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Career Field - Healthcare
Specialized Career Center Services
- Events - The Career Center offers many
programs including workshops, panels and career fairs that are useful for
students interested in careers in healthcare and related fields. Search our
calendar for upcoming events.
- CareerMail - Join the "Health Careers"
mailing list for up-to-date resource, event, job and career information.
- Career Counseling - You may wish to
make an appointment to see a career
counselor to discuss career planning, internships, and/or the job search process.
- @cal Career Network - Can be used
to connect with Cal alumni who are in your career field of interest, whether
you are exploring career options or seeking advice about your job search.
- Vault Employer & Industry Guides - Downloadable employer and industry
guides for Cal students and alumni.
- Information Lab - The Information Lab
has a reference collection of print
materials on healthcare careers - look for relevant titles in our indexes
or in the Health section. You may also be interested in the Career Exploration,
Internship, Job Search and Health/Medical School sections of our library.
- Grad School Information - The Graduate
School section of the Career Center website provides information and tips,
including links to resources on graduate schools.
- Health Professional and Medical School
Information - The Health Careers section of the Career Center website
provides answers to your questions regarding course choices, information on
schools, timelines for planning your application and specifics useful to Cal
students considering health professional or medical school.
Student Organizations & Professional Association Information
Participating in associations can be a valuable avenue for learning
about an occupation or field. Associations are an excellent resource for networking, and their
websites often have information about careers. See additional organizations
and associations under each healthcare career path below. Connecting
with UC Berkeley Alumni is another important way for you to explore your
interest as you learn from an individual's experience.
Cal Student Organizations
- Comprehensive list of Pre-Health and
Pre-Medical Student Groups is the place to begin. The Career Center
works with the student leaders of groups to update this valuable resource
each semester.
- The Office of Student
Life has a searchable site to help you locate existing groups at Cal.
- Cal Corps Public Service
Center is another source to find students organized around health, as
it is often a key component of service related projects.
- Stiles Hall is another service
related organization that helps connect Cal students with community service
and each other.
Professional Organization
Career Paths/Occupational Information & Resources
Allied Health
ALLIED HEALTH PROFESSIONALS are involved with the delivery of health
or related services pertaining to the identification, evaluation and prevention
of diseases and disorders; dietary and nutrition services; rehabilitation
and health systems management, among others. Allied health professionals,
to name a few, include dental hygienists, diagnostic medical sonographers,
dietitians, medical technologists, occupational therapists, physical therapists,
radiographers, respiratory therapists, and speech language pathologists
Career Information
- Health Services Industry.
The Occupational Outlook Handbook provides detailed information about the
state of the industry. At the end of the article see the links to over 40
"Health Diagnosing and Treating" occupations, and Health Technologists
and Technicians. Information from the Bureau of Labor Statistics describing
the nature of the occupations, training and other qualifications, as well
as advancement, outlook and earnings information.
-
Health Professions.org. Over 100 different health fields with links to career descriptions, professional associations, other helpful resources.
- The California Community College
Health Occupations website is a great place to learn about where and
how long to train for a particular health care profession.
- California Health Careers Resource
Consortium provides information to students interested in health careers
and practical information about programs in California.
- Allied Health Careers. The American Medical Association provides career summaries of 39 health related fields (e.g. art therapist, athletic trainer, EMT, massage therapist).
Organizations & Associations
- Association of Schools of Allied Health
- Links to a variety useful resources including accreditation, allied and
related health organizations - including associations and institutes, funding
opportunities and more.
- The Association
of Health Professionals, Schools, and Students has a useful A-Z search
method. A search for massage therapist or radiology technologist takes you
to the professional society, which leads to more career information, contact
information for local professionals and useful links to help you gain insight
for your decision about which pathway to take in health.
- Professional
Trade Associations listed here help to illuminate the variety of roles
that exist in health; useful for the person with an interest in health,
but lacking in specific information about options.
Education/Licensure
Resources
- Healthcareers job
posting site. Get a quick look at job listings nationwide. Good collection
of allied health jobs.
- Health Professions
E-letter. Signing up for to this American Medical Association newsletter
is a long-term way to increase your knowledge about the variety of roles
in healthcare.
- Center
for the Health Professions at UCSF has a wealth of information regarding
health issues for Californians to consider and practical information about
the various roles on the health care team.
Alternative/Complementary Medicine
ALTERNATIVE THERAPIES include, but are not limited to the following disciplines:
folk medicine, herbal medicine, diet fads, homeopathy, faith healing, new age healing, chiropractic, acupuncture, naturopathy, massage, and music therapy.
General Information on Alternative Medicine
Chiropractic
Acupuncture
Naturopathic Physician
Music Therapy
Massage Therapy
Audiology/Speech Pathology
AUDIOLOGY - Audiologists are engaged in the scientific study of hearing
and help to prevent and assess hearing disorders, as well as fit and dispense
amplification systems such as hearing aids. Audiologists may also provide
fitting and tuning of cochlear implants, lip reading training, and test noise
levels in workplaces, schools and communities.
SPEECH PATHOLOGY - Speech-language pathologists treat such disorders as
stuttering, delayed language development, aphasia, and voice and articulation
problems. New computer applications developed to assist those with severe
communication disabilities, such as individuals who are unable to speak, are
among the most exciting research advances in the field.
Audiologists and Speech Pathologists work in many different facilities,
including public and private schools, hospitals, rehabilitation centers, colleges
and universities, and private practice offices, and provide hearing healthcare
to a broad population of patients from infants to the elderly.
