Periodontist

Duties and responsibilities: A periodontist is a dentist who specializes in the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of periodontal disease, and in the placement of dental implants. Periodontists are also experts in the treatment of oral inflammation. Periodontists receive extensive training in these areas, including three additional years of education beyond dental school. They are familiar with the latest techniques for diagnosing and treating periodontal disease, and are also trained in performing cosmetic periodontal procedures.

Salary: $270,000 per year

Education: These specialists are very well trained. Not only do they have the same bachelors and dental school degrees as your dentist, they have three additional years of school. Most earn a Ph.D. In order to consider becoming a periodontist, you want to begin your foundation in high school. Be sure to take as many high level science and math courses as you possibly can. Maintain a high GPA and do well on the SAT.

Do you think you would like to be one?

No because this job doesn’t interest me.

Radiation Therapist

Duties and responsibilities: Radiation Therapy Technologists assist radiologists and onocologists (cancer specialists) in treating diseases by exposing areas of patients' bodies to ionizing radiation.  In addition to helping with treatments, technologists are responsible for maintaining the radiation therapy equipment and helping to maintain patient records.  Radiation therapy is provided in hospitals, public health clinics, cancer treatment centers, and private offices.

Salary: $22,000 - $36,000

Education:   Students should take the most challenging science, math, and English courses available in high school. Students can train to become a radiation therapist in either one or two year programs.  One year programs are often offered by hospitals.  To qualify for a one year program, an applicant must have graduated from an approved program in radiologic technology or been a nurse with education in radiation physics.  A high school diploma or a GED is required to enter two year courses.

Do you think you would like to be one?

No because this is not the job I would want.

Patient Representative

Duties and responsibilities: Patient Representatives work for healthcare administrators to address the concerns and special needs of patients and their families. They evaluate patient satisfaction, investigate complaints, collect information about patient dissatisfaction, work with departments to resolve patient problems, and educate staff. Patient representatives work in hospitals, nursing homes, other long-term care facilities, and in public health agencies.

Salary: $20,000 - $40,000

Education: Students should take challenging high school courses in business, science, math, and English. Requirements differ, but most employers prefer college graduates with backgrounds in health or social services.  Experience or course work in conflict resolution is also valued.

Do you think you would like to be one?

No because I wouldn’t like a job like this.

Clinical Laboratory Specialist

Duties and Responsibilities:

Clinical Laboratory Specialists include both Clinical Laboratory Technicians and Clinical Technologists.  These professions are also referred to as Medical Laboratory Technicians or Medical Technologists. 

Both technicians and technologists perform laboratory work to identify, diagnose, and treat diseases.

Clinical laboratory technicians use microscopes, laboratory equipment, chemicals and computers to perform laboratory procedures.  They also collect blood specimens and prepare culture media.  They conduct tests and prepare reports for clinical technologists or physicians.

Clinical technologists perform more complex laboratory tests and procedures than technicians.  They also supervise technicians, confirm their tests, and manage laboratory quality control programs.

Most clinical laboratory specialists work in hospitals, but they are also employed by private practices, medical groups, research laboratories, pharmaceutical companies, and universities.

Average Salary:    $20,000 - $28,000

Educational Requirements:

Students should take the most challenging high school courses in, science, math, and English.

An associate's degree in the field or completion of a specialized in-house training program is required to become a clinical laboratory technician.

A bachelor's degree in the field is normally required to become a clinical technologist; however some employers accept an associate's degree and extensive clinical experience as a substitute.  Many technologists pursue additional graduate education or specialized training to advance their careers in clinical chemistry, blood banking, and microbiology.

Do you think you would like to be one?

It sounds good but I wouldn’t take this career.

Health Information Specialists

Duties and Responsibilities:

Health Information Specialists obtain, post, and analyze medical, workload, finance, and insurance data.  They ensure that this information is properly recorded into medical records so practitioners can plan and evaluate health care provided to patients.

