Medical refers to a profession, a field of study and an area of expertise that is concerned with the human body, disease, injury and treatment. Medicine is usually divided into specialties such as internal medicine (which includes gastroenterology, pulmonology, endocrinology, and rheumatology), infectious diseases, forensic medicine, gynecology, obstetrics, neurology, pediatrics, and geriatrics. Medical training varies widely worldwide and often involves three years of residency after medical school.
The earliest known medical texts date back to 2500 BCE. Some of the earliest specialisations were in ancient Egyptian medicine, Babylonian medicine, Ayurvedic medicine (from India), and classical Chinese medicine. Other areas of medical research include conservation medicine, diving medicine (or hyperbaric medicine), and evolutionary medicine which studies the relationship between humans and non-human animals.
Medical journalism is often focused on research and data, but can also cover the more personal aspects of medicine such as ethics, morality and philosophy. Creating a compelling medical article requires careful planning and editing, with a strong introduction that entices readers and leads them through the complexities of the subject matter. Sections should flow seamlessly into each other and a clear narrative should guide readers to a conclusion that leaves them with a greater understanding of the topic. Medical journals have strict guidelines for submitting articles and will reject submissions that do not meet these requirements. Choosing the right journal to publish in is important and researching the journal’s impact factor can help authors decide where to submit their work.
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