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what medical career field should I look into
I always wanted/found an interest in the medical field, I'm currently in 10th grade and I don't know what field I should join. #future #medicine #medical
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6 answers
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Yasemin’s Answer
Hi Sara! There are many fields you can pick; nursing, Physician's Assistant, physician or pharmacist, etc. You still have time to decide but if you do pick a medical career you will be taking science courses such as biology, biochemistry, physics, and chemistry along with some math courses as well. Each medical career is also different in terms of responsibility, schooling, salary and time commitment, so these are things to put into perspective as well. If you do pick being a physician, you will be a premed student and take prerequisites, in addition it is also recommend to volunteer and obtain shadowing experience as well. Many medical careers require these to make sure students are getting the experience they need. Each medical career is very important to patient care and each entails different responsibilities. I believe you still have time and in college many medical careers do take similar subjects, with some differences, so when you begin college you can be a science major and begin to take some science courses and see how you feel about them. From my own experience you can be any major and apply to medical school as long as you take the prerequisites required; a traditional science major such as biology or chemistry is not required. There are also many advisers on college campuses, so definitely make sure to visit them and speak about your goals; premed advisers can definitely help guide you to medical school and make sure to complete your prerequisites. As a last note in college you can begin to volunteer and get patient interaction to see how you feel about working in the medical field; I believe this will you give you more perspective. The link below can provide more detail on different medical careers.
Best of luck!
https://www.globalpremeds.com/blog/2016/12/22/choosing-between-medical-careers/
Best of luck!
Yasemin recommends the following next steps:
Thank you so much!!!! I will for sure check out the link:)
Sara
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Estelle’s Answer
Everyone is giving great advice. I am impressed that you are thinking ahead, and that's great! When the covid pandemic passes, look into volunteering at local charity care clinics. We have a clinic that allows high school and college students to scribe for the providers. This gives you a really good look into what each person's responsibilities are. Lots of the clinics have everyone from nurses to nurse practitioners to administrators to pharmacists. Good luck to you!
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EJ’s Answer
Hi, Sara,
I'm glad that you start early on thinking about your career path. There are many different field you can choose but don't worry about not knowing which one to choose. I would recommend to start talking people who works in each medical fields or shadow them if you can. Also check with your school to see if there is any program like career fair or shadowing opportunities. It'll get easier to decide once you learn more about each profession. I thought pharmacy is boring when I was young, but now really enjoy what I do everyday. You never know what you'll find out. And don't forget about getting good grades since most professional school requires high GPA.
I'm glad that you start early on thinking about your career path. There are many different field you can choose but don't worry about not knowing which one to choose. I would recommend to start talking people who works in each medical fields or shadow them if you can. Also check with your school to see if there is any program like career fair or shadowing opportunities. It'll get easier to decide once you learn more about each profession. I thought pharmacy is boring when I was young, but now really enjoy what I do everyday. You never know what you'll find out. And don't forget about getting good grades since most professional school requires high GPA.
Updated
Valerie’s Answer
Hi Sara,
Lucky for you, you have tons of time to decide! It is good to know you like the health care field, but you don't have to know what specialty you want to choose until around your last year of medical school! Right now, you should focus on getting good grades in high school, shadowing many different physicians, and maybe volunteering in health care. Then during college you can decide if you want to be a physician, NP, PA, nurse, physical therapist, etc. Hopefully this will help you :) Best of luck.
Lucky for you, you have tons of time to decide! It is good to know you like the health care field, but you don't have to know what specialty you want to choose until around your last year of medical school! Right now, you should focus on getting good grades in high school, shadowing many different physicians, and maybe volunteering in health care. Then during college you can decide if you want to be a physician, NP, PA, nurse, physical therapist, etc. Hopefully this will help you :) Best of luck.
thank you so much :)
Sara
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Philomena’s Answer
it is great to think ahead, for now you may not be able to decide on what specialty interests you the most. focus on gaining admission to medical school by getting good grade, do some volunteer jobs at the hospital. after you gain admission into med school, as you begin to do the various courses especially during your clinical year you will be more precise in what specialty interests youthe most.
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Richard’s Answer
So many choices. I am a radiologist. Radiology is an exciting and dynamic field. For me personally, the procedures are the most exciting. For example, we recently introduced Y-90 radioembolization at our hospital. This provides a new opportunity to treat liver cancers and prolong lives.