There are a variety of job specialties within this field including Registered Record Administrators, Accredited Record Technicians, and Certified Coding Specialists.  Administrators coordinate the various information management responsibilities and supervise record technicians and coding specialists.  Record technicians ensure medical records are accurate, coordinate reimbursement, and maintain disease registries for research.  Coding specialists assign and post correct diagnosis and procedure codes to records and report codes to insurance companies.

Health information specialists work in hospitals, clinics, insurance companies, physician offices, and many other medical settings.

Average Salary:   

1.         $20,000 - $25,000 (Coding Specialists) 

2.       $23,000 - $30,000 (Record Technicians) 

3.       $30,000 - $40,000 (Record Administrators)

Educational Requirements:

Students should take high school courses in business, information management, science, math, and English.

Coding specialists must have a high school diploma or GED certificate.  Training is usually conducted on the job, but classes are offered at technical schools and community colleges.  To become certified, specialists must pass an examination.

Accredited record technicians must earn an associate's degree from an accredited college program or from the American Health Information Management

Record administrators must complete a bachelor's degree program in the field and pass a certification examination.

Do you think you would like to be a Health Information Specialist?

I wouldn’t want to be a Health Information Specialist because it doesn’t interest me at all.

Environmental Health Specialist

Duties and Responsibilities:

Environmental Health Specialists are people who are responsible for enforcing standards of health and safety within their community. They make sure all businesses are following the proper federal codes and regulations. An environmental health specialist also consults with physicians and other medical personnel about stuff which can have a big danger in their community.

Average Salary: $40,000-$90,000

Education: You are required to have a high school degree in order to be an environmental health specialist. You are also required to have a bachelors’ degree in environmental health. It is advised to have a masters or doctorate degree as it will open up more job opportunities.

Do you think you would like to be one? Why? Why not?

I wouldn't want to be an Environmental Health Specialist because it doesn't interest me. This career/job seems kind of boring and repetitive.

Cytotechnologist

(Cytology)

Duties and Responsibilities

Cytology is the study of human body cells. Cytotechnologists are specially trained clinical technologists who study human body cells. They examine cells to identify changes that may indicate diseases like cancer.

Their duties include preparing microscope slides of cell samples, examining cell sample using microscopes, identifying abnormalities in shape, size, or color, using other automated lab equipment to perform tests, and analyzing report test results to physicians.

Cytotechnologists usually work in hospitals, clinics, or private laboratories. They also work in universities or for other researches.

Average Salary: $30,000- $50,000

Educational Requirements

Students should take the most challenging high school courses in science, math, and English.

Almost all cytotechnologist earn bachelor’s degrees in medical or clinical technology programs that include a yearlong clinical internship in the field.

Choose the Right

Health Information

Part 2

Educational Requirements:

Students should take high school courses in business, information management, science, math, and English,

Coding specialists must have a high school diploma or GED certificate. Training is usually conducted on the job, but classes are offered at technical schools and community colleges. To become certified, specialists must pass examination.

Accredited record technicians must earn an associate’s degree from an accredited college program or from the American Health Information Management Association Independent Study Program. Additionally, they must pass a credentialing examination.

Record administrators must complete a bachelor’s degree program in the field and pass a certification examination.

Choose The Right

Health Information Specialist

Part 1

Duties and responsibilities:

Heath information specialists obtain, post, and analyze medical, workload, finance, and insurance data. They ensure that this information is properly recorded into medical records so practitioners can plan and evaluate health care provided for patients.

There are a variety of job specialists within this field including Registered Record Administrators, Accredited Record Technicians, and Certified Coding Specialists.

Administrators coordinate the various information management responsibilities and supervise record technicians and coding specialists. Record technicians ensure medical records are accurate, coordinate reimbursement, and maintain disease registries for research. Coding specialists assign and post correct diagnosis and procedure codes to records and report codes to insurance companies.

Heath information specialists work in hospitals, clinics, insurance companies, physician offices, and many other medical settings.

Average Salary:

$20,000-$25,000 (coding specialists)

$23,000-30,000 (record technicians)

$30,000-$40,000 (record administrators)

Choose The Right