8 answers
Karina
Student
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What are some career paths to look at that involve children and the medical field besides being a pediatrician?
I am a rising senior in high school and am taking multiple classes relating to child growth and development but I also am interested in the medical field. I want to know if there are other job paths to look at before I start applying for colleges and what the lives of other career paths look like. Ideally i'l love a 9-5 week day job but with a little action
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7 answers
Karin P.
Lecturer, Academic Advisor, Career Coach
734
Answers
Göttingen, Lower Saxony, Germany
Updated
Karin’s Answer
Hi Karina,
It's fantastic that you are exploring different options to work in healthcare for children.
Children are not just little adults. They have different medical needs and specific developmental stages.
For most medical specialties there is a pediatric version, i.e. pediatric oncologist, pediatric dentist, pediatric surgeon, pediatric ophthalmologist, pediatric cardiologist. It's a specialization within a medical specialty. Physicians would do an additional fellowship after residency to train. So, it's a long path.
Where there is a physician specialty, there is a nursing specialty, a medical assistant specialty and a physician assistant specialty, e.g. pediatric nurse, neonatal nurse, pediatric medical assistant or physician assistant in pediatrics.
"Other" professions in the healthcare sector would be child behavioral therapist, pediatric physical therapist, child psychologist, dietician, speech-language pathologist, pediatric athletic trainer.
I hope this helps! All the best to you!
KP
It's fantastic that you are exploring different options to work in healthcare for children.
Children are not just little adults. They have different medical needs and specific developmental stages.
For most medical specialties there is a pediatric version, i.e. pediatric oncologist, pediatric dentist, pediatric surgeon, pediatric ophthalmologist, pediatric cardiologist. It's a specialization within a medical specialty. Physicians would do an additional fellowship after residency to train. So, it's a long path.
Where there is a physician specialty, there is a nursing specialty, a medical assistant specialty and a physician assistant specialty, e.g. pediatric nurse, neonatal nurse, pediatric medical assistant or physician assistant in pediatrics.
"Other" professions in the healthcare sector would be child behavioral therapist, pediatric physical therapist, child psychologist, dietician, speech-language pathologist, pediatric athletic trainer.
I hope this helps! All the best to you!
KP
Jane Doe
20
Answers
New York, New York
Updated
Jane’s Answer
Hi, Karina! It’s great that you’re exploring career paths that combine your interest in children and the medical field. While many people first think of becoming a pediatrician, there are many other roles across fields like public health, psychology, social work, and allied health that may align with your interests and lifestyle goals. For example, pediatric nursing or nurse practitioner roles often involve direct care with children and may offer more regular weekday hours compared to doctors. Similarly, if you’re interested in supporting children emotionally during medical experiences, careers like child life specialists or pediatric social workers may allow you to help families cope and navigate healthcare challenges.
Therapy-related professions such as occupational therapy, physical therapy, and speech-language pathology focus on helping children develop or regain skills through hands-on work. These careers typically offer weekday schedules that fit a 9-to-5 routine while providing active, engaging work. In public health, you might find opportunities to design or manage programs that improve child health at the community or population level, such as disease prevention or mental health initiatives. Psychology also offers paths like child psychology or counseling, which focus on children’s emotional and mental development and often take place in schools, clinics, or private practice rather than hospitals.
To better understand the day-to-day realities of these careers, it’s helpful to talk with mentors like your guidance counselor or teachers, who may connect you with professionals to shadow or interview. You can also reach out directly to people in these fields through internships, volunteer work, or informational interviews to gain firsthand insight. It’s normal for your interests to evolve as you explore, so staying curious and open-minded is important.
Many students use their first two years of college to explore different subjects before declaring a major. This time can allow you to take courses in child development, healthcare, psychology, or public health and help you make a more informed decision about the right career path.
Remember, finding the right career is a journey. Exploring your options and gaining experience will bring you closer to a path that fits your interests and lifestyle. Stay curious and open-minded! Best of luck!
Therapy-related professions such as occupational therapy, physical therapy, and speech-language pathology focus on helping children develop or regain skills through hands-on work. These careers typically offer weekday schedules that fit a 9-to-5 routine while providing active, engaging work. In public health, you might find opportunities to design or manage programs that improve child health at the community or population level, such as disease prevention or mental health initiatives. Psychology also offers paths like child psychology or counseling, which focus on children’s emotional and mental development and often take place in schools, clinics, or private practice rather than hospitals.
To better understand the day-to-day realities of these careers, it’s helpful to talk with mentors like your guidance counselor or teachers, who may connect you with professionals to shadow or interview. You can also reach out directly to people in these fields through internships, volunteer work, or informational interviews to gain firsthand insight. It’s normal for your interests to evolve as you explore, so staying curious and open-minded is important.
Many students use their first two years of college to explore different subjects before declaring a major. This time can allow you to take courses in child development, healthcare, psychology, or public health and help you make a more informed decision about the right career path.
Remember, finding the right career is a journey. Exploring your options and gaining experience will bring you closer to a path that fits your interests and lifestyle. Stay curious and open-minded! Best of luck!