Career Information
Organizations & Associations
- American Speech-Language-Hearing Association
(ASHA) promotes the interests of and provide the highest quality services
for professionals in audiology, speech-language pathology, and speech and
hearing science, and advocates for people with communication disabilities.
- National Institute on Deafness and
Other Communication Disorders (NIDCD) is one of the Institutes that
comprise the National Institutes of Health (NIH). NIH is the Federal government's
focal point for the support of biomedical research. The goal of NIH research
is to acquire new knowledge to help prevent,detect, diagnose, and treat
disease and disability. NIH is part of the U.S. Department of Health and
Human Services.
Education/Licensure
- In order to pursue a career as a certified audiologist, you must attain
a graduate degree in Audiology from a school accredited by ASHA's Council
on Academic Accreditation (CAA), pass a written examination, and complete
a 36-week postgraduate clinical fellowship as well as 375 hours of supervised
clinical experience. Career
Reports by the Black Collegian gives more detail regarding a typical
educational path.
- To prepare for work as a certified Speech Pathologist you will complete
graduate coursework, documented clinical hours and take a national exam,
leading in most cases to a Certification
of Clinical Competence (CCC). The CCC enables the Speech Pathologist
to work in all fifty states and private practitioners who wish to be reimbursed
by Medicare and Medicaid are required to hold the CCC or state license.
- The State of California Speech Language
Pathology and Audiology Board is the place to begin to understand more
licensing requirements.
Resources
- Speech Paths is a speech pathology
community informational resource on the Internet. This website is dedicated
to providing information to speech language pathologists and audiologists.
- The Hear Center - is
geared towards helping individuals with hearing loss or speech and language
impairments integrate into the mainstream of the community by providing
them with the means for developing auditory and oral communication skills.
- Net Connections to Communication
Disorders and Sciences - This comprehensive list of links is intended
for professionals and students in the fields of speech-language pathology,
audiology, speech science, persons with communication disabilities or differences
and their support persons.
Bioinformatics/Biostatistics
Please see the Bioinformatics/Biostatistics
section.
Chiropractic
CHIROPRACTIC is a branch of the healing arts that focuses on the idea that good health depends, in part, on a normally functioning nervous system, particularly in the case of the spinal cord. Chiropractors examine the spinal cord especially after falls and accidents in an effort to detect displacement of bones that may be a cause of stress and malfunctioning in the body. Overall, the chiropractic approach to healthcare is holistic, stressing the patient's overall health and wellness. Chiropractors do not make use of drugs or surgery when bone displacement is indicated. Rather, in some cases, chiropractors may manually adjust the spinal column by using water, light, massage, ultrasound, electric and heat therapy.
Career Information
Organizations & Associations
Education/Licensure
Resources
Dentistry
DENTISTS help people maintain and improve their oral health. Dentists specialize
in the care of teeth, gums and mouths; they diagnose, prevent and treat teeth
and tissue problems. To become a dentist usually requires three or more years
of undergraduate education, plus four years of dental school. Dental schools
award the degree of Doctor of Dental Surgery (DDS) or Doctor of Dental Medicine
(DMD). There is no difference between the two degrees; both dentists have
the same education. To become a dental specialist, additional post-graduate
training is required.
DENTAL HYGIENE is the area of dentistry that focuses primarily on prevention
of oral diseases, treatment of certain conditions, and oral health education.
Dental hygiene offers a variety of career options and currently there are
over 120,000-licensed dental hygienist in the United States. There are many
career options a dental hygienist can pursue, such as clinician; oral health
promoter/educator; researcher; administrator/manager; consumer advocate; and
change agent.
DENTAL ASSISTANTS perform a variety of patient care, office and laboratory
duties, including working alongside with the dentist as they examine and treat
patients. There are many opportunities available in the areas of the dental
office or the clinic. These positions include clinical assistant, infection
control manager, practice manager, preventive assistant, and business/reception
assistant.
Career Information
- Occupational Outlook Handbook
- Provides detailed information about the field of dentistry. Information
from the Bureau of Labor Statistics describing the nature of the occupation,
training and other qualifications, as well as advancement, outlook and earnings
information.
- Specialty
Areas of dental practice - Over 80% of Dentist are general practitioners
while about 20% are dental specialists who limit their practices to dental
specialty areas. This website provides definitions of Special Areas of Dental
Practice.
- Occupational Outlook Handbook: Provides an overview of both occupations
including; nature of the work, working conditions, employment, training,
job outlook, and earnings Dental
Assistants - Dental Hygienists
Organizations & Associations
Education/Licensure
All states require dentists to be licensed to practice. In most states, a
candidate must graduate from a US dental school accredited by the ADA Commission
on Dental Accreditation and pass written and practical examinations to qualify
for licensure.
-
Career Center Dentistry School - Cal Students' Frequently Asked Questions, Preparing/Classes, Applying and Resources including links to dental programs.
- The California Department of
Consumer Affairs can be searched by profession. Good place to learn
details regarding licensing requirements for various allied health professions
- The American
Dental Association website provides licensure information for dentists
educated within the US or Canada . The American
Association of Dental Examiners website offers contact information for
state and regional licensing examinations
- Dental Assisting National Board - Provides
credentialing services and provides examination overview and services information
to the dental community. For information regarding individual state licensing
requirements contact the Board of Dental Examiners in the state of choice.
- The American Dental Hygienists' Association has a Resource Booklet that
contains a listing of State Licensing Authorities. Write to: American Dental
Hygienists' Association.
Resources
Genetic Counseling
GENETIC COUNSELORS have graduate degrees and experience in the areas of
human, molecular, medical genetics; counseling techniques; and clinical internships.
They enter the field from a variety of disciplines, including biology, genetics,
nursing, psychology, public health and social work.
Genetic counselors work as members of a health care team, providing information
and support to families who have members with birth defects or genetic disorders
and to families who may be at risk for a variety of inherited conditions.
They investigate the problem, interpret information about the disorder, analyze
inheritance patterns and risks of recurrence and review available options.
They provide supportive counseling to families, serve as patient advocates
and refer individuals and families to community or state support services.
They also serve as educators and resource people for other health care professionals
and for the general public. Some counselors also work in administrative capacities.
Some engage in research activities related to the field of medical genetics
and genetic counseling. Genetic counselors practice in a variety of settings,
including hospitals, private offices, laboratories, federal and state government
offices, universities, and research units. (As defined by the National Society
of Genetic Counselors)
Career Information
Organizations & Associations
Education/Licensure
- Masters Level Genetic
Counseling Programs - The National Society of Genetic Counselors lists
US and international graduate programs with website, accreditation status,
application deadline and contact information. Currently there are only two graduate
programs in California: UC Irvine and California State University Northridge.
- Genetic Counseling
Licensing - The American Board of Genetic Counseling administers the
licensing examination
Resources
Gerontology & Aging
PROFESSIONALS IN GERONTOLOGY & AGING are concerned with the physical,
emotional, social, economic and spiritual aspects of aging. This multidisciplinary
professional group includes practitioners, educators, administrators, policymakers,
business people, and researchers. Some earn a graduate degree in gerontology;
others may receive a degree in another discipline with an emphasis on aging.
Career Information
- Careers in Aging will help
you determine if the field of aging is a possible career choice for you,
define roles for professionals in aging and answer many career questions.
- Gerontological Society.
Employment opportunities are discussed by students from the Gerontological
Society.
Organizations & Associations
Education/Licensure
Resources
Health Management, Policy & Consulting
HEALTHCARE MANAGERS/ADMINISTRATORS are responsible for development and
implementation of policies that affect the populations they serve and/or the
financing and delivery of services provided by healthcare organizations. Healthcare
administrators lead healthcare "provider"organizations such as hospitals,
health systems, clinics, medical groups, academic medical centers, hospices,
home health agencies and nursing homes. There are also roles for administrators
in "payer" organizations including health plans (e.g. HMOs, PPOs)
and governmental payers (e.g. Medicare or Medicaid). Administrators also lead
policy and/or regulatory organizations, advocacy organizations, public health
departments and numerous types of health related community based organizations.
There are administrators/managers in organizations that provide products or
services, including pharmaceutical, biotechnology, medical devices, medical
equipment and supply companies. (definition from the Health
Career Connection )
HEALTH POLICY professionals have diverse educational backgrounds and work
for policy organizations, government agencies, think tanks, research institutes,
consulting firms and corporations.
HEALTHCARE CONSULTANTS have expertise in healthcare, usually with backgrounds
in management or policy, but not limited to these areas. Consultants may be
called in to work with healthcare providers, government agencies, biotech/pharmaceutical
companies, community based organizations on a range of topics from strategic
planning and marketing, policy, organization development, operations, finance,
human resources, information technology, etc.
A typical qualification for all of these positions is a graduate degree
in Health Services, Public Health, Public Policy or a related field. It is
possible for bachelor's level graduates to find entry level employment working
in these fields. Entry level jobs usually entail research or administrative
work and require excellent communication, research, quantitative and computer
skills (e.g. Excel, statistics, database management).
Career Information
- Make a Difference,
Discover a career in healthcare management, American College of Healthcare
Excecutives.
Excellent career information, profiles, job outlook, salary information,
educational requirements, links to helpful sites
- "What
is a Health Care Administrator?" Healthcare Financial Management Association
- Careers in Healthcare.
The Healthcareers Connection provides undergraduates information about health
administration and public health administration careers.
- Medical and Health Services
Managers Health Care Administration - Occupational Outlook - Information
from the Bureau of Labor Statistics describing the nature of the occupation,
training and other qualifications, as well as advancement, outlook and earnings
information.
- The Public Health Careers section of the Career
Center's Healthcare Career section has detailed information about Public
Health careers.
- The Law & Policy section
of the Career Center's Career Fields section has more information about
Policy careers.
Organizations & Associations
Education/Licensure
Resources
- Pam Pohly's Net Guide: Health
& Medical Employerment - A wealth of links, resources and articles for
those who are looking for jobs in the healthcare industry (managed care,
hospitals, healthcare systems, companies, physician groups, etc.).
- Integrated Health Care Association is
a California leadership group of health plans, physician groups, and health
systems, plus at large academic, purchaser, pharmaceutical industry and
consumer representatives, involved in policy development and special projects
around integrated health care and managed care. Links to corporate members
and resources.
- California
Association of Health Plans is a statewide trade association representing
health care service plans in California. Links to 34 full-service heath
plans, information on related legislation.
- AcademyHealth
promotes the fields of health services research and health policy through
the transfer of relevant information across the research and policy arenas.
Good career resources and links to related organizations.
- Health
Policy Links, Association of Schools of Public Health
- NAHC National Association
of Healthcare Consultants Good links to other health management professional
associations
Human Medicine
Human medicine defines a profession in health care as licensed physicians.
