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Student pursuing healthcare ?
1.what skills and education do you recommend for someone who wants to pursue a career in the medical field
2.What does a typical workday look like if your in the medical field
3.what advice would you give to a high school student who is interested in the medical field, including internships, classes, or experiences they should pursue
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5 answers
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Geoffrey M.’s Answer
1. What skills and education do you recommend for someone who wants to pursue a career in the medical field?
Healthcare needs people who are both technically prepared and deeply human. Strong communication, empathy, teamwork, critical thinking, adaptability, and problem-solving are just as important as science and clinical knowledge.
Education depends on the career. Some healthcare careers can begin with a certificate or associate degree, while others require a bachelor’s, graduate degree, medical school, or specialized training. I encourage students to explore beyond the careers they hear about most. Healthcare needs nurses and physicians, but it also needs imaging professionals, surgical technologists, respiratory therapists, medical assistants, laboratory professionals, healthcare administrators, technologists, and many others.
2. What does a typical workday look like in the medical field?
There really isn’t one “typical” day, which is one of the things that makes healthcare so interesting.
Depending on your career, you might be caring directly for patients, operating medical technology, reviewing diagnostic information, coordinating care, educating patients and families, solving operational problems, or leading teams.
What almost every healthcare role shares is working with people. You are often meeting individuals during vulnerable or important moments in their lives. That requires compassion, communication, teamwork, and the ability to remain calm when circumstances change quickly.
3. What advice would you give a high school student interested in the medical field?
My biggest advice would be: do not wait until college to start exploring healthcare.
Take biology, chemistry, anatomy and physiology, health sciences, psychology, statistics, and technology courses when available. Look for healthcare career or CTE programs, job shadowing, hospital volunteer opportunities, summer programs, internships, healthcare clubs, CPR/First Aid certification, or dual-enrollment opportunities.
Most importantly, talk to people who actually work in healthcare. Ask a nurse about their day. Shadow an imaging technologist. Talk with someone in respiratory therapy, laboratory medicine, administration, or another profession you have never considered.
You do not need to know exactly what you want to become while you’re in high school. You need to be curious enough to explore.
Healthcare is ultimately about people caring for people. If you have a desire to serve others, keep learning, and make a difference in someone’s life, there may be a place for you in this incredible field.
Healthcare needs people who are both technically prepared and deeply human. Strong communication, empathy, teamwork, critical thinking, adaptability, and problem-solving are just as important as science and clinical knowledge.
Education depends on the career. Some healthcare careers can begin with a certificate or associate degree, while others require a bachelor’s, graduate degree, medical school, or specialized training. I encourage students to explore beyond the careers they hear about most. Healthcare needs nurses and physicians, but it also needs imaging professionals, surgical technologists, respiratory therapists, medical assistants, laboratory professionals, healthcare administrators, technologists, and many others.
2. What does a typical workday look like in the medical field?
There really isn’t one “typical” day, which is one of the things that makes healthcare so interesting.
Depending on your career, you might be caring directly for patients, operating medical technology, reviewing diagnostic information, coordinating care, educating patients and families, solving operational problems, or leading teams.
What almost every healthcare role shares is working with people. You are often meeting individuals during vulnerable or important moments in their lives. That requires compassion, communication, teamwork, and the ability to remain calm when circumstances change quickly.
3. What advice would you give a high school student interested in the medical field?
My biggest advice would be: do not wait until college to start exploring healthcare.
Take biology, chemistry, anatomy and physiology, health sciences, psychology, statistics, and technology courses when available. Look for healthcare career or CTE programs, job shadowing, hospital volunteer opportunities, summer programs, internships, healthcare clubs, CPR/First Aid certification, or dual-enrollment opportunities.
Most importantly, talk to people who actually work in healthcare. Ask a nurse about their day. Shadow an imaging technologist. Talk with someone in respiratory therapy, laboratory medicine, administration, or another profession you have never considered.
You do not need to know exactly what you want to become while you’re in high school. You need to be curious enough to explore.
Healthcare is ultimately about people caring for people. If you have a desire to serve others, keep learning, and make a difference in someone’s life, there may be a place for you in this incredible field.
Hwal Lee
Health science researcher, adjunct instructor, primary care internal medicine PA
303
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Updated
Hwal’s Answer
Kevin,
I'm from Australia where the PA profession as we know it in the US. doesn't yet exist. So, when I first move here, I started preparing to apply to medical schools because I thought that was the only way for me to learn to practice medicine. Soon enough, I started hearing about PA, then I was sold once I learned enough about PA training to be able to weigh my options. I'll speak from this perspective.
1. what skills and education do you recommend for someone who wants to pursue a career in the medical field
Before you consider skills and education, I encourage you to consider what truly motivates and interests you. Take some time to think about what interests you about working in medicine. You can develop and improve skills, and education is a necessary step to get you where you want to be. But I would like you to have a deep interest in medicine and all that entails. To get a realistic glimpse of what a day in medicine is like, I would encourage you to shadow physicians and/or PAs if you can. Please keep in mind that daily practice varies depending on specialities and settings (e.g., inpatient, outpatient, community).
