What design that will familiarize students with various careers in the medical profession?
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Get StartedWhether you are just starting to explore, or have committed to a career in health, this track guide offers tips, tools, and action steps to move your career search forward. See instructions on how to join the Health Track from your Handshake account. Assess Your Interests, SkillsThe first step in beginning your career journey is to assess your interests, skills, strengths, goals, values and self to better understand your “story” and give you career direction. Then, we can help you reflect on your story and create career exploration goals. Interests: Know your interests, as they may help to align you with careers and possible job titles representing a match based on your likes/dislikes. Use these tools below to clarify your interests:
Values: Know your values, as they may help to align you with potential work environments and organizations that match your passion(s) and core belief(s). Skills/Strengths: Know your skills and strengths, as they may help to align you with well suited job titles, work tasks and work environments. Use the tools below to clarify your skills/strengths and possible career ideas based on your talents and skills:
At a minimum, as you consider the possibility of pursuing a health career, ask yourself the following questions:
Get HelpWant some coaching on where to begin? Not sure which Career Track is right for you? Make an appointment on Handshake for “Exploring Options”. We’ll be happy to talk more about your Career Track options and explore your interests and skills together, in a coaching relationship. Before Your Appointment:
Explore Your TrackHealth careers encompass a large group of fields related to the delivery of healthcare to humans (and animals) through the application of science, engineering, mathematics and technology. There are over 100 health related careers out there. How do you know which one is the best fit for you? A combination of readings, informational interviews with practitioners, shadowing, volunteering and working in relevant settings will help you determine your path. Check U.S. News & World Report’s top jobs annual rankings list to see how many of the top jobs are healthcare jobs! Although most individuals readily and narrowly associate “health careers” with medicine, there are many professions in health and allied health as this hypothetical scenario illustrates. Thus, you owe it to yourself to explore the possibilities and learn more about not only medicine, but also public health, dentistry, optometry, pharmacy, nursing, physical and occupational therapy, and more. Every year, here at UM, in LSA alone, about ~30% of all entering students indicate an interest in pursuing a health related profession. The vast majority of these individuals will consider themselves “pre-med”. Many students will stay true to this interest and forge ahead on their path to become physicians while others will discover new professional interests along the way. Still others will identify their field of choice as a result of academic, co-curricular, or life experiences later on. All of these scenarios are completely normal. Regardless of where you fall on this continuum, the information on this Career Track, your internal drive to engage, and conversations with the University Career Center coaches can help you figure out the next steps in your journey. Here is some information to get you started: Necessary SkillsThere are some variances in the specific skills needed in various health careers, especially between clinical vs. non-clinical roles. However, a commitment to service, intellectual curiosity, cultural competence, empathy, strong communication skills, adaptability, resilience, teamwork, etc. tend to be common denominators. See, for example, the core competencies for entering medical students. An aspiring dentist however, for example, will also need to possess a particular interest in the science of oral health, good eyesight, excellent manual dexterity and a steady hand, the ability to gain trust and put patients at ease, some business knowledge to run a practice, multitasking skills, etc. Understanding the skills involved in various health professions and how they relate to your own skill set and aptitudes will help you narrow down your options. Search and check the occupation profiles of various health careers to learn about the tasks, skills needed, and equipment used to get a good idea of the basic kinds of work activities health professionals do on a daily basis. If you already have a general idea in mind (dentistry, pharma, biotech, alternative healthcare, etc.) be sure to peruse the appropriate Vault Career Guides. As a future health professional you will likely work in interprofessional teams. Thus, it will be important for you to understand and develop core competencies for Interprofessional Collaborative Practice. Through consultations with your pre-health advisors, you will want to seek courses and experiences that foster and reflect effective communication, teamwork, patient exposure, service, and ethics. You will also want to familiarize yourself with the range of personal, social, economic, and environmental factors that influence health status, commonly referred to as “the determinants of health”. For example, we recommend you:
