Category Archives: Healthcare

Career Spotlight: Audiologist

Audiologists work with people who have hearing, balance and related ear problems.  They may work individually with a patient to develop a treatment program or they may collaborate with physicians, physical therapists and occupational therapists.  For those who want to help people of all ages, this is a rewarding career that allows you to diagnose, educate and counsel patients as they adjust to hearing loss.  These professionals must stay up- to-date on the latest hearing devices to maximize the quality of their clients’ lives.

Many states now require a doctoral degree (AuD) to practice audiology.  A Baylor degree in Communication Sciences and Disorders would be good undergraduate preparation for a doctoral program in audiology.  The employment of audiologist is expected to grow 25% through 2018, so job prospects will be favorable. For more information, visit www.audfound.org.

Career Spotlight: Clinical Laboratory Scientist

The Clinical Laboratory Scientist works as a healthcare detective, generating laboratory data to detect such illnesses as cancer, heart attacks, diabetes and bacterial or viral infections.  Although these scientists have limited direct patient contact, they are a vital member of the healthcare team that diagnoses and treats patients. 

Career opportunities are numerous and can involve work in a hospital setting, public health laboratory, forensic science laboratory or with Indian Health Services.  The Baylor program in Clinical Laboratory Sciences includes biology and chemistry courses that culminate with a one year internship in a hospital or university setting. 

For more information on this career path, visit www.ascls.org or contact Career Counseling.

Career Spotlight: Physical Therapist

According to the Occupational Outlook Handbook,

Physical Therapists, sometimes referred to as simply PTs, are healthcare professionals who diagnose and treat individuals of all ages, from newborns to the very oldest, who have medical problems or other health-related conditions, illnesses, or injuries that limit their abilities to move and perform functional activities as well as they would like in their daily lives. Physical therapists examine each individual and develop a plan using treatment techniques to promote the ability to move, reduce pain, restore function, and prevent disability. In addition, PTs work with individuals to prevent the loss of mobility before it occurs by developing fitness and wellness-oriented programs for healthier and more active lifestyles.

Physical therapists practice in hospitals, outpatient clinics, schools, and private offices that have specially equipped facilities. These jobs can be physically demanding, because therapists may have to stoop, kneel, crouch, lift, and stand for long periods. In addition, physical therapists move heavy equipment and lift patients or help them turn, stand, or walk.

Entrants to this profession need a post-baccalaureate degree from an accredited physical therapy program. The American Physical Therapy Association’s accrediting body, called the Commission on Accreditation of Physical Therapy Education (CAPTE), accredits entry-level academic programs in physical therapy. In 2009, there were 212 physical therapist education programs. Of these accredited programs, 12 awarded master’s degrees; and 200 awarded doctoral degrees.

Among the undergraduate courses that are useful when one applies to a physical therapist education program are anatomy, biology, chemistry, physics, social science, mathematics, and statistics. Before granting admission, many programs require volunteer experience in the physical therapy department of a hospital or clinic.

Physical therapists should have strong interpersonal and communication skills, so they can educate patients about their condition and physical therapy treatments and communicate with patients’ families. Physical therapists also should be compassionate and possess a desire to help patients.

Job opportunities are projected to be good.

American Physical Therapy Association (APTA)     http://www.apta.org/

Majoring in Statistics

The career counselors were recently paid a visit by Dr. Jane Harvill, Associate Professor of Statistical Science at Baylor.  She wowed us with stories of six figure salaries, telecommuting, and a broad range of employers where statisticians can work.  Here are some things to keep in mind if you are interested in applying your mathematical skills to help people make decisions.

First of all, the undergraduate major in statistics is appropriate for those who are strong in math.  That does not simply mean that you prefer math over English.  Statistics majors must take three calculus courses and linear algebra.  This major might especially appeal to students who enjoyed AP Statistics in high school.

Second, the list of fields in which statistics are used is endless, and many students choose to double major.  There is also a statistics minor available.  Dr. Harvill told us that statisticians work in government, quality control, market research, the pharmaceutical industry, academics, law, and the insurance and credit card industries…just to name a few.  Students majoring in biology, chemistry, astrophysics, sociology, and economics might find a statistics major or minor to be a nice complement to their studies.

Students with a bachelor’s degree in statistics can apply for jobs as technicians, but students are encouraged to pursue a master’s degree in statistics.  Two more years of school can lead to significantly higher salaries.  As an example, Dr. Harvill told us that technicians may earn a starting salary of $50,000 per year.  However, statisticians with master’s degrees may have six figure salaries.

Interested in learning more?  You can visit the Department of Statistical Science on the web.

