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Six Surprising Jobs in Health Care

Are you considering a job in health care but aren't sure if clinical medicine is right for you? Do you want a job that's flexible and unique? Just because you want to be in the medical field doesn't mean you have to become a doctor or nurse. Here are six surprising health-care related careers that will utilize your skills and keep you on your toes.

Aug 24, 2016
  • Student Tips
Six Surprising Jobs in Health Care

The medical profession may seem like it's all doctors and nurses, with a few pharmacists thrown in for good measure, but the reality is that there are numerous jobs and professions that support, supplement, and enhance traditional medical roles. Doctors and nurses play an important role in patient care, but chemists, therapists, media experts, administrators, law-makers, and countless other professionals keep the medical world running. So if you want to work in the medical field, but are not convinced that clinical medicine is your calling, don't despair. Here are just a few of the career paths for science-minded students that offer creative, flexible, and exciting options.

Woman with test tube

1. Flavorist
If you have a well-developed palate and a taste for the sciences, consider a career as a professional flavorist. Also known as flavor chemists, flavorists research and develop flavors and aromas that are used in medicines, foods, hair and skin care products, and other consumables. The job requires refined senses of taste and smell, and a knack for chemistry. Students with a background in biology, chemistry, food science, or biochemistry can look for programs aimed specifically at the flavor industry or seek out training through flavor houses and apprenticeships.


Blood donor at donation with a bouncy ball holding in hand.

2. Traveling Phlebotomist
We've all seen the mobile blood banks that show up at high schools and community events and in most cases the phlebotomists (professionals who draw blood) who collected your donation were mobile, or traveling phlebotomists. Like all phlebotomists, mobile phlebotomists go through rigorous training and need to be comfortable dealing with blood. Mobile phlebotomists also need a good driving record and, in some cases, their own transportation, but in return, they have the flexibility to travel and make their own hours. Mobile phlebotomists are in high demand, especially if they specialize in geriatric phlebotomy.


Male Doctor isolated on white

3. Medical Filmmaker
Most medical students have seen an educational film or training video at one point or another during their education. But did you ever stop to think about who produced that video? What about the illustrations in your human anatomy textbook? Medical filmmakers and illustrators work with medical professionals to create instructional materials, diagrams, and other media for health care facilities and education. Medical filmmaking is a great option for digital artists, animation students, and media-studies students who want to combine their creative skills with a passion for science and medicine.


Le vétérinaire observe le python

4. Snake Milker
This one's not for the faint of heart. Snake venom is used for a variety of purposes within the medical field including anti-venoms and antidotes, but also for medicines and treatments for conditions like hypertension. But the snakes don't simply donate their venom to science. Trained snake milkers spend their days in laboratories handling venomous snakes and gently coaxing the dangerous reptiles to open their mouths and release valuable venom into test tubes. In some instances, snake milkers may also research the venoms of snakes in the hopes of finding new uses for the deadly liquids.


5. Dance and Music Therapist
If you've ever used music to calm yourself after a stressful day or felt the need to dance after hearing exciting news, then you'll understand the powerful effect the arts can have on a person's body and health. Therapists who specialize in dance and music use the arts to reach help people with all sorts of medical and psychological issues. These therapists might work in nursing homes or on special hospital wards with patients who have cognitive or mobility issues, or they might practice privately and work one-on-one with patients who suffer from depression or anxiety. Music and dance therapists require a master's degree and the career is both rewarding and creative.


Portrait of physician doctor working in medical office workplace writing prescription sitting at desk.

6. Medical Writer
If your medical skills lean more towards the lab-report-writing end of the scale, consider a job as a medical writer. Medical writers produce content for health care organizations, medical newsletters, journals, and even pharmaceutical products. Many medical writers work as freelancers, but the field is hardly temporary. The demand for skilled and knowledgeable medical writers grows all the time, and a medical writer with a background in nursing, pharmacy, or clinical medicine will be in high demand.