The medical industry is an extraordinarily stable industry that offers excellent rates of pay. Here, Doctor of Pharmacy John Picoulas discusses five alternative medical careers that job seekers might be interested in. Standard careers such as pharmaceutical sales are discussed as well as more alternative careers such as freelancing as a medical transcription worker.
Here are five fantastic medical careers and advice on how to get them by John Picoulas:
Pharmaceutical Sales Representative
Pharmaceutical reps work for pharmaceutical companies, selling prescription drugs to doctors and pharmacies. The job of a pharmaceutical sales representative is to persuade physicians and other healthcare professionals that the drugs they sell are ideal for the needs of their patients. As a pharmaceutical rep, you will meet daily with physicians to give free product samples and provide information about the products. In order to get into pharmaceutical sales, you will need a Bachelor’s Degree and consider a graduate degree. Then, earn certification and start networking to find a job that suits you best.
Freelance Medical Transcriptionist
A freelance medical transcriptionist has the freedom to set their own schedule and even work from home. Medical transcriptionists listen to audio files from medical visits and transcribe them into written documents that ultimately end up in the patient’s medical record. There is no required license in order to get hired as a medical transcriptionist, but certification is recommended. It’s also optimal to be familiar with medical terminology and anatomy.
Genetic Counselor
A genetic counselor assesses the risk of an individual or a family for different conditions that can be inherited. This includes genetic disorders and birth defects. This is done by studying patients’ genes via DNA testing. Genetic counselors work closely with healthcare providers and patients who may be worried about passing down medical conditions to their children. In order to get a job as a genetic counselor, it’s highly recommended that you obtain a Master’s Degree in addition to certification with the American Board of Genetic Counseling.
Medical Writing
Medical writers work in a variety of different areas of medicine for hospitals, schools, nonprofit organizations, news organizations, and biotech companies. Medical writers are responsible for developing print and digital documents that deal with medicine and healthcare. It’s important that you have knowledge and experience in both writing and science because there’s a lot of scientific research that goes into medical writing. In order to get into medical writing, you need to have solid writing experience with a portfolio.
Healthcare Consulting
A lot of companies will pay top dollar for the opinion of healthcare professionals when they are creating new products. Biotech companies are also always looking for consultants, especially if they have an MD. Healthcare consultants are also responsible for researching and analyzing finances in order to find the fiscal weaknesses and strengths of an organization. Once those strengths and weaknesses are identified, the healthcare consultant can help find solutions for the organization. You don’t need an MD to become a healthcare consultant, you can get a Bachelor’s Degree or Master’s if you’d like. Then, it’s important to gain some work experience in administration or clinical areas of a healthcare organization or hospital.
There are plenty of lucrative, meaningful careers in healthcare that doesn’t require an MD or even advanced education. A little bit of research can provide you with insight into what the best choice may be for you.
About John Picoulas:
John Picoulas is a pharmacist certified in medication therapy management and immunization with over a decade of experience working at Walgreens. He got his Doctor of Pharmacy degree from Duquesne University in 2008 and has worked as a pharmacist ever since. He is also an Eagle Scout, passionate about helping others, devoted, dependable, and accurate in all his endeavors.