Working Toward a Medical Degree? 4 Career Paths to Consider

Today, incredible opportunities exist within the healthcare industry for individuals who seek career success and advancement. With heightened demand and a shortage of skilled professionals, job openings are plentiful. From hands-on patient care to administrative jobs, this article explores 4 career paths to apply your medical degree towards. Epidemiologist Epidemiologists are also sometimes called, “disease detectives.” They conduct scientific research in order to find ways to protect public health from diseases through medical solutions and educational measures. A medical degree as an epidemiologist can lead you to many different careers such as infection control, health policy, and disease control, prevention, and management. Many choose to specialize in a number of areas such as reproductive health, environmental hazards, or veterinary epidemiology. Since job duties vary greatly, you can choose a branch of the field that suits your interests. Medical Assistant Medical assistants have multidisciplinary responsibilities that range from administrative tasks to clinical assignments. They can be found in most hospitals, private physician’s offices, rehabilitation centers, and many other health care facilities. A medical assistant class will give you the skills needed to handle the front desk to properly schedule patients, handle insurance paperwork, and be the face of the clinic. When they are not behind the desk, they take patient histories, collect specimens, help with exams, and prepare rooms with equipment. Unlike more specialized areas of medicine, medical assistants can graduate into the medical field with a certificate or associate's degree from an accredited school. Dental hygienist Another way to enter the healthcare field quickly is to become a dental hygienist. Dental hygienists perform exams, cleanings, take x-rays, and other in-office duties. They also keep patients educated on proper oral care and with the supervision of a dentist, they can help with managing patient care and treatment plans. Job duties and educational requirements will vary from state-to-state depending on the local laws. Nurse Anesthetist An advanced-practice nurse who achieves certification in anesthesia is called a certified registered nurse anesthetist (CRNA). They work in a variety of settings including obstetrics and operating rooms in hospitals, plastic surgery centers, dental offices, pain management centers, public health facilities, and outpatient surgery facilities. CRNAs administer anesthesia during surgery, oversees recovery from anesthesia after a procedure, and prepares the patient before administering. The medical field is a lucrative and satisfying field to get involved in. There are many pathways to choose from that can suit anyone with an interest in healthcare from hands-on patient care to lab research. It is a stable industry with projected growth in years to come as the population ages.