Career Spotlight: Diabetes Educator

According to the Centers for Disease Control, “diabetes affects 8.3% of the U.S. population.”  There are many healthcare professionals who assist patients with diabetes, but one profession has these patients and their families at the center of what they do.  Diabetes educators are described by their professional organization, the American Association of Diabetes Educators, as

“healthcare professionals who focus on educating people with and at risk for diabetes and related conditions achieve behavior change goals which, in turn, lead to better clinical outcomes and improved health status. Diabetes educators apply in-depth knowledge and skills in the biological and social sciences, communication, counseling, and education to provide self-management education/self-management training.”

Clinical psychologists, registered nurses, occupational therapists, optometrists, pharmacists, physical therapists, physicians, podiatrists, dietitians, physician assistants, exercise specialists, exercise physiologists, and social workers are all professionals who could pursue certification as a diabetes educator.  More information on certification eligibility can be found here.

Exploring Careers in Healthcare

When analyzing our blog statistics, it is evident that the healthcare field is of significant interest to many of our readers.  For those of you unsure of your career direction (though confident that you want it to be in healthcare), as well as those pre-healthcare students who have not yet developed a Plan B, here are some incredibly helpful resources for you:

ExploreHealthCareers.org provides information on more than 115 healthcare occupations.

Texas H.O.T. Jobs is a similar resource, with profiles of professionals working in our state in healthcare.  There are also listings of academic institutions in Texas that offer the relevant training needed for the healthcare professions that are described.

For personalized assistance with your career exploration or development of a Plan B, contact Career Counseling to schedule your first appointment.

Career Spotlight: Social Worker

Do you dream of changing the world?  Many people with such a passion find a calling in social work careers.  Social workers focus on improving the quality of life for populations such as the elderly, those suffering from poverty, abuse victims, people who struggle with alcohol and drug addiction, and those experiencing terminal illness.

Baylor offers an undergraduate degree in social work, the Bachelor of Social Work.  Baylor also offers a Master of Social Work degree for advanced study, and students with undergraduate majors in other areas can still apply to the graduate program in social work.  Students with backgrounds in psychology, sociology, economics, political science, and child and family studies might be particularly interested.

To learn more about the day-to-day tasks of a social worker, use the following links:

Description of a social worker– Occupational Outlook Handbook

Child, Family, and School Social Workers– O*Net OnLine

Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers– O*Net OnLine

Healthcare Social Workers– O*Net OnLine

GPA Calculator

Before you go telling everyone that you are majoring in business, nursing, or social work, make sure you are in a competitive position for gaining admission to your program of choice.  The grade point average (GPA, for short) is one of the first things that an admissions committee will look at as they review your application.  The GPA is also used by graduate and professional schools, as well as many employers.  Think about it…how else are they supposed to distinguish between the hundreds of applications they receive.

If you don’t know how to calculate your GPA, now is the time to learn.  Thanks to the Department of Academic Advisement, you have some technology to help you out.  Click here to access the GPA Calculator.

GPA not as high as you would like?  Visit Academic Support Programs for suggestions on how to improve your academic performance.

Career Spotlight: Dentist

As you probably already know, dentists are healthcare providers who focus on the care of teeth and gums.  This is a growing profession that can allow someone with scientific knowledge and manual dexterity to apply those skills in serving patients’ dental needs.  Many aspiring dentists are attracted to the idea of operating a private practice, incorporating business management skills into their work.  According to the Occupational Outlook Handbook, approximately “3 out of 4 dentists are solo practitioners.”

Most dental school applicants complete an undergraduate (Bachelor’s) degree prior to beginning dental school.  Prerequisites typically include coursework in biology, general chemistry, organic chemistry, physics, biochemistry, calculus, and statistics.  Dental school usually takes four years, more if a student decides to pursue training in a specialty area.

A good place to begin if you are interested in a dental career is shadowing a dentist.  Make sure the environment is something you think you would enjoy, since the time spent in dental school and the financial resources needed to open a practice are significant investments.  Second, take rigorous math and science courses, as suggested by your prehealth advisor.  You will need to be able to excel in these courses to be competitive for dental school admissions.

The American Dental Association offers detailed information on preparing for a career in dentistry.  Noted on the Predental Timeline is to “consider alternative career plans.”  The path to a career as a dentist is difficult, and simply taking prerequisite courses does not guarantee admission to dental school.  If you would like assistance with exploring alternatives, please stop by the Career Counseling office in Room 132 of the Sid Richardson building to schedule an appointment with a career counselor.

Career Spotlight: Occupational Therapist

Occupational therapy is a healthcare profession that focuses on helping patients with skills needed for day-to-day living and functioning.  These could be skills related to school, work, or home life.  Occupational therapists come from a wide background of academic majors, and they work with patients of all different ages.

The American Occupational Therapy Association has published responses from occupational therapy students about why they selected the career field.  The Occupational Outlook Handbook offers a detailed description of the occupation, and Baylor students can visit with a prehealth advisor in Room B.111 of the BSB to learn more about the prerequisites for graduate school in occupational therapy.  Common prerequisites are psychology, physics, anatomy, physiology, statistics, sociology, and chemistry.