From dentists and doctors to pharmacists and physicians’ assistants, there are many opportunities to pursue a health-related career. We talked to three professionals in the field about their jobs.
Who: Leilani Johnson
Job: Executive director of Circle of Health International (COHI), a nonprofit organization that assists women in crisis situations
Average salary*: $80,240 (medical and health services managers)
Q: What does your job as executive director at COHI entail?
A: As a small NGO, I run it all: administrative functions, fundraising, program management, human resources, monitoring and evaluation. I manage all the legal aspects as well as all the small things that may come up.
Q: What is the most difficult part of your job?
A: Being so far away from the projects, and coming up with sufficient funds to keep our programs running.
Q: What is the most rewarding aspect of your job?
A: Seeing how just one midwife in a really underserved community can change the whole outlook on how important women’s lives are. ...When we can add just one person to help with births, we can decrease the number of deaths of mothers and babies in a region.
Q: What characteristics does a person need to be successful in your job?
A: Logical thought, patience and flexibility.
Q: What post-high school education is necessary for your job?
A: I needed both an undergraduate degree and either an MBA in nonprofit management or a master’s in public health. I also would love to have a clinical background either as a nurse practitioner or a physician’s assistant.
Q: What would people be surprised to know about your job?
A: That many times, my hours are completely irrational. In order to get in touch with a midwife in Tanzania, sometimes I have to stay up until midnight so that I can catch them in the early morning.
Q: What advice do you have for students who want to follow your career path?
A: Travel and study. Study and travel. Don’t just visit a country as a tourist. Definitely take a semester abroad, and be flexible. Obtain both an academic and a personal worldview.
Who: Shawn Dill
Job: Doctor of chiropractic
Average salary: $66,490
Q: What does your job as a doctor of chiropractic entail?
A: I practice a particular type of chiropractic called upper cervical specific, which concentrates on the unique relationship between the nervous system (particularly the brain stem) and the first two bones in the neck. Initially we do an initial exam, and after explaining to the patient what we have found, along with our recommendations for care, we begin the process of correcting the problem.
Q: What is the most difficult part of your job?
A: The most difficult part of my job is dealing with the human level. It is difficult to work with very sick people and not internalize their problems.Also, while we understand doctors are humans like everyone else, there is an expectation of perfection at all times when dealing with people’s health. As professionals, we often fall into the trap of believing the same. One of the hardest parts of my job is accepting that I will not be able to help every single person who comes into my office.
Q: What post-high school education is necessary for your job?
A: Licensure regulations vary by state, but for most states, you need an undergraduate degree in addition to your doctor of chiropractic degree.
Q: What would people be surprised to know about your job?
A: I think people would be surprised to know the amount of education that chiropractors have. We are recognized as primary care providers in all 50 states. This means that patients have full access to chiropractic care without the need for a referral from any other health care provider. We are completely trained to diagnose and manage any kind of health disorder, whether the management is completely chiropractic in nature or a co-management with another health care provider.
Who: Lisa Nelson
Job: Pharmacist
Average salary: $106,410
Q: What does your job as a pharmacist entail?
A: Filling prescriptions based on orders received from physicians. This includes order entry into a computer system, reviewing for various interactions, ...billing proper insurance and receiving paid claims, selecting the correct product from the shelf, counting and labeling appropriately, then verifying that all steps in this process are completed with 100 percent accuracy before dispensing to the patient. There is also a lot of patient interaction, including medication counseling, answering questions about health, and providing both drug and non-drug recommendations for treating ailments.
Q: What is your average day like?
A: Most of the day is filled with tasks pertaining to the filling and dispensing of prescriptions. However, this is done with frequent interruptions when patients have questions or I receive phone calls. I work in a retail environment, so I work long days (up to 12 hours), but I only work three and a half days a week. It is not uncommon for pharmacists to work 10- or 12-hour shifts.
Q: What characteristics does a person need to be successful in your job?
A: A successful pharmacist needs to be very detailed-oriented, good at multitasking and able to provide good customer service.
Q: What post-high school education is necessary for your job?
A: To become a pharmacist, you currently need a minimum of two years of prerequisite college classes to meet the academic requirements before beginning pharmacy school. Pharmacy school is currently a four-year doctorate program.
Q: What would people be surprised to know about your job?
A: People would be surprised to know about the variety of career opportunities in pharmacy. I work in retail pharmacy, but there are many other types of jobs pharmacists hold.
Q: What advice do you have for students who want to follow your career path?
A: Work hard and study a lot! The process of preparing for and applying to pharmacy school is rigorous and competitive, but if you want to be a pharmacist, it is important to work hard and not give up.
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