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Online Classroom: Health Services Careers

RETURN TO ONLINE CLASSROOM HOME READY FOR COLLEGE? READY FOR UW-MADISON? HEALTH SERVICES CAREERS ITC CAREERS STUDENT WELLNESS  RESPONSE TO COVID-19

There are numerous career paths to take in the health services fields.

Here are some resources to help you start thinking about your career and why you want to pursue it.

WHY WE DO WHAT WE DO: COMMUNICATING ABOUT YOUR WORK AND MAKING A DIFFERENCE

CIVIC ENGAGEMENT: THE CONNECTION OF CAMPUS & COMMUNITY THROUGH SERVICE & LEARNING

On Jan. 16, 2018, the winter-morning sunlight shines upon a close-up view of the letters on the "Sifting and Winnowing" plaque, mounted in the arched-portico of Bascom Hall at the University of Wisconsin-Madison.

Athletic trainers are members of the health care team focusing on the prevention, examination, treatment, and rehabilitation of injuries for not only athletes, but a wide variety of patients in many settings.

WHO ARE ATHLETIC TRAINERS?   ATHLETIC TRAINING CAREERS

UW-MADISON RECREATION & WELLBEING ATHLETIC TRAINING SERVICES  UW-MADISON ATHLETIC TRAINING PROGRAM

David Bell, assistant professor of kinesiology, describes the results of GPS-based data collected from students in his Sports Science and Athlete Monitoring class at the Natatorium and Gymnasium at the University of Wisconsin-Madison during spring on June 5, 2018. The summer-session class incorporates use of chest-harness devices capable of tracking each participant's duration of activity, speed, and other GPS-based data. The fitness-monitoring technology is used to teach future generations of rehabilitation specialists and athletic trainers. (Photo by Jeff Miller / UW-Madison)

Biomedical engineers apply the principles and problem-solving skills of engineering to biology and healthcare.  Engineers develop artificial organs and limbs, create new patient monitoring systems, and deliver advanced surgical and therapeutic devices.

MEET A BIOMEDICAL ENGINEER  CHOOSING A MAJOR IN ENGINEERING  BIOMEDICAL ENGINEERING FACT SHEET

UW-MADISON BIOMEDICAL ENGINEERING  TOUR THE COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING

A computer monitor displays a contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance angiogram (MRA) of a volunteer's abdominal organs May 3, 2007, at UW Hospital and Clinics at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Charles Mistretta, J.R. Cameron Professor of the Departments of Medical Physics, Radiology and Biomedical Engineering, has a longstanding partnership with GE Healthcare of Waukesha, Wis., to develop new generations of medical instrumentation capable of producing such imaging.

Neuroscience research brings together people from many subject areas to study the brain and nervous system.

TYPES OF NEUROSCIENCE RESEARCH  CAREERS IN NEROSCIENCE  CAREERS IN NEUROSCIENCE AND PUBLIC POLICY

UW-MADISON NEUROSCIENCE TRAINING PROGRAM

This neuron, created in the Su-Chun Zhang lab at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, makes dopamine, a neurotransmitter involved in normal movement. The cell originated in an induced pluripotent stem cell, which derive from adult tissues. Similar neurons survived and integrated normally after transplant into monkey brains -- as a proof of principle that personalized medicine may one day treat Parkinson's disease. Photo credit: 2010 image, by Yan Liu and Su-Chun Zhang, Waisman Center, University of Wisconsin-Madison

“Nursing is the protection, promotion, and optimization of health and abilities, prevention of illness and injury, alleviation of  suffering through the diagnosis and treatment of human response, and advocacy in the care of individuals, families,
communities, and populations.” (American Nursing Association)

There are a wide variety of career opportunities in the the nursing profession.  Learn more about becoming a nurse:

WHAT CAN I DO WITH A DEGREE IN NURSING?  NURSING AT UW-MADISON

UW-MADISON SCHOOL OF NURSING  TOUR THE SCHOOL OF NURSING AT SIGNE SKOTT COOPER HALL

Students in the UW School of Nursing program participate in simulation training at the UW Health Science Learning Center at the University of Wisconsin-Madison

 

Pathology is a specialty in medicine focusing on the study of disease.  Pathologists provide diagnostic information to other doctors and patients on diseases.  They also study the impact of diseases on the human body.  Learn more about a career in pathology.

