Hemtology

Hematologists are internal medicine doctors or pediatricians who have extra training in disorders related to your blood, bone marrow, and lymphatic system. They’re specialists who may work in hospitals, blood banks, or clinics. Hematologists who practice in labs are called hematopathologists. They’re trained in pathology, a branch of medicine that examines body tissues and blood with microscopes or tests.

All hematologists have at least 9 years of medical education. It includes 3 years of on-the-job training called residency after medical school and up to 4 years of subspecialty training. Some hematologists are generalists, while others focus on specific conditions and organs that require extra training.
When Do You Need a Hematologist?

You’ll most likely be referred to one by your primary care doctor. Reasons include if you have or might have:

• Anemia, or low red blood cells
• Deep vein thrombosis (blood clots)
• Leukemia, lymphoma, or multiple myeloma (cancers in your bone marrow, lymph nodes, or white blood cells)
• Sepsis, a dangerous reaction to an infection
• Hemophilia, a genetic blood clotting disorder
• Sickle cell disease, which involves faulty red blood cells