2. What does a typical workday look like if your in the medical field
I work in outpatient primary care internal medicine setting with individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities. A typical day starts with a huddle with a medical assistant or a nurse, then I start seeing patients for a variety of scheduled and unscheduled visits for the morning. After lunch, I have afternoon visits, and usually end each day by preparing the charts for upcoming visits and addressing requests (e.g., for medical advice, medication refill). By nature, I take care of a wide range of conditions and illnesses, from scabies amd diabetes to annual physical exams and heart failure.
3. what advice would you give to a high school student who is interested in the medical field, including internships, classes, or experiences they should pursue
Remember that you can have any undergraduate major to be able to apply to PA schools or medical schools, so if and when you have made a decision to study medicine, start looking up the admissions requirements for each program you're interested in applying to. You will have plenty of time to prepare, so make sure you take care of your physical and mental health at all times and choose activities you truly enjoy.
Let me know if you have any specific questions I can help with.
Good luck!
Hwal
I'm from Australia where the PA profession as we know it in the US. doesn't yet exist. So, when I first move here, I started preparing to apply to medical schools because I thought that was the only way for me to learn to practice medicine. Soon enough, I started hearing about PA, then I was sold once I learned enough about PA training to be able to weigh my options. I'll speak from this perspective.
1. what skills and education do you recommend for someone who wants to pursue a career in the medical field
Before you consider skills and education, I encourage you to consider what truly motivates and interests you. Take some time to think about what interests you about working in medicine. You can develop and improve skills, and education is a necessary step to get you where you want to be. But I would like you to have a deep interest in medicine and all that entails. To get a realistic glimpse of what a day in medicine is like, I would encourage you to shadow physicians and/or PAs if you can. Please keep in mind that daily practice varies depending on specialities and settings (e.g., inpatient, outpatient, community).
2. What does a typical workday look like if your in the medical field
I work in outpatient primary care internal medicine setting with individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities. A typical day starts with a huddle with a medical assistant or a nurse, then I start seeing patients for a variety of scheduled and unscheduled visits for the morning. After lunch, I have afternoon visits, and usually end each day by preparing the charts for upcoming visits and addressing requests (e.g., for medical advice, medication refill). By nature, I take care of a wide range of conditions and illnesses, from scabies amd diabetes to annual physical exams and heart failure.
3. what advice would you give to a high school student who is interested in the medical field, including internships, classes, or experiences they should pursue
Remember that you can have any undergraduate major to be able to apply to PA schools or medical schools, so if and when you have made a decision to study medicine, start looking up the admissions requirements for each program you're interested in applying to. You will have plenty of time to prepare, so make sure you take care of your physical and mental health at all times and choose activities you truly enjoy.
Let me know if you have any specific questions I can help with.
Good luck!
Hwal
Updated
Iris’s Answer
Hello Kevin,
1. Skills and Education: If you're interested in healthcare, focus on building strong communication skills, patience, and compassion. Being a Medical Assistant has shown me that healthcare is not just about treating patients but also about listening to them and making them feel at ease.
2. Typical Workday: A workday can be busy and unpredictable, so it's important to be organized, flexible, and a team player. Try taking science classes, volunteering at hospitals, or shadowing healthcare professionals to gain experience. Don't hesitate to ask questions and explore different career paths. Healthcare can be tough, but knowing you're making a difference in someone's life makes it all worthwhile!
3. Advice for High School Students: Take science classes like biology and anatomy, volunteer at hospitals, and look for job-shadowing opportunities. If you can, explore healthcare certification programs. My biggest advice is to check out different careers in healthcare before choosing one. It can be challenging, but making a positive impact on someone's life is incredibly rewarding!
1. Skills and Education: If you're interested in healthcare, focus on building strong communication skills, patience, and compassion. Being a Medical Assistant has shown me that healthcare is not just about treating patients but also about listening to them and making them feel at ease.
2. Typical Workday: A workday can be busy and unpredictable, so it's important to be organized, flexible, and a team player. Try taking science classes, volunteering at hospitals, or shadowing healthcare professionals to gain experience. Don't hesitate to ask questions and explore different career paths. Healthcare can be tough, but knowing you're making a difference in someone's life makes it all worthwhile!
3. Advice for High School Students: Take science classes like biology and anatomy, volunteer at hospitals, and look for job-shadowing opportunities. If you can, explore healthcare certification programs. My biggest advice is to check out different careers in healthcare before choosing one. It can be challenging, but making a positive impact on someone's life is incredibly rewarding!
Updated
Trevor’s Answer
Hi! It's great that you're exploring healthcare early.
1. Skills and education
Education: Take biology, chemistry, anatomy, math, and English in high school. After that, the path depends on the role. A certificate (CNA, EMT, medical assistant) can take months. Nursing needs a 2–4 year degree. Physicians, PAs, and pharmacists need graduate school.
Skills: Communication, empathy, attention to detail, staying calm under pressure, teamwork, and a love of learning.
Easy first step: Get certified in CPR/AED and First Aid.
2. A typical workday Most days start with a handoff from the previous shift. The rest of the day goes to patient care (assessments, medications, procedures), charting, and working with the rest of the team. Unexpected events often change the plan. Hospitals usually run 8- or 12-hour shifts, including nights and weekends, while clinics keep regular daytime hours. The work is busy but very rewarding.