Richard A. (Tony) Eckel
31
Answers
Updated
Richard A. (Tony)’s Answer
Karina,
Child Psychology - Helping children as individuals and groups navigate the increasingly confusing and demanding world of parental, societal, and personal desires to achieve a rewarding and stable individual entry into adulthood.
Not lucrative except at the elite level but rewarding if it is your "calling".
Tony
Child Psychology - Helping children as individuals and groups navigate the increasingly confusing and demanding world of parental, societal, and personal desires to achieve a rewarding and stable individual entry into adulthood.
Not lucrative except at the elite level but rewarding if it is your "calling".
Tony
Margarita Mendy
orthoptist
14
Answers
New York, New York
Updated
Margarita’s Answer
Hello!
I'm an orthoptist. I assist pediatric ophthalmologists clinically and do a lot more. I really love my job, and there's always a chance to grow, whether you want to take on more administrative roles or focus on clinical work.
If you're curious, you can learn more at the Orthoptics website: https://www.orthoptics.org/
I'm an orthoptist. I assist pediatric ophthalmologists clinically and do a lot more. I really love my job, and there's always a chance to grow, whether you want to take on more administrative roles or focus on clinical work.
If you're curious, you can learn more at the Orthoptics website: https://www.orthoptics.org/
Rebecca Tang
Banking
2139
Answers
Hong Kong
Updated
Rebecca’s Answer
Thank you for your question. I am glad to hear that you have interest on children related medical careers
Below are my suggestions:
1. There are many children related medical careers, eg children psychologist, occupational therapist, speech language pathologist, etc. You can find out more online
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 children related medical careers, eg children psychologist, occupational therapist, speech language pathologist, etc. You can find out more online
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!
Aravind C
34
Answers
Bengaluru, Karnataka, India
Updated
Aravind’s Answer
Hi Karina,
I believe your career as a pediatrician is great because taking care of children is important, especially since parents often have busy schedules. If you focus well, it can be very interesting. Child counseling is also a good opportunity to explore. Helping children can provide the right growth and help you build your career path.
I believe your career as a pediatrician is great because taking care of children is important, especially since parents often have busy schedules. If you focus well, it can be very interesting. Child counseling is also a good opportunity to explore. Helping children can provide the right growth and help you build your career path.
Destiny Hankerson
Athlete, Artist, and Writer
29
Answers
East Orange, New Jersey
Updated
Destiny’s Answer
Hi Karina,
If you have an interest in working in healthcare and the medical field with children, there are many avenues you can take. I was thinking you might enjoy being a social worker if you want to have a firsthand impact on young children's lives.
There are also careers that relate directly to the medical field: some of these roles include being a dietitian who helps children gain access to nutritional support. You could also become an obstetric sonographer, who uses ultrasonography to visualize different structures in the body (sonographers often help pregnant women understand how the fetus develops); or you could be a child psychologist, who works with children to diagnose psychological issues and help patients improve. These are just some of the careers you could have in medicine that involve working with children. My source for these was Indeed's article, "8 Medical Professions That Involve Work With Children (Plus Tips)".
You could also choose to specialize in a particular stage of child development, such as infancy, prenatal care, or adolescence. It is your choice! Whichever path you choose, it will be helpful to go to college and continue your healthcare education in a degree related to your field. There are general degrees, such as Health Science degrees, that give you an overview of healthcare and medicine. However, you may want a more specific degree to match your interest in child care, such as a degree in Child Psychology.
You have many options for your career, and I hope this information helps you on your journey!
Source: Indeed Editorial Team's article, "8 Medical Professions That Involve Work With Children (Plus Tips)".
Find mentors and school counselors who could guide you towards a career in medicine that involves helping children.
Research about the education that is required for the careers you wish to pursue.
Prepare for college, where you will gain the education and experience needed for your future career.
If you have an interest in working in healthcare and the medical field with children, there are many avenues you can take. I was thinking you might enjoy being a social worker if you want to have a firsthand impact on young children's lives.
There are also careers that relate directly to the medical field: some of these roles include being a dietitian who helps children gain access to nutritional support. You could also become an obstetric sonographer, who uses ultrasonography to visualize different structures in the body (sonographers often help pregnant women understand how the fetus develops); or you could be a child psychologist, who works with children to diagnose psychological issues and help patients improve. These are just some of the careers you could have in medicine that involve working with children. My source for these was Indeed's article, "8 Medical Professions That Involve Work With Children (Plus Tips)".
You could also choose to specialize in a particular stage of child development, such as infancy, prenatal care, or adolescence. It is your choice! Whichever path you choose, it will be helpful to go to college and continue your healthcare education in a degree related to your field. There are general degrees, such as Health Science degrees, that give you an overview of healthcare and medicine. However, you may want a more specific degree to match your interest in child care, such as a degree in Child Psychology.
You have many options for your career, and I hope this information helps you on your journey!
Source: Indeed Editorial Team's article, "8 Medical Professions That Involve Work With Children (Plus Tips)".
Destiny recommends the following next steps: