9 answers
Xyza Kayne
Student
Hopewell, Virginia
6
Questions
Asked
1342 views
How did you go about becoming a doctor or any career in the health science/healthcare field??
I am a freshman in high school looking to be in the health science field when I grow up.
Login to comment
8 answers
Christopher Williams, CEBS, PMP
Senior Engagement Manager
69
Answers
Woodstock, Georgia
Updated
Christopher’s Answer
Hi Xyza,
Your education is the key to unlocking great jobs in healthcare and health science. Right now, focus on getting good grades in high school. Later, you can choose the college that fits you best.
There are many exciting careers in health science and healthcare. With a bachelor's degree, you can explore roles like Healthcare Administration, Clinical Research Coordinator, or Healthcare Sales and Marketing. Jobs like Nurse Practitioners and Physician Assistants are in high demand and offer good growth and pay.
Here are some great career options:
Nurse Practitioner (NP):
- NPs can do many of the same things as doctors, like diagnosing and treating illnesses, prescribing medication, and caring for patients. They often focus on areas like adult, geriatric, or pediatric health.
Physician Assistant (PA):
- PAs work with doctors to diagnose illnesses, create treatment plans, and help with procedures.
Medical and Health Services Manager:
- They organize and manage healthcare services in places like hospitals and clinics.
Veterinarian:
- Vets care for animals by performing surgeries, diagnosing illnesses, and prescribing treatments.
Other promising health science careers include:
- Healthcare Administration: Manage and organize healthcare facilities.
- Clinical Research Coordinator: Help with clinical trials and collect data.
- Healthcare Sales and Marketing: Promote healthcare products to doctors and hospitals.
- Public Health Specialist: Work on preventing diseases and promoting health in communities.
- Healthcare Informatics: Use data and tech to improve healthcare.
- Health Educator: Teach people about health and healthy living.
- Occupational Therapist Assistant (OTA): Help patients regain daily function.
- Dietitians and Nutritionists: Plan nutrition programs for healthy living.
- EMT and Paramedic: Provide emergency medical care.
- Exercise Physiologists: Create exercise programs to boost health.
Your education is the key to unlocking great jobs in healthcare and health science. Right now, focus on getting good grades in high school. Later, you can choose the college that fits you best.
There are many exciting careers in health science and healthcare. With a bachelor's degree, you can explore roles like Healthcare Administration, Clinical Research Coordinator, or Healthcare Sales and Marketing. Jobs like Nurse Practitioners and Physician Assistants are in high demand and offer good growth and pay.
Here are some great career options:
Nurse Practitioner (NP):
- NPs can do many of the same things as doctors, like diagnosing and treating illnesses, prescribing medication, and caring for patients. They often focus on areas like adult, geriatric, or pediatric health.
Physician Assistant (PA):
- PAs work with doctors to diagnose illnesses, create treatment plans, and help with procedures.
Medical and Health Services Manager:
- They organize and manage healthcare services in places like hospitals and clinics.
Veterinarian:
- Vets care for animals by performing surgeries, diagnosing illnesses, and prescribing treatments.
Other promising health science careers include:
- Healthcare Administration: Manage and organize healthcare facilities.
- Clinical Research Coordinator: Help with clinical trials and collect data.
- Healthcare Sales and Marketing: Promote healthcare products to doctors and hospitals.
- Public Health Specialist: Work on preventing diseases and promoting health in communities.
- Healthcare Informatics: Use data and tech to improve healthcare.
- Health Educator: Teach people about health and healthy living.
- Occupational Therapist Assistant (OTA): Help patients regain daily function.
- Dietitians and Nutritionists: Plan nutrition programs for healthy living.
- EMT and Paramedic: Provide emergency medical care.
- Exercise Physiologists: Create exercise programs to boost health.
Cheri Hall
Physical Therapist
81
Answers
Chapel Hill, North Carolina
Updated
Cheri’s Answer
Hi Xyza,
As a high school freshman, it's important to take as many science classes as your school offers. Science is essential for becoming a healthcare provider, especially a doctor. If your school has programs with a local community college, consider taking classes there to prepare for college-level work. You might even earn a CNA (Certified Nursing Assistant) certificate, which would let you start working as a CNA, gaining experience with patients and learning about different roles in a healthcare team. You can also volunteer or shadow at a local hospital during high school or college. The most important thing is to keep working hard in school and aim for the best grades possible. Remember, colleges also look for well-rounded students, so develop skills and interests outside of school, like sports, music, or leadership activities. Perseverance is key to becoming a doctor.
As a high school freshman, it's important to take as many science classes as your school offers. Science is essential for becoming a healthcare provider, especially a doctor. If your school has programs with a local community college, consider taking classes there to prepare for college-level work. You might even earn a CNA (Certified Nursing Assistant) certificate, which would let you start working as a CNA, gaining experience with patients and learning about different roles in a healthcare team. You can also volunteer or shadow at a local hospital during high school or college. The most important thing is to keep working hard in school and aim for the best grades possible. Remember, colleges also look for well-rounded students, so develop skills and interests outside of school, like sports, music, or leadership activities. Perseverance is key to becoming a doctor.
Robert Taylor
Respiratory therapist
1
Answer
Hardeeville, South Carolina
Updated
Robert’s Answer
Hit your science and math classes hard. If there are volunteer opportunities at your local hospital or veterinary facilities go for those. As a freshman, start looking for possible scholarships from local and state organizations in your field of interest.
Rebecca Tang
Banking
2099
Answers
Hong Kong
Updated
Rebecca’s Answer
Thank you for your question. Appreciate your passion in careers related to health care.
Below are my suggestions:
1. There are many careers related to health care, eg doctor,nurse, pharmacist, physiotherapist, phycologist, etc. You can find out more online. These careers require different qualifications and you need to choose different major in college.
2. Find out more on these careers and determine what you have interest.
3.Speak to someone who are working in these careers. Seek guidance from your mentor, school career counselor, your parents, etc
4. Shortlist 1-2 careers you would like to pursue
5. Explore the entry criteria of relevant subjects in colleges
Hope this helps! Good luck!
May Almighty God bless you!
Below are my suggestions:
1. There are many careers related to health care, eg doctor,nurse, pharmacist, physiotherapist, phycologist, etc. You can find out more online. These careers require different qualifications and you need to choose different major in college.
2. Find out more on these careers and determine what you have interest.
3.Speak to someone who are working in these careers. Seek guidance from your mentor, school career counselor, your parents, etc
4. Shortlist 1-2 careers you would like to pursue
5. Explore the entry criteria of relevant subjects in colleges
Hope this helps! Good luck!
May Almighty God bless you!
Karin P.
Lecturer, Academic Advisor, Career Coach
687
Answers
Göttingen, Lower Saxony, Germany
Updated
Karin’s Answer
Hi Xyza,
It's wonderful that you are interested in the health science field and already taking steps to make it happen.
There are so many different options within the health science field that it can get pretty overwhelming. You could be a physician, a dentist, a pharmacist, or a veterinarian. You could be a nurse, an assistant or in medical imaging. You could be an athletic trainer or a physical therapist. You could be an engineer and develop medical instrumentation or implants. I left some links to the many different options below.
You can start by reading up on these different careers and what they entail. See what interests you considering a few aspects:
Would you like to take care of physical health or mental health?
Would you like to treat people or maybe animals?
Would you want to work with patients directly or are you more interested in medical technology?
How much time are you willing to spend in school?
What about the cost of your education?
When you have selected a few fields that interest you, start looking for opportunities to shadow practicioners on the job, volunteer in a medical setting and look for internships.
In high-school, take all the science and math classes you can. English is useful to develop your communication skills. A second language, e.g. Spanish is especially useful if you practice in a community with many Spanish-speakers. If your school offers classes in psychology or anatomy, take those. Take AP classes, dual enrollment, or early college to get your first college credits under your belt and demonstrate that you are ready for college level work.
I hope this helps! All the best to you!
KP
https://www.careeronestop.org/ExploreCareers/Learn/CareerClusters/health-science-occupation-list.aspx
https://college.mayo.edu/academics/explore-health-care-careers/careers-a-z/
https://www.doe.virginia.gov/parents-students/for-students/graduation/policy-initiatives/early-college-scholars-program
https://sites.google.com/hopewell.k12.va.us/early-college-scholars/home
It's wonderful that you are interested in the health science field and already taking steps to make it happen.
There are so many different options within the health science field that it can get pretty overwhelming. You could be a physician, a dentist, a pharmacist, or a veterinarian. You could be a nurse, an assistant or in medical imaging. You could be an athletic trainer or a physical therapist. You could be an engineer and develop medical instrumentation or implants. I left some links to the many different options below.
You can start by reading up on these different careers and what they entail. See what interests you considering a few aspects:
Would you like to take care of physical health or mental health?
Would you like to treat people or maybe animals?
Would you want to work with patients directly or are you more interested in medical technology?
How much time are you willing to spend in school?
What about the cost of your education?
When you have selected a few fields that interest you, start looking for opportunities to shadow practicioners on the job, volunteer in a medical setting and look for internships.