Students pursuing a career in human medicine are required to complete 4 years
of medical school and then continue on to a residency program to later take
their board exams in order to attain their license for medicine practice in
the United States. Innumerable opportunities are offered to those with a profession
in human medicine; from clinical practice, to surgery, to public health, to
military medicine, to biomedical research.
There are two types of physicians that are qualified to be licensed for practice
in all 50 states: those who have earned an M.D. degree from an accredited
Allopathic Medical School or a D.O degree from an Osteopathic Medical School.
ALLOPATHIC PHYSICIANS are trained in medical schools that have traditionally
emphasized bioscientific information and are not taught osteopathic manipulation. Physicians in allopathic medicine are licensed to prescribe medications,
perform surgery, diagnose disease, and evaluate injury with the use of advanced
technology.
OSTEOPATHIC PHYSICIANS are trained in medical schools based on the concepts
that each patient has the innate ability for self-healing and that structures
of the body affect function and functional demands determine structure. Physicians
in osteopathic medicine are licensed to prescribe medications, perform surgery,
diagnose disease, and evaluate injury with the use of advanced technology.
Although osteopathic physicians are provided of all the benefits of modern
medicine as seen in allopathic medicine, they emphasize the achievement of
a high level wellness by focusing on health education, injury prevention,
and disease prevention. Hands on diagnosis and treatment through a system
of therapy known as osteopathic manipulative medicine are the additional tools
DOs use in treating patients.
GENERALIST PHYSICIANS are those commonly known as primary care physicians.
They provide lifelong medical services for the entire family and are trained
to provide the wide range of services that children and adult require for
optimal health at different points in life. Generalist internists, family
physicians, geriatrics, OB-GYN, and general pediatricians all fall into this
category and receive training in their residency after completing medical
school leading to licensure as a MD or DO.
SPECIALIST PHYSICIANS treat patients who are referred to them by the generalist
physicians for special attention. They examine a particular system or region
of the body. Some specialist doctors include: neurologists, cardiologists,
psychiatrists, and opthamologists. These residency trainings follow medical
school and licensure as a DO or MD, and vary in length from 3-6 years.
Career Information
- Occupational Outlook Handbook
"Physicians and Surgeons" maintained by the US Department
of Labor Bureau of Labor Statistics. Learn about the nature of work, working
conditions, training, employment, job outlook, and other health related
occupations of physicians and surgeons.
- American Medical Association provides
additional information about the work environment, salaries, outlook for
doctors for the future and issues facing the profession.
- Careers in Medicine
maintained by AAMC, includes a four-phase process that involve career planning,
exploring a variety of medical careers, and choosing a specialty to meet
your career objectives.
- Considering
a Career in Medicine is an excellent place for you to begin if you are
ready to learn more about the reality of a career as a doctor.
- What
is a DO? gives a good overview of medical education in the US and Osteopathic
Medical practice is described and the historical development of the
two types of medical education are explained, which includes an explanation
of the subtle difference between DOs and MDs.
Organizations & Associations
Education/Licensure
Resources
Mental Health
Professionals in Mental Health are primarily concerned with the wellbeing
of an individual's mental and emotional state. Mental health professionals
focus on how a mental illness or disorder may impact the way a person thinks,
behaves, and interacts with other people. This multidisciplinary professional
field includes psychiatrists, psychologists, psychoanalysts, social workers,
and marriage and family therapists.
PSYCHIATRISTS are able to prescribe medicines whereas other mental-health
professionals cannot.
PSYCHOLOGISTS diagnose and work with a variety of disorders such as depression,
eating disorders, and substance abuse; some are experts in diagnostic testing.
PSYCHOANALYSTS focus on getting to the root of long-term problems rather
than immediate.
SOCIAL WORKERS focus on assessing a person's environment and the internal
mental processes by implementing a plan that well improve their situation.
MARRIAGE AND FAMILY THERAPISTS evaluate and treat mental and emotional
disorders as well as other health or behavioral problems within the family.
Career Information
Organizations & Associations
Education/Licensure
(Note: more detailed information for each profession can be found on the
respective homepages listed above.)
- Psychiatrists have a medical degree (M.D.) and need to complete a four-year
residency in psychiatry. Post-baccalaureate training is approximately eight
years.
- Psychologists need to have a doctorate, such as a PhD or a PsyD (Doctor
of Psychology) and a state authorized license. Post-baccalaureate training
is five or more years.
- Psychoanalysts have the credentials of a psychiatrist, psychologist, or
a social worker and are also trained in the psychoanalytic field. Post-baccalaureate
training is five or more years.
- Social Workers, in mental health, need a Master's of Social Work (MSW)
degree plus a state license to be a licensed clinical social worker (LCSW).
Post-baccalaureate training for LCSW is four or more years. Council
of Social Work Education. Some social workers earn a MSW and do community-based
work; usually two years of post-baccalaureate training is needed.
- Marriage and Family Therapists (MFT) have at least a Master's degree with
training and experience in marriage and family therapy. The therapist can
take a state
licensing examination or the national examination for MFTs. Post-baccalaureate
training is two to five years.
- California Board of Behavioral Sciences
has details about licensure for mental health professionals.
- California Board of Education
provides information about additional licensing and examinations in California
for psychology.
