Most beginning students think, "Doctor." That remains an important option, but there are many others that should be explored. Several are introduced briefly here, with standard web sites. Students also need to explore on their own and with the help of advisors.
Medicine. M.D., Doctor of Medicine, or D.O, Doctor of Osteopathy (a legal equivalent to the M.D., but a training that emphasizes wellness and tries to minimize use of surgery and drugs.) Requires a bachelor's degree, not necessarily in science but one strong in biology, chemistry, physics and math, as well as in social sciences and communication skills. The M.D. or D.O. itself usually takes four years after the bachelor's, followed by a 3 to 6 year specialization period during which time the new doctor, while practicing medicine, is working intensively under supervision of advanced physicians to develop special skills.
http://www.aamc.org/students/considering/careers.htmDentistry. Some schools accept some students who have not completed a bachelor's degree, but increasingly dental schools require a baccalaureate. Dental school is typically four years, and often is followed by one or more years of specialization. Specific requirements may be found at the American Dental Educational Association site:
http://www.adea.org/student-applicant/default.htmOptometry. Most schools are now requiring completion of a bachelor's degree, usually in biology, chemistry or physics, before admission. Training is 3 to 4 years, and, as with all medical fields, there are opportunities for specialized post-graduate training.
http://www.aoanet.org/eweb/DynamicPage.aspx?site=AOAstage&WebCode=CareerGuidancePhysical Therapy is a growing profession, expanding continually into sports medicine, rehabilitation, and geriatric support. The national accrediting body has recently adopted the master's degree as the required entry-level professional degree. Undergraduates often major in biology, but may also major in physical education or other fields, while also taking strong courses in biology, chemistry and physics.
http://www.apta.org/Education/prospectivestudentinfoGenetic counseling. This field is evolving rapidly, and professional requirements vary from state to state. Individuals usually have degrees in biology, with specialized training in human genetics.
http://www.nsgc.org/careers/index.aspPhysician's Assistant. This rapidly expanding professional position has requirements that vary considerably from one state to another. While originally the bachelor's degree was not required, now it often is prior to entry to a P.A. program. The P.A. carries out some medical procedures, does intake interviews, and in general works as a surrogate doctor for patients who don't require the continuous or immediate attention of a supervising physician.
http://www.aapa.org/gandp/statereg.htmlPharmacy is a growing and rapidly changing field, as the pharmacist becomes both a medical educator for patients and an advisor to physician in their choice of medications, or their concerns about drug interactions. While the bachelor's degree was not originally required, now many colleges of pharmacy require completion of a degree strong in biology and chemistry before admission. Training is typically 3 years, but some offer a 4-year program.
http://www.aacp.org/site/page.asp?TrackID=&VID=1&CID=29&DID=3022Public Health. Many students do not realize that there is a series of degrees in public health, including both the Master's (MPH) and Doctorate (DPH). These professionals have both research and applied responsibilities in matters that affect the health of the general public, including concern for such things as emerging diseases (
West Nile Virus, for instance), and the spread of contagious disease, a field known as epidemiology.
www.usc.edu/schools/medicine/departments/preventive_medicine/Veterinary medicine. This is an interesting, and highly competitive, path for health practitioners who want to direct their skills to animals rather than people. The training parallels that of the M.D., but in schools of veterinary medicine. An undergraduate degree strong in biology, chemistry, physics and math is absolutely required, and competition for a limited number of spots means that only those with excellent education and significant experience working in veterinary settings will be accepted.
http://www.avma.org/careforanimals/animatedjourneys/aboutvets/vetschools.aspClinical laboratory science (medical technology). This is a specific undergraduate degree path usually associated with a Microbiology degree. Students learn to use modern instrumentation in doing tests on blood, urine and other body fluids and tissues. An internship is usually required, and there are opportunities for specialization in certain disease conditions, such as differential cancer diagnoses. See: American Society of Clinical Laboratory Scientists Career Center
http://www.ascls.org/jobs/careers.aspEnvironmental health specialist is a professional position the name of which varies from state to state. The specialist is involved with food safety, sanitation, sewage, and other aspects of the environment that often affect human health. A specific bachelor's degree (varying with states), internship, and apprentice training are usually required. See for an example: California: Environmental Health Specialist
http://www.calmis.cahwnet.gov/file/occguide/ENVHLTH.HTMMosquito abatement and other disease control. Those who direct these operations usually have a biology degree, often in entomology. State licensing requirements vary considerably.
Research in health biology. The following are examples of fields in which health research is very active. Because the research tools and strategies are changing so rapidly today, it is difficult to specify exact position names.
Biotechnology. Originally equated with "genetic engineering," this term now applies to the whole field of manipulating molecules to develop new drugs, to implant new genes, or alter existing ones, and more generally to the manipulation of genes and gene products (such as proteins) for many purposes, including enhanced production of food crops and other plants.
Biomedical engineering. This is a powerful field for the mathematically and technically inclined, the basis for rapidly developing work in artificial limbs and organs. Professionals usually have an engineering degree, or advanced degrees in biology with special training in engineering theory and practice. Some universities offer undergraduate and graduate degrees in biomedical engineering.
http://www.bmes.org/careers.aspPharmaceutical development. Work conducted in industry and in academic labs to develop new medications. Along with biotechnology, this is one of the most rapidly expanding fields for young biologists seeking non-client health careers.
http://www.wiley.com/WileyCDA/WileyTitle/productCd-0470843284.htmlBioinformatics. The complexity of organizing information about human genes is so great that massive numbers must be handled statistically. Students with an interest in math, statistics, and health, are much in demand in genetics research and in the application of such research to health.
http://biotech.icmb.utexas.edu/pages/bioinfo.htmlToxicology. Persons trained usually at the Master's or doctoral level study the cumulative health effects of small amounts of toxic materials found in food, atmosphere, water, or elsewhere in the environment (a sub field known as environmental toxicology). The classical study of poisons and their control is also a subject for study by toxicologists, as is current interest in anthrax, ricin and other potential tools of terrorists.
http://www.toxicology.org/MemberServices/StudentServices/studentservices.htmlPharmaceuticals, Medical Device and Drug Marketing, Sales and Education. Medicines and drugs constitute a huge industry worldwide to which many biology majors ultimately make their way. The scientific positions range from directors of internationally important research programs, to entry-level technical jobs as lab assistants. The positions that combine science and other skills include marketing, sales, education of the public and of professional pharmaceutical users, management of clinical trials, and communication of many forms.
http://www.wiley.com/WileyCDA/WileyTitle/productCd-0470843284.htmlMedical (and scientific) Illustration. As society becomes increasingly oriented to images accompanying text, the demand for accurate and knowledgeable graphics is increasing. The occasional student wants to combine a career in art with a career in science. Most universities offer such students the opportunity to create a special degree program; a few already have such programs in place. See: Association of Medical Illustrators
http://medical-illustrators.org/
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