Choosing a Primary Care doctor is one of the more important decisions you’ll make.
There are several medical degrees associated with the term “Primary Care”, each with its own expertise and advantages. The best Primary Care doctor for your needs depends on your health, your personal preferences and how many members of your family you’d like your Primary Care doctor to treat. 
click to get a list of primary care physicians who are available for timely appointments
FAMILY PRACTICE or FAMILY MEDICINE physicians are trained to recognize and treat health conditions common to children as well as adults. They provide annual check ups, age-appropriate screenings and vaccinations, and may also have sub-specialty training in Adolescent Medicine, Geriatric Medicine, Hospice and Palliative Medicine, Sleep Medicine and/or Sports Medicine.
Because Family Practice/Family Medicine physicians treat all members of a family, they have the advantage of being able to gain a comprehensive view of that family. Some families prefer to see just one physician for all their health needs.
See a complete list of NSMC Family Practice physicians
PEDIATRIC PRIMARY CARE physicians or PEDIATRICIANS specialize exclusively in pediatric health from infancy through young adulthood. In addition to providing annual check ups and age-appropriate screenings and vaccinations, pediatricians diagnose and treat acute and chronic pediatric disorders, and monitor childrens’ physical and psychosocial growth and development.
NSMC has a number of fine Pediatric Primary Care physicians on staff, as well as
specialists from MassGeneral Hospital for Children who run clinics at NSMC Salem Hospital. The MassGeneral Hospital for Children specialty clinics at NSMC include pediatric cardiology, endocrinology, gastroenterology & nutrition, nephrology, pulmonology and rheumatology.
See a complete list of NSMC Pediatric Primary Care physicians
See a complete list of MassGeneral Hospital for Children specialists
INTERNAL MEDICINE physicians or INTERNISTS are experts in adult health. They frequently have additional clinical background in one or more sub-specialties, including: Adolescent Medicine, Cardiovascular Disease, Clinical Cardiac Electrophysiology, Critical Care Medicine, Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism, Gastroenterology, Geriatric Medicine, Hematology, Hospice and Palliative Medicine, Infectious Disease, Interventional Cardiology, Medical Oncology, Nephrology, Pulmonary Disease, Rheumatology, Sleep Medicine, Sports Medicine or Transplant Hepatology.
Internal Medicine physicians provide complete physical examinations, routine health screenings and preventative care. They work with specialists as needed to treat more serious conditions.
See a complete list of NSMC Internal Medicine physicians
OBSTETRICS & GYNECOLOGY physicians or OB-GYNs are experts in women’s health. They have expertise in pregnancy, childbirth, and disorders of the reproductive system. They provide preventative care, prenatal care, detection of sexually transmitted diseases, Pap test screening, and family planning. Other health screenings they provide include mammograms, osteoporosis screenings, colon cancer screening, colposcopies, pelviscopies, and urinalysis.
Some OB-GYNs go on to become sub-specialists in cancer gynecology (gynecologic oncology), high-risk pregnancies (maternal fetal medicine), infertility (reproductive endocrinology & infertility) or urogynecology (reconstructive pelvic surgery).
GYNECOLOGY physicians specialize in women's sexual and reproductive health care. They are also surgeons expert in pelvis, uterus, and ovary surgery and the treatment of some forms of infertility. Unlike OB-GYNs, they do not deliver babies. Many women prefer to go to an OB-GYN or Gynecologist for their primary care needs.
Both OB-GYNs and Gynecologists offer treatment for menopause and its related symptoms.
See a complete list of NSMC OB-GYN physicians
See a complete list of NSMC Gynecologists
MEDICAL SPECIALISTS have advanced training in a specialty area such as allergy, cardiology, dermatology, endocrinology, gastroenterology, hematology, infectious diseases, nephrology, neurology, oncology, pulmonology, or rheumatology. Some of these physicians also serve as primary care doctors for their patients, in addition to the specialty services they provide.
