As you are inching closer to college and are trying to consider what career path to take, it is easy to feel boxed in, especially if you are considering working in the medical field. Although it may feel like being a physician is the only path to work in healthcare, medicine is inherently a collaborative environment, which means there are numerous opportunities for you depending on your interests to make a difference in the medical field! If being a physician is truly where you see yourself, of course, work hard and follow your dreams, but it is equally as important to be aware of and consider all your options. Here are some of the careers available to you if you are interested in the healthcare field.
Occupational Therapist
Occupational therapists help patients of all ages engage in activities in their daily life to promote well-being and independence. Their responsibilities include conducting physical and cognitive exams to identify any barriers that may make it hard for patients to participate in daily activities. Occupational therapists create treatment plans and therapeutic interventions such as adaptive equipment/technology and exercise to help disabled individuals reintegrate themselves into society and activities after illness or injury.
Occupational therapists start with a 4-year bachelor’s degree after high school before obtaining a Master’s Degree in Occupational Therapy (MOT). While this is enough to become licensed, some also pursue a Doctoral degree (OTD or PhD) to open up more options in research and teaching. Graduates then take the NBCOT exam to obtain their license.
Physical Therapist
Physical therapists specifically optimize their patients’ movement and function to improve their quality of life. They identify limitations and physical abilities to develop treatment plans in collaboration with the healthcare team. They can treat patients by using electrical stimulation or teach them therapies that can be done at home.. Physical therapists can also be involved in prevention programs and initiatives in schools, workplaces, and community settings to reduce potential injuries.
After high school, physical therapists complete a 4-year Bachelor’s degree and then complete a 3-year Doctor of Physical Therapy program (DPT). They then take the NPTE exam to obtain their state licensure. Physical therapists can also choose to take additional coursework and exams to specialize in various fields including neurology, pediatrics, or sports therapy.
Psychologist
Psychologists specialize in understanding human behavior, emotions and other processes that occur in the brain. They can diagnose mental health conditions, create treatment plans, provide counseling, and contribute to research. It is important to note, however, that psychologists cannot prescribe medications – that is the responsibility of psychiatrists, a type of physician. Psychologists can specialize in certain mental health disorders like depression, anxiety, and PTSD or specialize in certain populations like pediatrics, adolescents, or even prisoners.
Psychologists must obtain a 4-year Bachelor’s degree and then complete a graduate Psychology program. It is optional to obtain a Master’s Degree, which allows you to work in special settings like schools. You can also obtain a Doctoral degree (PhD or PsyD). This path generally takes 4-6 years to complete and involves intensive coursework. If a psychologist is more interested in research, a PhD is recommended, however, if clinical practice is what suits your interests, a PsyD focuses more on hands-on experience.
Pharmacist
Pharmacists play a very important role in medication development and administration. Depending on their specific career path, a pharmacist’s responsibilities include dispensing medications and counseling patients on usage and side effects. They work with other healthcare workers to optimize medication therapy, create specialized medications, and manage inventory. Many pharmacists are also involved in research and development. Pharmacists can either work in a separate pharmacy, like at your local CVS or Walgreens, directly in a hospital with their own patients, or doing research in the corporate world.
Pharmacists must complete a 4-year Bachelor’s degree and then complete a Doctor of Pharmacy Degree, which typically takes 4 years to complete, however, there are 6-year combined undergraduate/Pharm.D. programs available. Pharmacists must also pass the NAPLEX and MPJE exams to get licensed. Similar to most other healthcare roles, pharmacists have to renew their licenses periodically by completing continuing education courses.
Physician Associate
Physician associates collaborate with physicians and practice medicine under their supervision. Some of their responsibilities include conducting patient examinations, ordering and interpreting diagnostic tests, developing treatment plans, and performing certain procedures. Physician associates can play a key role in a patient’s care and have the flexibility to switch between different fields, however, they require supervision by a licensed physician, who makes the primary decisions. A PA’s role is also often decided based on state regulations and the specialty they choose.
Physician associates must complete a 4-year bachelor’s degree after high school to apply to an accredited Physician Associate program, which, on average, takes about 2 to 2.5 years to complete. PAs must also pass the PANCE to become a certified Physician Associate. Unlike a physician, PAs do not need a residency period and have a much shorter path to become licensed.
Dentist
Dentists specialize in oral health, which is important for a patient’s overall health. Some of their responsibilities include diagnosing oral conditions like cavities or gum disease, performing dental procedures like root canals or even cosmetic veneers, and educating patients on preventive care and oral hygiene. Dentists can also choose to specialize in various fields like endodontics, orthodontics, periodontics, and even oral maxillofacial surgery.
Dentists first complete a 4-year Bachelor’s degree after high school and take the DAT exam to apply to dental school, which gives them a Doctor of Dental Surgery degree (DDS) or Doctor of Dental Medicine degree (DMD). In the US, dentists have to pass the NDBE and a clinical exam to get their license to practice. Dentists can choose to complete an optional residency program if they wish to specialize.
Nurse
Nurses are the backbone of direct patient care. Although they do not make the primary medical decisions, they are usually at the forefront of patient care. Their primary responsibilities include monitoring patients, administering medications, as well as managing and updating their patients’ treatment plans. While doing this, they are working with the primary physician and the rest of the healthcare team. Nurses can even choose to specialize in any medical field, including family medicine, geriatric medicine, and neurology.
Most nurses complete a 4-year Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) degree and pass the NCLEX to become a Registered Nurse (RN). These are the nurses you usually see during your hospital stay. However, to gain more independence and the ability to diagnose and make some primary medical decisions for their patients, some nurses choose to pursue further education to become a Nurse Practitioner. This requires either a Masters in Nursing or a Doctor of Nursing Practice degree.
Physician
Physicians are primarily responsible for the overall health concerns of patients, excluding most oral care. Their primary responsibilities are to obtain medical histories and conduct physical examinations to diagnose patients, create treatment plans, oversee a patient’s healthcare team, and conduct medical procedures. There is a broad spectrum of specialties available for someone interested in becoming a physician and you can choose to spend more time with patients as an internist or have less face-to-face interaction as a radiologist or surgeon. Every specialty comes with its own set of roles and opportunities and a physician may choose to work in their own private practice, work in a hospital, or teach in an academic setting.
To become a physician, you must complete a 4-year Bachelor’s degree, with some science-specific course requirements as well as take the MCAT exam, to apply to an accredited 4-year medical school. Through medical school you can either get a Medical Degree (MD) or a Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine degree (DO). If you are at an MD school, you take the USMLE, and if you are at a DO school, you take the COMLEX, however, you may take both exams if you choose. After medical school, graduates apply to a residency program, which may take varying lengths of time depending on the specialty – generally surgery specialties are 3-4 years longer than internal medicine residencies. From there, physicians may choose to pursue a fellowship to further specialize in their desired field. Physicians take board exams every few years to maintain their certification to practice.
Opportunities in the healthcare field are not just limited to those on this list. It is always important to carefully consider how you envision your future. How much education do you want to pursue? What lifestyle would you like? What type and how much patient interaction do you want? While preparing for your future in healthcare, visit this fact sheet from the Association of American Medical Colleges for more information. Just remember, your choices are abundant and any option you choose makes you an integral member of a patient's healthcare team!
Association of American Medical Colleges. (n.d.). Information for high school students. Students & Residents. https://students-residents.aamc.org/aspiring-docs-fact-sheets-get-experience/information-high-school-students
Shreya Ghosh
Sidney Kimmel Medical School
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