the table and form the nouns.

Verb	Noun (person)	Noun (activity or thing)
specialize
practise
consult
assist
graduate
qualify

1.3 Use the correct forms of the words to complete the sentences inserting the right prepositions. Some words can be used twice.

Good, interest, specialize, work

1 A cardiologist..........................................................diagnosing disease of the heart and circulation.

2 A paediatrician must enjoy................................................................children.

3 An oncologist is................................................................the diagnosis and treatment of cancer.

4 A psychiatrist must be................................................................counselling.

5 A surgeon must be................................................................her hands.

1.4 Match adjectives with nouns.

1. consulting, general, group, health, internal, surgical.

2. centre, practice, specialties, medicine, practitioner, rooms.

1.5 Give the plural forms of nouns.

a) adenoma [ ,ædəˈnəumə ], antrum [ ,æntrəm ], apex [ ʹeıpeks ] , apparatus [ˌæpəˈreıtəs ], appendix [ ə'pendɪks ], aqua ['ækwə ], atrium [ eɪtriəm ], axis [ 'æksɪs ].

b) bacillus[ bəsɪləs ], bacterium[bæk'tɪrɪəm], basis [ 'beısɪs], bronchus[ ˈbrɔŋkəs ].

1.6 Make a list of the qualities which you need to be a good surgeon. Then make a similar list of qualities for another specialty.

1.7 Answer a question:

Why did you choose your particular branch of medicine?

1.7 Read, translate and learn a dialogue by heart. Heart trouble.

D. What’s wrong?

P. I am having pain in the heart and here (the patient shows the substernal area).

D. Where does the pain irradiate?

P. Into the left arm and the shoulder blade.

D. How long does the pain persist?

P. For about an hour.

D. What medicine do you take when the pain occurs?

P. Validol, nitroglycerin.

D. When does the drug take effect?

P. In a couple of minutes the pain is subsiding.

D. What’s the character of the pain?

P. It’s a shooting pain.

D. How many times a day does the pain strike you?

P .I’ve got a single pain every day.

D. When did you first feel heart intermissions?

P. About a month ago.

D. Have you seen a doctor about it?

P. Sure, I have.

D. Did they give you cardiography (E.C.G.)

P. Yes. And after that the doctor prescribed me a bed regime.

D. What diagnosis did the doctor make?

P. He diagnosed angina pectoris.

D. I think you should have a strict bed regime. If there is no turn for the better in 4or 5 days you’ll have to go to a hospital.

P. Thank you, Doctor. Good-bye.