As someone considering a career in the health professions, it is important
that you explore all the career alternatives available to you. Below is
a short description of the health professions students typically pursue after
completing a baccalaureate degree. In addition to these, there are a number
of health professions offered at the baccalaureate level. The baccalaureate
level health professions offer career satisfactions similar to the post-baccalaureate
professions, such as helping people and job security. There are also several
health professions, such as occupational therapy and physician's assistant,
that are offered at both undergraduate and professional levels. If you are
interested in a baccalaureate health profession, you should contact the schools
that offer those programs.
ALLOPATHIC MEDICINE
: A physician trained in allopathic medicine is what most people think of
when they imagine a 'doctor'. Generally, an allopathic physician's responsibilities
include diagnosing disease, supervising the care of patients, and prescribing
treatment. Students completing a four-year allopathic medical program earn
the degree of Doctor of Medicine (M.D.) . M.D.'s pursue graduate medical
education (internship and residency) after completing the M.D.. This residency
time may take from three to nine additional years.
OSTEOPATHIC MEDICINE : A
Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine (D.O.) diagnoses disease, supervises the care
of patients, and prescribes treatment. Osteopathic medicine has much in common
with allopathic medicine; however, osteopathic physicians have a somewhat
different philosophy, sometimes described as total body medicine, and the
use of an additional treatment - manipulative therapy - in conjunction with
traditional allopathic therapies, such as medication. The D.O. degree involves
four years of study, followed by a one-year internship. The internship is
followed by two to six years of residency training if a specialty is desired.
The majority of D.O.s practice in a primary-care setting, particularly general
family practice.
CHIROPRACTIC MEDICINE :
A Doctor of Chiropractic (D.C.) is a primary health care provider who gives
particular attention to the relationship of the structural and neurological
aspects of the body in health and disease. Chiropractic treatment includes
spinal adjusting, manipulation, physical modalities, and rehabilitation. It
is not unusual for students to enter a chiropractic program after 60 credit
hours of preprofessional education, though schools of chiropractic have been
increasingly accepting more applicants with bachelor's degrees.
DENTISTRY : Dentistry is
devoted to maintaining the health of the teeth, gums, and other hard and soft
tissues of the oral cavity. Most dentists engage in general practice, bringing
skills in oral diagnosis, prevention, and rehabilitation directly to the
patient. Students completing a dental program earn one of two equivalent degrees:
Doctor of Dental Medicine (D.M.D.) or Doctor of Dental Surgery (D.D.S.) .
The majority of dentists begin practice immediately after the four-year dental
program, although many pursue one year or more of post-graduate study.
OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY: Occupational
therapists enable patients to regain or maximize the ability to perform daily
life tasks after recovering from a traumatic injury. Occupational therapists
usually have a strong educational background in the social and behavioral
sciences. This provides the skills and knowledge for them to help patients
physically, emotionally and psychologically deal with injury and recovery.
An Occupational Therapist (O.T.) usually completes a two-year program to
earn either a M.O.T. or other health science masters degree. Some schools
offer the occupational therapy program as a bachelor's degree. There are many
areas of specialization for occupational therapists to choose from and a
wide variety of clinical settings to practice.
OPTOMETRY : Optometrists
are primary healthcare providers who diagnose, manage, and treat conditions
and diseases of the human eye and visual system. A Doctor of Optometry (O.D.)
completes a four-year program, and the majority enter general practice upon
earning the O.D.
PHARMACY: Pharmacists are
an integral part of the primary healthcare system. They educate patients about
different medications and serve to ensure safe adminstration of drugs. Pharmacists
also serve to advise other healthcare providers about drug treatment plans.
A Doctor of Pharmacy (Pharm.D.) completes a four-year program. A majority
of graduates work in community pharmacy or in large retail pharmacy. However,
there are many specialized fields for which pharmacists may choose as well
as clinical research.
PHYSICAL THERAPY: Physical
therapists work with patients to regain or maximize movement in major extremities
or regions of the body relating to the major extremities. They are an integral
part of the healthcare system and many physical therapists work alongside
hospitals and in independent physical rehabilitation centers. There are two
degrees offered for those interested in physical therapy. A Master of Physical
Therapy (M.P.T.) usually completes a two year program, whereas a Doctor of
Physical Therapy (D.P.T.) usually completes a three year program. There
are many areas of specilization for physcial therapists to choose from and
a wide variety of clinical settings to practice.
