Pursing opportunities in the medical and health fields can lead to rewarding careers that include a wide range of skills. Although many people associate doctors and nurses with the medical field, there are also administrative, legal, manufacturing, and community and social service roles in the medical and health sectors.
The wide range of opportunities in medicine and healthcare is one reason to consider entering these career fields. Medical and health professionals are also in demand, which means medical and health workers will have job opportunities when they graduate. Many careers in these fields also pay substantial salaries, and you don’t need a doctoral degree to earn a substantial salary. Whether you’re interested in providing direct patient care or producing medical supplies, numerous medical and health career options may appeal to you.
Manufacturing Supplements
Supplements are an integral part of the healthcare industry. Medical scientists are experts with a doctoral degree who focus on creating and testing medicinal products. Medicinal chemists also create pharmaceutical products. They typically need a bachelor’s degree in chemistry or a related discipline. As a medical scientist or medicinal chemist, you can utilize your skills and work with vitamin supplement manufacturers to produce vitamins for your clients. Vitamins can be designed to provide essential nutrients or address specific health issues by promoting weight loss or improving digestion.
Lawyers
Lawyers are highly trained legal experts who are qualified to file legal motions and argue cases at trial. They must earn a bachelor’s degree and a law degree and pass the bar exam. Many lawyers opt to specialize and focus on cases in a specific field of law. A healthcare lawyer career can involve working for hospitals, pharmaceutical companies, nursing homes, insurance companies, or medical professionals. Healthcare lawyers may advise their clients on steps to take to ensure they comply with healthcare regulations or defend them if they are accused of violations.
Healthcare Social Workers
Social workers can opt to specialize in specific areas, such as healthcare or education. Although a bachelor’s degree is sufficient to enter this field, those who opt to specialize may need a master’s degree. Healthcare social workers may work for government agencies, hospitals, and healthcare providers. They help patients process their diagnosis. Healthcare social workers also provide patients with information about service providers and resources they can use to accommodate their needs. They may counsel patients and their family members.
Physical Therapy Assistants
Physical therapy assistants work under the supervision of physical therapists. They provide some direct patient care, including teaching patients how to perform exercises or use assistive devices. Physical therapy assistants also teach patients and their families how to adapt to the patient’s needs at home or improve their ability to move and manage their pain. Physical therapy assistants can enter their career field after earning an associate’s degree.
Medical Records and Health Information Technicians
A post-secondary certificate is required to become a medical record or health information technician. These healthcare professionals need strong administrative skills. Their duties involve updating patient records, organizing databases, coding files, and processing billing for healthcare services. Medical records and health information technicians typically work in hospitals, medical offices, and nursing homes.
Oncologists
Oncologists are medical doctors that specialize in cancer treatment. Cancer is the second-highest cause of death in the United States, which underscores the need for cancer care telemedicine and in-person services for patients. Oncologists are qualified to diagnose a patient with cancer. They may also focus on a specific treatment method for their patients. Some oncologists perform surgeries while others provide immunotherapy or chemotherapy treatments to patients.
Dietitians and Nutritionists
Dietitians and nutritionists teach patients about healthy foods and how to improve their diet. They may create meal plans to help patients lose weight or eliminate ingredients they can’t digest, such as milk or gluten. Dieticians and nutritionists must have a bachelor’s degree in their field and typically work for hospitals, nursing homes, or government agencies.
Community Health Workers
Community health workers can enter their field with a high school diploma and on-the-job training. They work at government, religious, and medical facilities and provide healthcare-related support to people in a designated community. Their duties can include information residents about healthcare options, gathering data about local healthcare needs, and helping people apply for Medicaid, Medicare, or other health services.