The+Path+Less+Taken

toc There are many alternatives to the standard four-year “MD” degree. Now is the time to investigate these options and discuss your path with the Pre-Health Advisor and explore alternative health careers. Below is a partial but not exhaustive list of other health career options to explore.

=Physician Assistant = A Physician Assistant (PA) is a healthcare professional who is authorized by the state/province to practice medicine as part of a team with the supervision (direct or more commonly indirect) or sponsorship of a physician. A Physician Assistant is concerned with preventing, maintaining, and treating human illness and injury by providing a broad range of health care services that are traditionally performed by a physician. Physician Assistants conduct physical exams, diagnose and treat illnesses, order and interpret tests, counsel on preventive health care and may assist in surgery. They may also give medical orders and write prescriptions under the indirect supervision or sponsorship of a physician. Physician Assistants work in hospitals, clinics, and other types of health facilities, and exercise autonomy in medical decision making as determined by their supervising or sponsoring physician. A period of clinical training precedes obtaining a license to practice as a Physician Assistant. Renewal of licensure is necessary every few years, varying by state. They are educated in the medical model designed to complement physician training, rather than in the nursing model as nurse practitioners are. Physician Assistants are not to be confused with medical assistants, who perform administrative and simple clinical tasks with limited postsecondary education under the direct supervision of physicians and other health professionals, or nursing assistants.

More information can be found at @http://www.paeaonline.org/index.php?ht=d/sp/i/25515/pid/25515

=Podiatry= Podiatry or podiatric medicine is a branch of medicine devoted to the study of, diagnosis, and medical treatment of disorders of the foot, ankle, and lower extremity. The term podiatry came into use in the early 20th century in the United States and is now used worldwide with countries such as the United Kingdom and Australia. A Doctor of Podiatric Medicine (DPM), is a specialist qualified by their education and training to diagnose and treat conditions affecting the foot, ankle, and structures of the leg. Within the field of podiatry, US trained podiatric physicians rotate through major areas of medicine gaining exposure and practice to areas including but not limited to: surgery, sports medicine, biomechanics, geriatrics, internal medicine, diabetes, vascular, neurological, pediatrics, dermatological, orthopedics, or primary care.

More information can be found at @http://www.aacpm.org/html/careerzone/require.asp

=Optometry= Optometry is a health care profession concerned with the health of the eyes and related structures, as well as vision, visual systems, and vision information processing in humans. Optometrists are trained to prescribe and fit lenses to improve vision, and to diagnose and treat various eye diseases. In the United States and Canada optometrists are considered Doctors of Optometry and are held to the same legal standards as any physician. In all U.S. states optometrists are licensed to diagnose and treat diseases of the eye through topical diagnostic and therapeutic drugs, and oral drugs. Doctors of Optometry are also able to perform certain types of laser surgery in some states. In other countries patients are referred to other healthcare professionals, such as ophthalmologists, neurologists and general medical practitioners for further treatment or investigation.

More information can be found at @http://www.optomcas.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=10&Itemid=8 =Pharmacy= Pharmacists, also known as druggists or chemists, are healthcare professionals who practice in pharmacy, the field of health sciences focusing on safe and effective medication use. The role of the pharmacist has shifted from the classical "lick, stick, and pour" dispensary role to being an integrated member of the health care team directly involved in patient care. Pharmacists undergo university-level education to understand biochemical mechanisms of action of drugs, drug uses and therapeutic roles, side effects, potential drug interactions, and monitoring parameters. This is mated to education in anatomy, physiology, and pathophysiology. Professional interpretation and communication of this specialized knowledge to patients, physicians, and other health care providers are functions which pharmacists provide, and are central to the provision of safe and effective drug therapy.

More information can be found at @http://www.aacp.org/career/grants/Documents/2012-13%20PharmacyPre-RequisiteInformation.pdf =Physical Therapy= Physical therapy or physiotherapy, is a health care profession primarily concerned with the remediation of impairments and disabilities and the promotion of mobility, functional ability, quality of life and movement potential through examination, evaluation, diagnosis and physical intervention carried out by Physical Therapists.

More information can be found at @http://www.paeaonline.org/index.php?ht=d/sp/i/25515/pid/25515

//sources for the descriptive paragraphs have been collected and edited from Wikipedia//