Resources
Nursing
REGISTERED NURSES (RN) attend to patients' physical, mental, and social
well being in hospitals, schools, private clinics, workplaces, and in patients'
homes. They are advocates for patient care. Registered nurses are licensed
to practice by completing a board-approved nursing program (typically by receiving
a BSN) and passing the NCLEX exam, a national licensing examination, that
is administered by each state.
ADVANCED PRACTICE NURSES - Nurse Practitioners (NP) are registered nurses
with advanced clinical experience and graduate education training. They typically
receive a Masters degree upon completion and choose to specialize in: adult
health, family health, school health, pediatric health, gerontological health,
or acute care. Other advanced practice areas include Certified Nurse-Midwife,
Registered Nurse Anesthetist, Clinical Nurse Specialist and Public Health
Nursing. Nurse practitioners can provide basic medical services such as routine
physical examinations treat illnesses and may prescribe medication.
As more registered nurses pursue higher education, receive advanced degrees
and gain advanced clinical experience, they also pursue management and administrative
roles to work as nursing administrators, consultants, attorneys, educators
or researchers.
Career Information
Organizations & Associations
- National Student Nursing Association
- Provides career information about nursing, graduate study, conferences,
and more.
- American Nursing Association
- A professional organization that represents 2.6 million Registered
Nurses nationwide and is dedicated to the advancement of the nursing profession.
- California Nurses Association -
Headquartered in Oakland, CA. A progressive labor organization advocating
for the rights of registered nurses in California.
- American Academy of Nurse Practitioners
- A professional organization for nurse practitioners in all specialties.
Select "Education" from the "Research/Education" header
to view the resources and information under Nurse Practitioner Preparation.
Education/Licensure
- Planning a Career
in Nursing - From the American Nurses Association. Access the link for
"Nursing Careers" to learn about how to prepare for a career in
nursing, how to fund your nursing education and more.
- State of California, Board of Registered
Nursing - Access the Nursing Programs link to view schools in California
including 22 that offer the BSN degree and 24 that offer the NP degree.
- Johnson & Johnson's Campaign
for Nursing's Future - Click on "How?" to view information
about nursing prerequisites, nursing programs, and financial aid information.
- All Nursing Schools - Maintains
an updated list of nursing programs that you can search by degree program
or by specialty in the United States. There is also a useful Q&A section
that discusses the different paths to becoming a RN and the different advanced
practice nursing fields that a RN can pursue.
Resources
- State of California, Board of Registered
Nursing - Provides links to the Scope of Practice for Registered Nurses,
Nurse Practitioners, Certified Nurse-Midwives, and more in California, and
California's NCLEX pass rate by nursing programs.
- American Association of Colleges of
Nursing - Promotes and advocates for excellence in nursing education
programs. Provides information about accelerated programs, career resources,
and a professional nursing network linking BSN RNs and nurses with advanced
degrees with employers.
- All Nursing Schools - Access
the list of nursing programs in the United States.
- Nursing Zone - Career information,
job listings, and work-life balance resources for professionals in the nursing
field.
- Professional
Organizations List - Maintained by the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners.
Contains links to numerous nurse practitioner professional organizations,
non-NP organizations, and other non-nursing organizations.
- UCSF Career Center -
Has career resources including the various types of employment opportunities available for nurses,
public health/health policy resources, nursing students in international health careers, and more.
- Career Center Nursing Graduate School. Cal students' FAQ's, Preparing, Applying & Resources
Nutrition & Dietetics
A NUTRITION PROFESSIONAL specializes in food and nutrition. The specialist
in nutrition usually has an undergraduate or graduate degree in nutrition,
or related area of study. Some nutritionists have additional credentials (e.g.,
registered dietitian (RD)) signifying they have completed an accredited training
program and have passed a national registration exam. Nutritionists may also
complete advanced degrees in nutrition, food science, counseling, education
or public health. Nutritionist or dietitians work in a variety of setting
(e.g. healthcare, nonprofits, government agencies, food/health related corporations)
doing counseling, research, public education, marketing, product development/food
technology.
Career Information
- "Check it out: Careers
in Dietetics," American Dietetic Association Includes FAQ’s about careers,
training and certification.
- California Dietetic Association, Future
Dietetic Professionals. Select "Dietetic Jobs" to see brief
descriptions of different career tracks for Registered Dieticians: Nutritional
Sales, WIC, Sports Nutrition, Weight Loss.
- Dietitians and Nutritionists.Occupational
Outlook - from the Occupational Outlook Handbook. Information from the
Bureau of Labor Statistics describing the nature of the occupation, training
and other qualifications, as well as advancement, outlook and earnings information.
- Food Scientists. Occupational
Outlook - from the Occupational Outlook Handbook Information from the
Bureau of Labor Statistics describing the nature of the occupation, training
and other qualifications, as well as advancement, outlook, and earnings
information.
- New
Scientist Graduate: Ice Cream Researcher/Food Technologist profiles a new product development
manager.
Organizations & Associations
- Bay Area Dietetic
Association welcomes student members and provides opportunities for
networking, links to local resources, newsletter and continuing education
opportunities.
- California Dietetic Association
provides information about regional chapters, job resources, student membership,
education programs.
- Society for Nutrition Education Professionals
are actively involved in nutrition education and health promotion. They
work in colleges and universities, government agencies, cooperative extension,
communications and public relations firms, the food industry, voluntary
and service organizations. Student membership available.
- Northern California
Institute of Food Technologists represents food scientists and technologist
working on research, new product development and quality assurance in food
manufacturing. Access information on student membership, calendar of events,
links to other sections in California.
