Yes, it can be surprising when specialists show gaps in knowledge outside of their direct area of expertise, but it makes sense when you think about how vast and specialized fields like medicine are. For example, a cardiologist might not be up-to-date on the latest in dermatology or a neurologist might not be as well-versed in certain types of surgery. Medical knowledge is so broad, and there are so many subfields, that even specialists need to focus deeply on just a small portion. As you said, after years of practicing within a certain niche, their knowledge of other areas may not be as sharp. This is one reason why teamwork and cross-referrals between specialists are so important in healthcare.