Dermatology and orthopedics ranked as the most appealing specialties to residents and medical students, according to a Medscape report.
“The Race for Relevance: Medscape Most Popular Specialties for Doctors Report 2026” surveyed 5,916 physicians across 29 specialties between Sept. 5 and Dec. 17. The report was published April 21.
Survey respondents were asked to rank the top five specialists that appeal to medical students and residents over the next three years. Here are the most appealing physician specialties:
Note: The percentages are based on how often the specialty was named in the top five and this list contains ties.
1. Dermatology: 54%
1. Orthopedics: 54%
3. Cardiology: 34%
3. Anesthesiology: 34%
5. Plastic surgery: 31%
6. Radiology: 27%
6. Emergency medicine: 27%
8. Ophthalmology: 24%
9. Gastroenterology: 19%
10. Internal medicine: 18%
11. Psychiatry: 15%
11. Oncology: 15%
13. General surgery: 14%
14. Family medicine: 12%
15. Critical care: 10%
16. Physical medicine and rehabilitation: 9%
16. Otolaryngology: 9%
18. Diabetes and endocrinology: 8%
18. Allergy and immunology: 8%
18. Urology: 8%
21. OB-GYN: 6%
22. Pediatrics: 4%
22. Public health and preventive medicine: 4%
22. Neurology: 4%
25. Infectious diseases: 3%
25. Pathology: 3%
27. Rheumatology: 2%
27. Pulmonary medicine: 2%
27. Nephrology: 2%
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