Education/Licensure
Resources
- The American Society for Nutritional Sciences.
Access journal, job listings, membership directories, resources. Includes
the American Society for Clinical Nutrition and Society for International
Nutrition Research divisions within the membership directory.
- Nutritionjobs.com.
Access jobs registered dieticians and technicians jobs and resources.
- NutritionResource.com.
Access jobs, articles, resources, message boards
- (The) Blonz Guide to Nutrition, Food &
Health Resources contains a wealth of nutrition and health web links
covering associations, publications, resources.
- See Professional Associations, above, for member directories and resources.
Occupational Therapy
OCCUPATIONAL THERAPISTS work with people suffering from various disabilities
to develop, improve or restore functional daily living skills. They work with
individuals who have conditions that are mentally, physically, developmentally,
or emotionally disabling and help them to develop, recover, or maintain daily
living and work skills. For instance, an elderly stroke victim may work with
a physical therapist to maximize physical strength and mobility but work with
an occupational therapist to learn how to live with the lingering effects
of the stroke in their home by adjusting their living environment and approach
to day-to-day tasks such as self-care, cooking, transportation, work and social
activities.
Career Information
Organizations & Associations
Education/Licensure
Resources
- US Bureau of Labor Statistics
describes the nature of the occupation, training and other qualifications,
as well as advancement, outlook and earnings information. Also includes
links to related occupations.
Optometry
DOCTORS OF OPTOMETRY (ODs) or OPTOMETRISTS examine, diagnose, and treat
conditions and diseases of the human eye, associated structures, and the visual
system. They prescribe eyeglasses and contact lenses and make referrals when
needed. Optometrists can assess conditions manifested in the human eye such
as glaucoma and diabetic retinopathy. They are licensed by the board of optometry
in the state where they wish to practice. All optometrists must complete a
four-year program at an accredited optometry school. Some optometrists may
continue their education in a Master or PhD program to teach or conduct research.
Many optometrists work in private practice either independently or with
a group. Others may work for hospitals, HMOs, health clinics, other optometrists
or ophthalmologists.
OPTHALMOLOGISTS (Eye MDs) are different from optometrists in that they
are physicians who specialize in diagnosing and treating eye diseases. They
can perform eye surgery in addition to prescribing corrective lenses.
Career Information
Organizations & Associations
- American Optometric Association is a
national association comprised of member affiliations to serve professionals
in the field of optometry. AOA sets professional standards for the field
of optometry and promotes quality eye care and vision.
- Association of Schools and Colleges of
Optometry - This nonprofit organization comprised of seventeen schools
of optometry in the United States and Puerto Rico promotes the advancement
of optometry education and prepares future optometrists.
- California Optometric Association
is a state organization representing optometrists in California.
Education/Licensure
Resources
- American Academy of Optometry comprises
of fellows who qualify for membership, promotes advanced optometric research,
and dissemination of research findings in vision science.
- Prevent Blindness America
is a national organization of volunteer health care providers who seek to
reduce blindness and improve vision by providing eye care services and conducting
research.
- National Optometric Association
seeks to increase the number of underrepresented minorities in the field
of optometry and to improve the quality and accessibility of eye care services
in traditionally low income minority communities.
Pharmaceutical Sales
PROFESSIONALS IN PHARMACEUTICAL SALES are engaged in a combination of
healthcare and business. As a company's pharmaceutical sales representative,
the professional interacts with physicians and healthcare providers on a regular
basis. They provide information on their product or group of products, including
why the products are the best currently offered in the market. Because of
this interesting combination of both business and healthcare, professionals
in this field come from all different majors and backgrounds. Training from
the pharmaceutical company upon being hired makes a degree in business or
the sciences optional, though experience in either could be beneficial.
Career Information
- http://www.coreynahman.com Includes
information on marketing and sales, including useful industry articles.
- Pharmboard.com features information
on the career field, as well as first hand accounts from people already
in the industry.
- WetFeet.Com
provides career information on the Pharmaceutical Industry, including a
section on the pros and cons of the field.
Organizations and Associations
- PhRma, Pharmaceutical Research and
Manufacturers of America, will help you explore all spectrums of the field,
including current events, new developments in medicine, and information
on the pharmaceutical companies that exist.
Resources
- Coreynahman.com has daily updates
on current Pharmaceutical Sales, Clinical Pharmaceutical, and Marketing
news.
- Biospace.com helps you learn more
about what is going on in and around the field of Pharmaceutical Sales.
Pharmacy
PHARMACISTS are healthcare providers who dispense prescription drugs to
patients, as directed by a doctor or other health practitioner. In addition,
they offer information and advice to patients regarding medications and their
proper use. Pharmacists must have a thorough understanding of prescription
drugs since they often advise physicians regarding the selection of drugs
for individual patients. Pharmacists work in a variety of environments including
community pharmacies, chain retail stores, hospitals, or home healthcare settings.
A license is required to practice pharmacy. Obtaining a license requires
earning a Doctor of Pharmacy degree (Pharm.D.), obtaining practical experience,
such as an internship under a licensed pharmacist, and passing a state examination.
Examinations and licensure varies state to state.
Career Information
- Occupational Outlook Handbook-Pharmacists
- Gives a complete overview of the occupation including the nature of the
profession, required education, and salary figures.
- Pharmacists-from
the California Occupational Guides - Information from the State of California's
Employment Development Department including a description of the occupation,
training/qualifications required, job outlook and earnings information.
- PharmacyNow - Organization
committed to being a valuable resource for all those interested in the profession;
includes information on mentoring, employment, career advancement, and current
issues in the field.
- Consider Pharmacy
as a Career - Section of the National Association of Chain Drug Stores
website that gives a comprehensive overview of the profession.
Organizations & Associations
- California Pharmacists Association (CphA)
- Professional organization that pays attention to policy and legislative
issues in California regarding the pharmacy profession. The job
listings are useful for the pre-pharmacy student considering the job
opportunities in this field.
- American Pharmacists Association
- The first established and largest professional association in the US Provides
information and education for current and prospective pharmacists. Membership
consists of practicing pharmacists, pharmaceutical scientists, pharmacy
students, pharmacy technicians, and others interested in advancing the profession.
- American Society of Health-System Pharmacists
- Professional organization representing pharmacists who work in a variety
of healthcare system settings including hospitals, HMOs, long-term care
facilities and home care. Also serves as the national accrediting organization
for pharmacy residency and pharmacy technician training programs.
- National Community Pharmacists Association
- Organization that represents employees, managers and owners of independent
community pharmacies in the U.S. Provides information on employment opportunities,
professional issues, continuing education, and much more.
Education/Licensure
Resources
- The American Pharmaceutical Association
(AphA) - Provides information, education, and advocacy to help all pharmacists
improve medication use and advance patient care. The Students section (link
is in left navbar) gives information about activities of pharmacy student
chapters regarding career development.
- Pharmacy Week - Gives the most
current salary information, discusses professional issues and has a job
listings section.
- National Association of Chain Drug Stores
- Includes a section on pharmacy which offers valuable resources for chain
pharmacy operators, practicing pharmacists, and current and prospective
pharmacy students.
- Health Professions Resources - Site that contains 800+ internet resources related to health professions. Visit the Health Professions Careers section for detailed information on being a pharmacist.
Physician Assistant
PHYSICIAN ASSISTANTS (PAs) provide health services under the supervision of a Physician. Their duties should not be confused with those of a medical assistant that conducts clinical and clerical tasks. PAs are formally trained to provide diagnostic, therapeutic, and preventive healthcare services, as delegated by a physician. Working as members of the healthcare team, they take medical histories, examine and treat patients, order and interpret laboratory tests and x rays, make diagnoses, and prescribe medications. PAs record progress notes, instruct and counsel patients, and order or carry out therapy.
Career Information
- US department of Labor: Physician Assistant -
gives a brief overview of the occupation including job outlook, training and education, earnings and a list of related occupations.
- Physician Assistant Questions and Answers -
answers some commonly asked questions in regards to this profession like what exactly Physician Assistants do, the training required and how they are didn’t from regular Physicians.
- California Employment Development Department -
provides a good look at the job prospects of this profession including wages, job outlook, entrance examination requirements, and resources to seek further information.
- Physician Assistant Jobs and Careers -
provides a searchable database to search for jobs as a Physician Assistant. It is helpful in providing a general idea of what kind of jobs are in this profession and, in general, what the qualifications are.
Organizations & Associations
- Physician Assistant Organizations -
provides links to the websites of most of the organizations in this country that are related to this field. Several of these organizations have pages that you can browse that pertain to examinations and information in regards to specific fields in the profession. Note that subscription is required to receive periodic updates from an organization.
- National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants -
presents a great deal of information on the exams that should be taken and goes into depth in regards to the certification process.
- American Academy of Physician Assistants -
is the only national organization that represents all Physician Assistants in all employment settings. Their website covers employment, licensing, clinical and professional issues, and information in regards to their upcoming conferences.
Education/Licensure
Resources
Podiatric Medicine
PODIATRIC MEDICINE is a branch of the medical sciences concerned with the diagnosis and treatment of conditions affecting the human foot ankle, ad their governing and related structures, including the local manifestations of systemic conditions.
A doctor of podiatric medicine (DPM) specializes in the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of foot disorders, diseases and injuries. A DPM makes independent judgments, utilizes x-rays and laboratory tests of diagnostic purpose, prescribes medications, orders physical therapy, sets fractures, and performs surgery. The DPM works closely with other health professionals to treat and control disease.
Career Information
Organizations & Associations
Education/Licensure
Resources
- Samuel Merritt College Links -
A wealth of podiatric links for national organizations, state organizations, podiatric publications, and other online resources.
- The DPM Mentor Network -
The DPM Mentor Network gives you the ability to contact a podiatric physician in your area to get more information about the profession or to make arrangements to visit the office of a podiatrist.
- ePodiatry.com is a comprehensive database on information related to podiatry and the foot with all the latest podiatry, foot health, medical and health care news.
- Ohio College of Podiatric Medicine Pre-Professional Internship Program -
Internship is designed to provide insight into the many facets of podiatric medicine and offers a one or two week experience in the months of January, June and July.
- Foot and Ankle Link Library -
Formerly known as The Podiatric Medicine & Surgery Network, this web page contains links to all of the podiatry-related websites of interest
Physical Therapy
PHYSICAL THERAPISTS work with patients who are accident victims and have
other disabling conditions such as arthritis, heart diseases, fractures, head
injuries and cerebral palsy. They work to help the patient restore function,
relieve pain and improve mobility. They work and consult with physicians,
social workers, dentist and occupational therapist and other professionals.
Physical Therapist must pass a licensure exam before they can practice.