PHYSICIAN ASSISTANT: Physician
assistants are part of the healthcare team that provides basic medical care
under the supervision of a physician. They take medical histories, perform
examinations, treat patients, see to minor injuries, prescribe medication,
order lab work ups and interpret results. Physician assistants provide diagnostic,
therapeutic and preventative health services. A Physician Assistant (P.A.)
usually completes a 18-month to 24-month program. Graduates usually earn a
master's degree in a medical related or biomedical related science. Some schools
offer the physician program as a bachelor's degree. Some physician assistants
work in hospitals or a group practice with physicians. In some rural or medically
underserved areas, physician assistants serve as the primary healthcare provider
in the community.
PODIATRY : Podiatrists are
concerned with the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of diseases and disorders
affecting the human foot and other parts of the lower extremeity below the
knee. Podiatrists use a variety of medical, surgical, and manipulative techniques
to treat the foot. A Doctor of Podiatric Medicine (D.P.M) completes a four-year
medical education, and in most states a two-year or three-year surgical residency.
Podiatrists may subsequently specialize in podiatric surgery, orthopedics,
podiatric sports medicine or other areas.
VETERINARY MEDICINE : Veterinarians
are trained to diagnose, treat and help prevent disease and disabilities
in animals. Veterinarians serve the needs of the public by practicing preventive
medicine in relation to both human and animal health, the solution of agricultural
and wildlife problems, and humane care of companion animals. A Doctor of
Veterinary Medicine (D.V.M) completes a four-year medical education. Most
veterinarians enter practice upon completion of the D.V.M., although many
pursue post-graduate training or specialization.
Deciding which career is best for you.
Ask yourself why you want to pursue the health profession you are considering.
Try to answer this question with a number of concrete reasons. Remember: this
is a question you will be asked by admissions committees of the health profession
programs to which you apply. So, give it some thought. If you have trouble
coming up with concrete reasons why this health profession will suit you,
try to complete this sentence: "I want to be an optometrist (doctor, veterinarian,
etc.) because..." The answer"...because I've always wanted to" does NOT answer
why you have wanted to. The answer "...because I want to help people" DOES
answer why, but only in a very general way. If you want to help people, why
the specific health profession you have chosen? You can help people by being
a fireman, a teacher, or a paramedic. Why not pursue a career in one of those
areas? Why not another post-baccalaureate health profession (dentistry or
podiatry or chiropractic)?
Answering these questions thoroughly will probably take some time. As you
prepare for the health profession, you should be evaluating these questions.
Ideally, your choice of a health profession should be the result thoughtful
and thorough career decision-making. Such career decision-making includes:
Self-Assessment - Understanding
what you like, what you are good at, and what you want from your career. You
need to answer questions such as: "How many hours a week do I want to work?"
and "How much pressure do I want in my career?"
Exploring Alternatives
- Looking at all the careers that match your career goals as determined
by your self-assessment. You will probably come up with careers that you
have never thought about. Research and consider them all. Don't assume you
know about a specific career. Unless you have actually worked in that career,
you probably have assumptions about it that may or may not be true. Find out
the REALITY of each career. You can do so by reading about it, talking to
people who do it, and by observing people doing it. You can also research
health-related careers on the internet. Try out the following links
for information on job descriptions, education requirements, salaries, and
more:
Careers in Allied Health Professions
Guides for Specific Health Careers
Deciding and Developing a Plan
- After you have researched career alternatives, rank the three which seem
to come closest to fulfilling your needs. Develop Plan A, a plan for preparing
for your best career match. Also develop Plan B , a plan for attaining
a satisfactory alternative. Plan B is important because you may find that
you change your mind about pursuing Plan A, or that you are unsuccessful in
pursuing it.
This may sound like a long process requiring effort on your part. Remember:
this is your life and happiness that you are making decisions about. In the
long run you will probably be glad you made the effort. In addition, if you
end up pursuing a health profession as a result of thorough decision-making,
your commitment and motivation will likely be much stronger. You will find
that you are more effective in writing statements for your professional school
applications and answering questions about your dedication to the profession
in interviews.
If you are unsure how to approach career decision-making, there is assistance
available. The Career Resource Center (Reitz Union, 392-1601) offers workshops
on career decision-making that can help get you started. In addition, the
CRC offers individual career counseling and a career library. All students
are strongly encouraged to take advantage of this resource!
UF Health Professions Programs
National Associations of Health Professions
Other National Organizations