3. Advice for high schoolers
Take AP/honors science classes, and look into dual enrollment at local community colleges like De Anza or Evergreen Valley.
Volunteer at a hospital. Valley Medical Center, Stanford, Kaiser, and Good Samaritan have had teen programs.
Join HOSA (Future Health Professionals).
Apply to summer health-career programs and shadow professionals.
Look into careers beyond doctor and nurse, like PA, paramedic, sonographer, or physical therapist.
Stay curious and get around patients and care teams as much as you can. It's the best way to find the role that fits you. Good luck!
1. Skills and education
Education: Take biology, chemistry, anatomy, math, and English in high school. After that, the path depends on the role. A certificate (CNA, EMT, medical assistant) can take months. Nursing needs a 2–4 year degree. Physicians, PAs, and pharmacists need graduate school.
Skills: Communication, empathy, attention to detail, staying calm under pressure, teamwork, and a love of learning.
Easy first step: Get certified in CPR/AED and First Aid.
2. A typical workday Most days start with a handoff from the previous shift. The rest of the day goes to patient care (assessments, medications, procedures), charting, and working with the rest of the team. Unexpected events often change the plan. Hospitals usually run 8- or 12-hour shifts, including nights and weekends, while clinics keep regular daytime hours. The work is busy but very rewarding.
3. Advice for high schoolers
Take AP/honors science classes, and look into dual enrollment at local community colleges like De Anza or Evergreen Valley.
Volunteer at a hospital. Valley Medical Center, Stanford, Kaiser, and Good Samaritan have had teen programs.
Join HOSA (Future Health Professionals).
Apply to summer health-career programs and shadow professionals.
Look into careers beyond doctor and nurse, like PA, paramedic, sonographer, or physical therapist.
Stay curious and get around patients and care teams as much as you can. It's the best way to find the role that fits you. Good luck!
Updated
James’s Answer
Kevin - your questions are very broad, as "healthcare" includes a wide range of occupations. I am a pediatrician, so will answer from the physician perspective (but realize you could do many other things). Since being a physician requires the most education, you would just do a bit less time and depth should you choose a different healthcare career.
To get into medical school one must have excellent grades and complete courses in biology, chemistry, physics, and mathematics. Statistics, Sociology, Psychology, and language(s) are also very helpful. Leadership skills are important to physicians, so working to be some kind of leader in sports, music, art, community service... is helpful.
"Typical" days seem to be unusual in medicine, and the expected hours and obligations vary widely between specialties. Inpatient work requires that someone be there 24/7, so one is usually expected to do their share of night and weekend/holiday work. Outpatient work is usually a bit more regular, as clinic hours are generally normal business hours. However, physicians (like teachers) have a lot of hidden work that is done between patients, and when the clinic is closed. Specialists often have on call responsibilities, so need to be available after hours for urgent questions/consultations. Procedure-based specialists also need to be available to do their surgeries or procedures when patients need them - and that all too often includes overnight and weekend hours.
Jean Noel has added a lot of information worth reading.
For my recommendation, I would suggest learning a broad range of subjects to be a well-rounded individual. Over time your likes, dislikes, strengths, and weaknesses will evolve. You will get signs to move toward one career path or away from another. Do all you can to actually see and experience different healthcare jobs. Ask local hospitals and clinics about possible shadowing opportunities. Get an EMT or MA certificate so you can make some money while learning more about different careers.
Never sacrifice having fun and joy. Burnout is all too common in healthcare, and you should enjoy life while working hard towards your goals. Healthy diet, sleep, and exercise is necessary - not a luxury.
To get into medical school one must have excellent grades and complete courses in biology, chemistry, physics, and mathematics. Statistics, Sociology, Psychology, and language(s) are also very helpful. Leadership skills are important to physicians, so working to be some kind of leader in sports, music, art, community service... is helpful.
"Typical" days seem to be unusual in medicine, and the expected hours and obligations vary widely between specialties. Inpatient work requires that someone be there 24/7, so one is usually expected to do their share of night and weekend/holiday work. Outpatient work is usually a bit more regular, as clinic hours are generally normal business hours. However, physicians (like teachers) have a lot of hidden work that is done between patients, and when the clinic is closed. Specialists often have on call responsibilities, so need to be available after hours for urgent questions/consultations. Procedure-based specialists also need to be available to do their surgeries or procedures when patients need them - and that all too often includes overnight and weekend hours.
Jean Noel has added a lot of information worth reading.
For my recommendation, I would suggest learning a broad range of subjects to be a well-rounded individual. Over time your likes, dislikes, strengths, and weaknesses will evolve. You will get signs to move toward one career path or away from another. Do all you can to actually see and experience different healthcare jobs. Ask local hospitals and clinics about possible shadowing opportunities. Get an EMT or MA certificate so you can make some money while learning more about different careers.
Never sacrifice having fun and joy. Burnout is all too common in healthcare, and you should enjoy life while working hard towards your goals. Healthy diet, sleep, and exercise is necessary - not a luxury.