Career Information
- American Physical Therapy Association
- Contains career information, links to programs, jobs, education programs,
workshops, seminars and more for physical therapists and physical therapy
assistants. It is the best overall comprehensive site for someone considering
a career in physical therapy and includes FAQ's regarding Physical Therapy
School.
- Occupational Outlook Handbook - Physical Therapists. Gives a thorough overview of the occupation including the nature of the profession, required education and
salary figures.
Organizations & Associations
Education/Licensure
Resources
- About Physical Therapy
is one of the only websites that gives you insight into the life of
current PT students.
- California Chapter Private Practice Special
Interest Group - CPPSIG was formed to provide its members with the leadership
and support necessary to deliver a level of clinical practice consistent
with the state of the art physical therapy practice, consumer demand, legal
constraints, APTA and California constraints.
- PTCentral - PTCentral is an interactive
website that serves as a Physical Therapy "Central," being a one
stop source of PT information and services for students, clinicians and
consumers.
- Sports Physical Therapy Section - The
Sports Physical Therapy Section of the American Physical Therapy Association,
is an organization of physical therapists, physical therapy assistants,
and students whose primary interest is rehabilitation, as well as prevention,
recognition, and treatment of injuries in athletes.
Public Health
PUBLIC HEALTH is the science and practice of protecting the health and
welfare of all people by preventing and controlling disease. Public health
is comprised of practitioners from many different professions: medicine, nursing,
business, epidemiology, law, biology, economics, nutrition, social work, environmental
science, health education and behavior sciences, among others. They are involved
in a diverse set of activities and work to protect the environment; identify
sources of illness in population groups; control disease outbreaks caused
by microbes; evaluate the economic impacts of changing demographics; develop
media campaigns to promote healthy behavior; produce health policy legislation.
Childhood nutrition, work-related hypertension, pesticide exposures, hospital
mergers, and AIDS education are but a few examples of public health's work
which cuts across all economic and social strata. What consolidates the collection
of disciplines that constitute public health and binds together its practitioners
is an emphasis on the health of populations and an overriding commitment to
health promotion and disease prevention.
There are many rewarding careers in public health, ranging from pure research
to direct public education. Areas of specialization within public health include:
Health Service Administration
Biostatistics
Epidemiology
Behavioral Health Sciences
Health Education
Environmental Health
Biomedical/Infectious Diseases
International Health
Nutrition
Maternal and Child Health.
Undergraduates interested in pursuing public health careers find internships
and jobs in government agencies, nonprofit and community based organizations,
medical research institutions, bio/pharmaceutical and healthcare consulting
firms.
Most public health professionals have advanced degrees, the most common
is the Masters in Public Health. In addition, nurses,
doctors, health administrators, social workers and
others may choose to specialize and practice in a public health setting.
Career Information
- What is Public Health? What does public health encompass? What impact does public health have on our lives? What types of careers are available in the field of public health?
- What is Public Health Frequently Asked Questions
- What is Public Health?
The Association of Schools of Public Health defines the mission, function,
services of public health. Good overview of the different fields within
public health. See "Core Areas of Public Health" and "Other
Public Health Fields."
- Careers in Healthcare,
Health Career Connection provides good information on administrative,
public health and clinical career options
- An Introduction
to Epidemiology. Epidemiologist collect data of whole populations and
analyze the data to understand occurrence of infectious and chronic diseases,
environmental problems, behavioral problems, and injuries. Great summary
of issues and how studies are done.
- Careers
in Public Health, Harvard School of Public Health. Definitions, market
trends, examples of jobs.
- Is
A Health Career For Me? Public Health describes work environments, educational
requirements, salary ranges, links to professional associations
- Other
Health Careers provides detailed descriptions of public health career
fields.
- Occupational Health and Safety
Specialists and Technicians, Occupational Outlook Handbook. Information
from the Bureau of Labor Statistics describing the nature of the occupation,
training and other qualifications, as well as advancement, outlook and earnings
information.
Organizations & Associations
- American Public Health Association (APHA).
APHA, the largest organization of public health professionals, brings together researchers,
health service providers, administrators, teachers, and other health workers in a unique, multidisciplinary environment of professional exchange, study, and action.
- California Public Health Association.
Northern California. Links to other professional associations, government
agencies, local events, student membership.
- Northern California Chapter
of the Society for Public Health Education. Information on local conferences
and workshops, newsletter, and student membership.
- Genetic and Environmental Toxicology
Association of Northern California
- American Industrial Hygiene Association,
Northern California Section. Lists of member consultants, lists of upcoming
events, job and internship listings, student membership.
- National Environmental Health Association. A national professional society for environmental health practitioners
Education/Licensure
- Council on Education for Public Health
is responsible for accreditation of graduate programs in schools of public
health, community health education programs outside of schools of public
health, and community health/preventive medicine programs. There are nine
accredited programs in California.
- Association of Schools
of Public Health. Represents accredited graduate Schools of Public Health.
Links to all schools and a database you may use to search for schools with
specific program specialties.
- American Board of Industrial Hygiene, Certification
Links to accredited graduate programs, information about certification and
a searchable database of Industrial Hygienists.
- Many Masters in Public Health programs require a test as part of admission.
Resources
Recreation/Sports
PROFESSIONALS IN RECREATION AND SPORTS work with people involved in physical
education, leisure, fitness, dance, and health promotion, to achieve a healthy
lifestyle. These professionals may work, for example, as personal trainers,
dance therapists, activity directors, recreation program coordinators, exercise
instructors, and athletic trainers.
Career Information
Organizations & Associations
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