WHAT IS PATHOLOGY?  WHAT IS PATHOLOGY AND LAB MEDICINE?

UW-MADISON DEPT. OF PATHOLOGY AND LABORATORY MEDICINE

The University of Wisconsin-Madison campus, including the UW Hospitals and Clinics, are pictured in an early morning aerial taken from a helicopter

“Pharmacists are important members of the comprehensive health care team; the expertise of pharmacists is vital to the success of the health care team as it designs, implements, and monitors drug therapy for the benefit of patients. Pharmacists use their expertise to keep pace with the rapid changes taking place in the health care system and the growing complexities of providing optimal pharmaceutical care to patients.”

Pharmacy offers a many different career options.  Learn more about pursuing a career in pharmacy!

 HOW DID YOU BECOME INTERESTED IN PHARMACY?  IMPROVING HEALTH CARE IN UNDERSERVED COMMUNITIES

CAREERS IN PHARMACY  STUDYING PHARMACOLOGY AND TOXICOLOGY

UW-MADISON SCHOOL OF PHARMACY  TOUR THE SCHOOL OF PHARMACY

Rennebohm Hall is reflected in the still water of Lake Mendota along the University of Wisconsin-Madison shoreline during dawn

“Physical therapists (PTs) are movement experts who optimize quality of life through prescribed exercise, hands-on care, and patient education.  Physical therapists teach patients how to prevent or manage their condition so that they will achieve long-term health benefits. PTs 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.”  (American Physical Therapy Association)

Learn more about becoming a Physical Therapist:

YOU CAN BE ME: A CAREER IN PHYSICAL THERAPY  CHOOSE PT

UW-MADISON PHYSCIAL THERAPY PROGRAM  TOUR THE PHYSICAL THERAPY PROGRAM

Physical therapy lab at UW-Madison

Public health professionals promote and protect the community by making sure the conditions exist for people to be healthy in areas such as tracking diseases, protecting workers, nutrition, and education.

WHAT IS PUBLIC HEATLH?  CAREERS IN PUBLIC HEATLH  WISCONSIN AREA HEATLH EDUCATION CENTERS

UW EXTENSION INSITUTE OF HEALTH & WELL-BEING  UW-MADISON MASTER OF PUBLIC HEATLH PROGRAM

Researchers process small vials of spit collected from volunteers as part of a trial of a new COVID-19 saliva test simple enough to be administered in makeshift lab space outside a UW-Madison campus building on Aug. 4, 2020. The potential rapid-result saliva test is being developed by David O’Connor, professor at the UW School of Medicine and Public Health; Tom Friedrich, professor in the UW School of Veterinary Medicine; and partners at the UW Hospital and Clinics. (Jeff Miller / UW-Madison)

A health services career does not necessarily mean a career working with people.  Veterinary medicine deals with the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of illness in all types of animals.  Learn more about being a vet!

HOW TO BECOME A VET  BEING IN VET SCHOOL

CAREERS IN VETERINARY MEDICINE  UW-MADISON SCHOOL OF VETERINARY MEDICINE

 TOUR THE UW-MADISON VETERINARY HOSPITAL

Anesthesiologist Tatiana Ferreira monitors a sandhill crane chick after veterinarians performed an endoscopy to remove a metal grommet from the bird's digestive tract at UW Veterinary Care, the teaching hospital at the University of Wisconsin-Madison School of Veterinary Medicine,

Another career path in health services is to do scientific research in a lab.  Professor David Wasserman uses fruit flies to better understand human brain disorders and traumatic brain injuries.

DAVID WASSARMAN ON THE USE OF FRUIT FLIES  FRUIT FLY LAB DEMONSTRATION

LEARN MORE ABOUT DAVID WASSERMAN  UW-MADISON LABORTORY OF GENETICS

 

A common fruit fly, scientifically known as drosophila melanogaster, is pictured on the tip of a small brush

An embroidered W crest is pictured on a medical student’s white coat during floor rounds on the Neurocritical Intensive Care Unit at UW Hospital and Clinics at the University of Wisconsin-Madison