In high-school, take all the science and math classes you can. English is useful to develop your communication skills. A second language, e.g. Spanish is especially useful if you practice in a community with many Spanish-speakers. If your school offers classes in psychology or anatomy, take those. Take AP classes, dual enrollment, or early college to get your first college credits under your belt and demonstrate that you are ready for college level work.
I hope this helps! All the best to you!
KP
Karin recommends the following next steps:
Kazi Rubayee
Oriental medicine health professional, Acupuncturist, Holistic health practitioner
72
Answers
New York, New York
Updated
Kazi’s Answer
Great advanced thinking for a high schooler!
Let us discuss the possibilities.
In high school, where you are now,
Talk to your guidance counselors. Try to maintain a high GPA, focus on science and health-related subjects. also algebra and geometry.
In college, take courses like health science, public health, biology, chemistry, anatomy, health science, medical terminology, pre-med, and nursing.
Job shadowing and volunteering are also very helpful to gain hands-on experience and confidence.
To proceed with a doctoral program, you need to do a graduate degree, such as a bachelor's or master's degree.
Here are some career options after college, depending on your path,
Doctor (4 years of college, then 3-6 years of residency)
Nursing (RN, BSN, Nurse practitioner)
Physical therapist 3 years of doctoral program
Best,
Let us discuss the possibilities.
In high school, where you are now,
Talk to your guidance counselors. Try to maintain a high GPA, focus on science and health-related subjects. also algebra and geometry.
In college, take courses like health science, public health, biology, chemistry, anatomy, health science, medical terminology, pre-med, and nursing.
Job shadowing and volunteering are also very helpful to gain hands-on experience and confidence.
To proceed with a doctoral program, you need to do a graduate degree, such as a bachelor's or master's degree.
Here are some career options after college, depending on your path,
Doctor (4 years of college, then 3-6 years of residency)
Nursing (RN, BSN, Nurse practitioner)
Physical therapist 3 years of doctoral program
Best,
James Hanson
Pediatric Intensive Care Physician; Consultant
74
Answers
Oakland, California
Updated
James’s Answer
I was often told by career counselors in high school and college that I should consider becoming a physician. My initial studies in college were broad, which allowed me to explore many possible careers while enjoying the wonderful breadth of knowledge and experience available. It wasn't
until it was close to the time applications to medical schools were due that I made up my mind to pursue medicine. I think that my medical school chose me as a candidate because I had such a breadth of knowledge and interests (yes, I also had solid grades and MCAT scores).
So, I urge you to explore the wonders of learning. Try things. Talk to people in many different careers and places. Pursue what engages and delights you, and what your core values guide you to do.
until it was close to the time applications to medical schools were due that I made up my mind to pursue medicine. I think that my medical school chose me as a candidate because I had such a breadth of knowledge and interests (yes, I also had solid grades and MCAT scores).
So, I urge you to explore the wonders of learning. Try things. Talk to people in many different careers and places. Pursue what engages and delights you, and what your core values guide you to do.
Isabella Brummer
Certified Nursing Assistant
3
Answers
Updated
Isabella’s Answer
Hi! It's great that you are already planning for your future career as only a freshman! In the coming years, I would strongly recommend taking some dual enrollment or PSEO courses through a local community college or university. These courses are almost always free of charge and allow you to get college credits before graduating high school. Many colleges will allow these credits to be used towards general education courses. Ivy Leagues and other prestigious schools may not, but the course rigor will look good on applications even if credit isn't awarded. Getting some of these general courses out of the way for free will allow you to have a few additional courses you could take. With this freedom, you could add on a minor or two and broaden your resume.
If you already have a part-time job, that is great! If not, I would recommend searching for opportunities for high schoolers at local facilities, such as nursing homes. My first job was in dietary at my local nursing home and it introduced me to how a nursing home operates and a better understanding of general healthcare. I then got my CNA certification and worked as a nursing assistant at this same nursing home. A CNA license is not only valid to nursing homes, but hospitals need them, too. If you ever decide to work in a hospital in a few years, you likely will be able to do so.
You will do amazing things in the healthcare world! Wishing you the best of luck for any future endeavors you may stumble upon.
If you already have a part-time job, that is great! If not, I would recommend searching for opportunities for high schoolers at local facilities, such as nursing homes. My first job was in dietary at my local nursing home and it introduced me to how a nursing home operates and a better understanding of general healthcare. I then got my CNA certification and worked as a nursing assistant at this same nursing home. A CNA license is not only valid to nursing homes, but hospitals need them, too. If you ever decide to work in a hospital in a few years, you likely will be able to do so.
You will do amazing things in the healthcare world! Wishing you the best of luck for any future endeavors you may stumble upon.