Industry TrendsMonster.com's Salary Trends in Healthcare reports that expanded health insurance and the aging population are the top two factors driving healthcare hiring and high wages. The Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts 19% growth in healthcare jobs through 2024, with more than two million new jobs for physicians, registered nurses, and healthcare support occupations such as home health aides and occupational therapists. See Trends in Healthcare. Build Your Pre-Health CommunityYou will be able to find many health related groups in the UM Student Organization Directory. Many of these groups will have guest speakers and may offer shadowing programs. Visit a few of these organizations until you find a group that meets your needs: Pre-Medical Club, Alpha Epsilon Delta, Multicultural Association of Pre-Health Students, Sports Medicine Club, Pre-Optometry Club, Undergraduate Students National Dental Association, Pre-Vet Club, Pre-Pharmacy Student Organization, and many many more. Look also into service organizations. In addition, many of the professional student associations have an undergraduate section, which too can offer great opportunities to learn about the field, find shadowing opportunities, and connect with professionals. A few examples include: American Medical Student Association and American Student Dental Association. Search for people, groups or universities relevant to your interest through LinkedIn. For example, are you interested in becoming a Physician Assistant? Simply searching for “PA” will help you connect to a range of individuals from PA program administrators, PA students and practitioners. Reach out to these individuals for informational interviews, preparation advice, shadowing opportunities and application coaching. LinkedIn groups are a great way to expand your network, contribute to a community and get questions answered. See these tips on How to Network on LinkedIn and these additional Networking Resources on The University Career Center website. And, of course, make the most of UCAN, the University Career Alumni Network. Action StepsGet Help Want some coaching around navigating your Career Track? Interested in talking with a Career Coach about your exploration of a Career Track?
3,2,1 You have been exploring your Career Track, and may be wondering “What Next?” Try to answer these questions:
Launch Your Preparation for Your Chosen Health ProfessionComplete Prerequisite CoursesPlan for Whatever Standardized Test You Will Have to Take
Continue to Engage Beyond the Classroom
In addition to your academic preparation, you will be expected to invest time outside of the classroom learning about health practitioners, patients, your particular health field, and… yourself! Thus, it is important that you spend time in various healthcare settings to explore and confirm your interest in your chosen profession. Beyond fulfilling certain course requirements and developing specific academic and professional competencies, health professions schools expect applicants to have a general understanding of their chosen career as well as a demonstrated interest in and knowledge of what is involved in that field. Through your coursework and experiences you will want to understand:
The following activities can be valuable in enhancing your exploration of and preparation for your health field:
Be sure to maintain a spreadsheet of all your co-curricular involvements (not just health related), keeping track of dates, number of hours, type of experience, the responsibilities you had, supervisor’s name and contact information, and especially your reflections on what you learned, how this experience may have affected your worldview, etc. These records will be particularly handy in the short term to monitor your progress and identify areas for additional involvements. Later, they will be equally helpful for crafting your personal statement, completing the activities sections in your applications, and identifying possible sources for your reference letters. Connect with ProfessionalsInternship/Summer OpportunitiesResumes/CV & Cover LettersInterviewingDepending on whether you are applying for a summer research job, a position in pharma, or a seat in an entering medical school class, you will be exposed to various interviewing formats (behavioral, case interviews, MMIs, etc.). A prepared interviewee knows the similarities and differences between the formats and has practiced appropriately. See: The University Career Center’s Interviewing Resources. Consider scheduling an appointment to practice your interviewing skills at the University Career Center and take advantage of Big Interview for efficient, self-directed practice. Application ReadinessDon’t be on autopilot as you prepare to apply to health profession school. Given the competitiveness, intensity and intricacies of the process, you can benefit from taking a step back and thoroughly assessing your application readiness. There will be both academic and non-academic factors to measure up to:
In order to assess your application readiness, you may wish to ask yourself the following questions:
It is important that you are able to step back and assess your profile prior to applying so that you can determine both your strengths and areas that need attention. If you find yourself falling short on several categories, consider taking a year or two off to bridge those gaps. Remember: a dream delayed is better than a dream denied. While the list below is not 100% inclusive, these could be sound reasons to delay application. Give yourself permission to wait to apply if you need or want to:
