HDS Careers: Health and Medicine

Physicians and surgeons diagnose and treat injuries and illnesses in patients. Physicians examine patients, take medical histories, prescribe medications, and order, perform, and interpret diagnostic tests. Surgeons operate on patients to treat injuries, such as broken bones; diseases, such as cancerous tumors; and deformities, such as cleft palates. Almost all physicians complete at least 4 years of undergraduate school, 4 years of medical school, and 3 to 8 years of internship and residency, depending on their specialty.

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UCSD Career Services References:
About Medicine
Pre-requisites for Med school

Trade Organizations(including lists of graduate programs):
American Medical Association
American Osteopathic Association

Medical Specialities:
American Academy of Family Physicians
American Board of Medical Specialties
American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists
American College of Surgeons

Physician assistants, also known as PAs, practice medicine under the direction of physicians and surgeons. They are formally trained to examine patients, diagnose injuries and illnesses, and provide treatment. Most physician assistants have a bachelor’s degree. Then, they must complete an accredited educational program for physician assistants. That usually takes at least 2 years of full-time study and typically leads to a master’s degree. All states require physician assistants be licensed.

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Trade Organizations:
American Academy of Physician Assistants

Registered nurses (RNs) provide and coordinate patient care, educate patients and the public about various health conditions, and provide advice and emotional support to patients and their family members. Registered nurses usually take one of three education paths: a bachelor's degree in nursing, an associate’s degree in nursing, or a diploma from an approved nursing program. Registered nurses must also become licensed by passing a national licensing examination.

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UCSD Career Services References:
About Nursing

Trade Organizations:
American Nurses Association
National League for Nursing
Registered Nurse RN

For information about undergraduate and graduate nursing education, nursing career options, and financial aid, visit:
American Association of Colleges of Nursing

Advanced Practice Registered Nurses (APRNs)--Masters Level (Midwife, Practitioner, anesthetists, clinical specialists)--may provide primary and specialty care, and, in most states, they may prescribe medicines. All states specifically define requirements for registered nurses in these four advanced practice roles:

• Clinical nurse specialists provide direct patient care and expert consultations in one of many nursing specialties, such as psychiatric-mental health.
• Nurse anesthetists provide anesthesia and related care before and after surgical, therapeutic, diagnostic, and obstetrical procedures. They also provide pain management and emergency services.
• Nurse-midwives provide care to women, including gynecological exams, family planning advice, prenatal care, assistance in labor and delivery, and care of newborns. 
• Nurse practitioners serve as primary and specialty care providers, providing a blend of nursing and primary care services to patients and families.

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UCSD Career Services References:
About Nursing

Medical Specialities:

For information about clinical nurse specialists, including a list of accredited programs, visit:
National Association of Clinical Nurse Specialists

For information about nurse anesthetists, including a list of accredited programs, visit:
American Association of Nurse Anesthetists

For information about nurse practitioners, including a list of accredited programs, visit:
American Academy of Nurse Practitioners

Trade Organizations:
American Nurses Association
National League for Nursing
Registered Nurse RN

For information about undergraduate and graduate nursing education, nursing career options, and financial aid, visit:
American Association of Colleges of Nursing

Pharmacists dispense prescription medications to patients and offer advice on their safe use. Pharmacists work in pharmacies, including those in grocery and drug stores. They also work in hospitals and clinics. Pharmacists must have a Doctor of Pharmacy (Pharm.D.), a 4-year professional degree. They also must be licensed, which requires passing two exams.

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US Dept of Labor Occupational Outlook Handbook: Pharmacists

UCSD Career Services References:
About Pharmacy

Trade Organizations:
American Society of Health-System Pharmacists
American Pharmacists Association

For information on pharmacy as a career, preprofessional and professional requirements, programs offered by colleges of pharmacy, and student financial aid, visit:
American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy

Dentists diagnose and treat problems with a patient’s teeth, gums, and other parts of the mouth. They provide advice and instruction on taking care of teeth and gums and on diet choices that affect oral health. Specialists such as pediatric dentists focus on dentistry for children and special-needs patients.  Dentists must be licensed in all states; requirements vary by state. To qualify for a license in most states, applicants must graduate from an accredited dental school and pass written and practical exams.

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UCSD HealthBeat References:
About Dentistry

Trade Organizations:
American Dental Association, Commission on Dental Accreditation

For information on admission to dental schools, visit
American Dental Education Association

Medical Specialities:
Academy of General Dentistry
American Association of Orthodontists
American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons
American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry
American Academy of Periodontology
American College of Prosthodontists
American Association of Endodontists
American Academy of Oral and Maxillofacial Radiology
American Association of Public Health Dentistry

Dietitians and nutritionists are experts in food and nutrition. They advise people on what to eat in order to lead a healthy lifestyle or achieve a specific health-related goal. Clinical dietitians and nutritionists provide medical nutrition therapy. They work in hospitals, long-term care facilities, clinics, private practice, and other institutions. They create nutritional programs based on the health needs of patients or residents and counsel patients on how to lead a healthier lifestyle. Clinical dietitians and nutritionists may further specialize, such as working only with patients with kidney diseases or those with diabetes. Most dietitians and nutritionists have a bachelor’s degree in nutrition and have participated in supervised training (a human development student would need to pursue a masters in nutrition). Also, many states require dietitians and nutritionists to be licensed.

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Trade Organizations:

For a list of academic programs, scholarships, and other information about dietitians, visit:
Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics

For information on the Registered Dietitian (RD) exam and other specialty credentials, visit:
Commission on Dietetic Registration

Epidemiologists investigate the causes of disease and other public health problems to prevent them from spreading or from happening again. They report their findings to public policy officials and to the general public. Epidemiologists who work in private industry commonly work for health insurance companies or pharmaceutical companies. Those in non-profit companies often do public advocacy work. Local government epidemiologists study one or more of the following public health areas: Infectious diseases, Bioterrorism/emergency response, Maternal and child health, Chronic diseases, Environmental health, Injury, Occupational health, Substance abuse, or Oral health.

Epidemiologists need at least a master’s degree from an accredited postsecondary institution. Most epidemiologists have a master’s in public health or a related field, and some have a Ph.D. in epidemiology.

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UCSD Career Services References:
About Public Health

Trade Organizations:

For more information about epidemiologists, including schools offering education in epidemiology, visit:
Council of State and Territorial Epidemiologists

For more information about epidemiology careers in the federal government, visit:
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

Health educators teach people about behaviors that promote wellness. They develop programs and materials to encourage people to make healthy decisions. Health educators work in a variety of settings, including hospitals, non-profit organizations, government, doctors’ offices, private business, and colleges.A bachelor’s degree is required for entry-level positions. Some employers may require the Certified Health Education Specialist (CHES) credential.

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UCSD Career Services References:
About Public Health

Trade Organizations:
SHAPE America
Society for Public Health Education

For more information about the Certified Health Education Specialist (CHES) credential, visit:
National Commission for Health Education Credentialing, Inc

Medical and health services managers, also called healthcare executives or healthcare administrators, plan, direct, and coordinate medical and health services. They might manage an entire facility, specialize in managing a specific clinical area or department, or manage a medical practice for a group of physicians. Most medical and health services managers have at least a bachelor’s degree before entering the field; however, master’s degrees also are common. Requirements vary by facility.

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Trade Organizations:

For information about medical and healthcare office managers, visit:
Professional Association of Health Care Office Management
American Health Information Management Association
American College of Health Care Administrators