Health & Medicine

What is Health and Medicine?

The health care field refers to the hundreds of professions that support humans’ physical and emotional well-being. Depending upon what kind of degree a student pursues, training in this field may qualify the graduate to perform a wide variety of tasks in a number of different settings. For example, a doctor or nurse provides hands-on service in a hospital or clinic, while medical researchers conduct experiments in laboratory settings, and medical administrative support personnel ensure the secure storage of patient information and facilitate the transmission of important medical information.

Who Should Study Health and Medicine?

If you’re considering a degree in health, nursing or medicine, you may ideally answer “yes” to the following questions:

• Do I have a strong background in the sciences, including biology, chemistry and anatomy?
• Am I reasonably comfortable with math and new technologies, including computers?
• Am I empathic and a good listener?
• Am I a good multi-tasker?
• Do I remain calm under pressure?
• Do I want to dedicate my career to helping people heal?

 Ideally, you may also answer “no” to the following questions:

• Am I squeamish?
• Am I germ-phobic?
• Do I get stressed out under pressure?
• Do I prefer language, music and the arts to science and math?

Types of Health and Medicine Careers

Those interested in a career in health, nursing and/or medicine have plenty of paths from which to choose. Individuals who would like to work in direct patient care could consider the following jobs, among others:

• Nurse. Nurses care for ill people, promote health and prevent illness.
• Physician’s assistant. Physician’s assistants provide certain medical services under the supervision of a licensed medical doctor.
• Medical doctor. Medical doctors, or physicians, promote and/or restore health through the diagnosis and treatment of illness.
• Naturopathic doctor. Naturopathic doctors focus on holistic treatment of illness, using natural remedies to treat imbalance within the body.
• Dentist. Dentists care for the teeth, gums and mouth.
• Psychologist. Psychologists study mental processes and help to restore and/or maintain mental health.
• Herbalist. Herbalists use herbs to treat illness and promote health.
• Chiropractor. Chiropractors restore spinal health by using treatments such as spinal manipulation and manipulation of the soft tissues.
• Veterinarian. Veterinarians care for sick and injured animals.
• Acupuncturist. Acupuncturists treat pain or disease by inserting needles at certain points in the skin.