After realistically assessing your credentials you will be better positioned to decide whether you are truly ready to apply. Waiting a year and improving your credentials might make the difference between a successful and an unsuccessful application effort. Remember that the national average age for entering professional students is usually ~24+ years. Thus, you will not be alone if you decide to wait one or more years prior to applying! See the information on Postbaccalaureate Programs and Gap Years on the University Career Center website for possible ideas. Ready to Apply? Although the University Career Center staff is available to guide you through the exploration and preparation stages (beyond the classroom) of your Health Track, individualized assistance with academic requirements and professional school application may be available through the advising and career centers in your School or College. If you are applying to medical school, group coaching is available through the Med App Canvas site. Procure Reference LettersAs you get involved in your classes and co-curricular engagements, start thinking about potential sources for reference letters. Although the expectations for the number of letters and the content may vary across programs, all reference letters are expected to provide admissions committees with additional perspectives on your past performance and future potential, commenting specifically on your skills and abilities related to your chosen career area. For example, see these guidelines on how to write effective reference letters in support of medical school application. Although the focus is on the letter writer, these guidelines will help you understand the expectations of a medical school’s admissions committee. Keep these tips in mind when arranging for your letters:
Write Compelling Application EssaysAs part of your application process you will be asked to write various essays. Collectively, these long and short reflections should capture why you are interested in a certain field, what type of experiences led you to such a choice, why this field is a good match for your skills and talents, and any other information about you that an admission representative should be aware of to form an informed and accurate opinion about who you are. See these resources for writing application essays in general and more specifically for health profession school. Become Knowledgeable About Schools and ProgramsTake advantage of individual schools’ information sessions and tours, open houses, admissions webinars, virtual fairs and any opportunity you can get to understand their offerings, garner preparation and admissions tips, get a feel for their distinct mission and culture, speak with current students and faculty, and—depending on the circumstances—experience the campus and community at large. Explore online and mark any relevant dates in your calendar! Here are a few examples for you: UM Genetic Counseling Events; SUNY Optometry Open House; OUWB Admissions Webinars; Pre-Dental Student Virtual Fair, WSU Monthly Pharmacy and Health Sciences Meetings, etc. Be sure to understand the timeline and mechanics to apply for your chosen career. Be aware that most health professions avail themselves to application services. Use these platforms to understand how and when to apply. Due to the large size of the UM pre-medical student body, the University Career Center also sponsors a Med App Canvas site that provides timely and detailed group application coaching.
Application Services: CAS'sCost of Applying & AttendingApplying to a health profession school is an expensive endeavor. The most significant expenses will include:
All these costs and fees can easily add up to well over $5,000 so it is important to plan in advance. If you have serious financial constraints, you may be eligible for fee waivers. Check with the appropriate health profession organization regarding the availability of fee assistance programs. For example, if eligible for the AAMC’s Fee Assistance Program (FAP), you will receive a reduction on the MCAT registration fee, free copies of MCAT preparation materials and the Medical School Admissions Requirements, and a fee waiver for application for up to 20 allopathic medical schools. It is critical that you maintain a strong credit record as you prepare and apply for health profession school. Do not let a poor credit history interfere with your ability to pay for and enroll in your program of choice. As you consider how to finance your health sciences education, strive to become knowledgeable about loan programs, the ongoing changes, and available loan forgiveness options. Remember that there are various service commitment programs out there, available through the U.S. Army, Navy, and Air Force, federal agencies and some state agencies. Action StepsGet Help Want some coaching around launching your Career Track?
Before Your Appointment: Explore and engage with the tools and links in Launch Your Career Track; Complete the 3,2,1 reflection exercise; Attend events related to your Career Track. 3,2,1 You have been launching your preparation for graduate or professional school, and may be wondering “What Next?” This simple exercise will help you get started.
Photo Credit: Tiago Gerken Which of the following is designed into familiarizing students with various careers in the medical professions?Introduction to health sciences and health information management is designed to familiarize students with the various careers in the allied health and medical professions.
Which of the following refers to an occupation or profession that requires special training?Detailed Solution. Profession: Profession refers to a paid occupation that requires training and formal education.
What are the things that you can consider in making your health career plan?8 Things Students Should Consider When Choosing a Career in.... Commitment to Serving Others. ... . Education. ... . Salary. ... . Job Opportunities. ... . Lifestyle. ... . Cost of Training. ... . Teamwork Scenarios. ... . Personality Fit.. What can we do to explore the different health careers?Ways to Explore Health Careers. Informational interviews: This is one of the best ways to get good information and start building your connections to others in that type of work. ... . Shadowing: ... . Volunteer work: ... . Summer internships and jobs: ... . Health-Related jobs: ... . Schools and training programs:. |