Physicians, who earn an MD degree from a medical school, might be the first health professionals that come to mind. After medical school, physicians complete a specialized residency and become qualified to practice medicine in areas ranging from primary-care fields like pediatrics and internal medicine to specialties like surgery, cardiology, psychiatry, oncology, pathology, and many more.

Physician Assistants (PAs) earn a master's degree and are then trained on the job in a specialty area. PAs act like physicians in many ways, including seeing patients independently, performing procedures, and prescribing medications, but they always work with a supervising physician.

Nurse Practitioners (NPs) can also have many of the responsibilities of a physician. NPs usually begin their career as registered nurses and continue to advanced practice training after a few years of experience.

Osteopathic physicians go to osteopathic medical schools, earning a DO degree, and then specialize in residency like MDs. In addition to conventional medicine, osteopaths utilize alternative practices such as manipulation (similar to chiropractic techniques) or holistic medicine. DOs receive the same kind of medical training as MDs and can apply for all the same residencies but may find it more difficult to compete for the best residencies.

There are also specialized medical schools in areas like podiatry.

Dentists attend dental school and earn a DDS (Doctor of Dental Surgery) or DMD (Doctor of Medial Dentistry) degree. There is no difference between these degrees!

After dental school, a dentist may enter a general dental practice or may choose to specialize (immediately or later) in an area such as orthodontics, endodontics, periodontics, oral surgery, etc. Specialization requires a residency or advanced post-graduate training.

Today, dentists are more likely than most other medical professionals to own (or co-own) their own practice, hire their own staff, and be responsible for the business aspects of the practice.

A veterinarian attends veterinary medical school to earn a DVM (Doctor of Veterinary Medicine) degree. Veterinarians perform many of the same kinds of functions as physicians, but their patients are animals.

Many people don't realize that veterinary medicine is not just care of cats and dogs: veterinarians may work with farm animals, work for agricultural companies, work for zoos or aquaria, specialize in the care of laboratory animals, or work in many other areas. Most veterinarians enter practice after receiving their DVM, but some choose to enter residency to specialize in veterinary dentistry, surgery, oncology, or many other areas.

What we think of as a "nurse" is usually a registered nurse (RN). Nurses assist other medical professional in diverse ways in almost every area of patient care.

Students interested in becoming RNs can complete pre-requisite courses and transfer to a nursing school, usually earning a bachelor of science in nursing (BSN). Or, they can choose to complete a four-year degree and then go on to a short graduate program, earning a master of science in nursing (MSN).

One reason to choose the four-year undergraduate degree in Biology or a related field is that nurses often want to make a career change after some years in practice. RNs can go on to become nurse practitioners, nurse anesthetists, or specialize in other areas.

Pharmacists hold the Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD) degree and are licensed to fill prescriptions, dispensing medications ordered by physicians. They may own their own pharmaceutical practices, work for a drug store chain, work in hospital pharmacies, specialize in clinical drug trials, or other areas.

Pharmacists participate to varying degrees in counseling patients about medications and their interactions and (in retail drug stores) today may also have opportunities to provide vaccinations.

Physical therapists receive doctoral-level training and earn a Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) degree. They are involved in the treatment and evaluation of disorders that affect movement in some way, notably musculoskeletal problems, neurological disorders, post-surgical recovery, etc.

Physical therapists may work in private practice or in a clinic or hospital setting. They may choose to specialize in pediatric or geriatric concerns, work in rehabilitation, focus on orthopedics or sports-related injuries, etc. They can also be involved in preventive care.

Optometrists hold a Doctor of Optometry (OD) degree. They work in primary care of the eye and treat problems affecting vision. In addition to disorders of eyesight, they can diagnose and treat conditions like glaucoma.

The work of an optometrist overlaps that of an ophthalmologist; the ophthalmologist is an MD who can treat more complex eye problems, including those requiring surgery. An optometrist in private practice is likely to own his or her own practice and will likely employ an optician who dispenses the glasses or contacts prescribed by the optometrist.

Occupational therapists receive a Master of Occupational Therapy degree (MOT). They assist their patients in building skills to engage in day-to-day activities. This might mean working with children (e.g., those with autism, physical disabilities, or processing disorders), with older adults, or with individuals recovering from strokes, surgery, or other conditions. They might work in private practice or in hospital, clinic, rehab, or nursing home settings.

There is a significant psychological component to occupational therapy, and OT school engages students in both life science and brain science.

Doctor of Occupational Therapy (OTD) degree programs are also available; as of now, they are primarily for those who wish to teach in OT programs or do OT-related research. However, an OTD may be required to practice as an occupational therapist in the future.

There are many technical roles in healthcare, generally requiring advanced certification beyond the bachelor's degree but usually not requiring a master's or doctoral degree. They mostly work in hospitals or clinical facilities and work with patients referred to them by physicians. Some possibilities include:

Radiation therapy: Radiation therapists assist in the treatment of disease, most commonly cancer, using radiation

Nuclear medicine technology: NMTs are primarily involved in diagnostic imaging such as MRIs or PET scans

Diagnostic medical sonography: Sonographers use ultrasound imaging to diagnose medical problems

Respiratory therapists: Respiratory therapists assist patients who have trouble breathing due to acute or chronic conditions

Cardiovascular perfusion: Perfusionists operate the heart-lung machines that replace cardiovascular functions for patients while undergoing surgery or other procedures

Genetic counselors do not perform medical procedures but are involved in patient care by ordering tests and providing information to make decisions related to genetics. This may involve pre-natal counseling for patients concerned about inherited conditions or working with individuals who have genetic diseases (or their families). Genetic counselors need a master's degree, and their education and practice combines biological science (especially emphasizing genetics and molecular biology) with a strong counseling component.

Similar patient-care roles include specialized areas such as rehabilitation counseling.

Dieticians have advanced certification beyond the bachelor's degree and work in doctor's offices, hospitals, clinics, nursing homes, and the food-service industry to ensure proper nutrition for their patients and treat conditions ranging from eating disorders and food allergies to weight management for surgical or cancer patients. Some entry-level jobs can be attained with a bachelor's degree in Nutrition Science

Public Health is a broad area concerned with the source and spread of disease (whereas medicine is generally more concerned with the cause and cure) and how disease can be prevented or stopped even when there are no practical medical interventions available. Public health professionals might work for a city or state health department, in a university setting, or for a government agency like CDC, NIAID, USAMRID, FDA, or USDA. This area includes diverse kinds of work, such as epidemiology, biostatistics, health education, medical entomology, community health promotion, or environmental health. A Master of Public Health (MPH) degree is usually the gateway to these careers; some schools offer specific concentrations within the degree area.

Patient-contact careers are not for everyone, and there are many ways to be involved in healthcare without working in a clinic. Careers in healthcare policy, healthcare administration, medical laboratory science, health insurance, and many more all contribute to the health of our population. And, let's not forget that biomedical research, both basic and applied, provides the underlying understanding needed to diagnose and treat diseases of all kinds!