Aprimary care physician is a doctor who treats many types of illness and injuries. a specialist is a medical professional who has chosen to focus on one field of medicine, such as an oncologist, who treats only cancer, or a podiatrist, who focuses only on treating foot conditions. what are the advantages of seeing a specialist as opposed to a primary care physician? list at least one circumstance in which you might want to see a specialist, and at least one circumstance in which you might want to see a primary care physician. < < read less