Though the course span of any medicine and healthcare-related career is longer than other professional courses, the demand for professionals in this industry is continually rising year after year. The career opportunities are endless, not just within your region but also across different parts of the globe.
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The tremendous growth in the medicine and healthcare industry is owing to its wall-to-wall expansion in career opportunities, and this sector is expected to grow by 21% in 2024. With such situations prevailing, you can opt from hundreds of medicine and healthcare courses that best fit your interests and set long term career goals. Hence, to help you narrow down your course search, we have listed below the 5 fast-growing careers in Medicine and Healthcare Industry.
1. Podiatrist
Podiatrists are medicinal professions who are specialised in ankle and foot problems, bringing home an earning of over $120,000 each year. The Podiatrist assesses issues related to lower legs and feet, carrying out x-rays and physical examination. They provide prescribed medication, treatment, and perform foot surgery. As per the statistics, over 10,000 Podiatrists worked in 2018 in the US.
Podiatrists teach patients how to take care of their feet and provide them with the required wellness techniques. When needed, they prescribe suitable medications for their patients. In fact, Podiatrists are the professionals who examine initially whether a patient is at risk for vascular disease or diabetes.
Between 2018 and 2028, the employment rate of Podiatrist is expected to grow at a rate of 6%. With the increase in population, the need for podiatrists will increase in the coming years.
2. Dentist
Dentistry is a dynamic and high demand healthcare profession, offering an excellent remuneration across the world. People’s desire over adding aesthetic value to their teeth have expanded the job opportunities in the Dental profession year after year.
Dentists are professionals who prescribe medication and antibiotics to people suffering from toothaches and other tooth-related problems. While examining, Dentists inspect X-rays and perform a comprehensive examination of gums, teeth, tongue and jaws to understand and introspect problems.
Dentists have a wide range of specialist areas to choose from including Pediatric Dentists, Dental Anesthesiologists, Endodontists, Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons, Dental Public Health Specialists, Oral Pathologists, Orthodontists, and Periodontists. Besides, they can also offer their services at a Dental Clinic where they can instruct/supervise dental students. The average pay for Dentists is over $150,000 per year.
The Bureau of Labor Statistics has predicted a rise of 11% growth for Dental Professionals between 2018 and 2028.
3. Optometrist
An Optometrist is an eye care medical professional who examines the condition of the human eyes and diagnoses eye-related diseases such as nearsightedness, glaucoma, and farsightedness, etc. The optometrist will perform surgery, examine the patient’s retina (post a surgery), detect the eye diseases priorly, which include High Blood pressure and Diabetes. When the appropriate ailments are found, the optometrist will route the patient to the respective physician.
Behavioural optometrists holistically diagnose eye-related problems resulting from sustained stress and close-range visual tasks using special lenses. This treatment is globally becoming a diagnosing option for kids and working professionals owing to its success rate in treating depression, panic attacks and migraine.
The rise in population is also responsible for the boom of this profession. In the upcoming years, many people will require corrective lenses, and the optometrists’ demand is expected to grow by 10 % between 2018 and 2028. The average pay for an optometrist is over $100,000 per year.
4. Physical Therapists
The Physical Therapist’s job is one of the on-demand professions in the Medicine and Healthcare industry. These healthcare professionals help kids, students and working people recover from injuries or illness as suggested by a physician. Besides, people suffering from strains, arthritis, sprains, neurological disorders, fractures, strokes and amputations require the service of a Physical Therapist.
A physical therapist is also well-versed in reading surgeons and doctors notes. As a day to day work, they review medical history, diagnose patients and keep them notified about their health status (every day). Soon after figuring out the patients’ conditions, the Physical Therapist creates a customised treatment plan that comprises the outcomes and goals to be accomplished for the particular month.
The growth rate for physical therapists is expected to grow by 39% between 2010 and 2020. (BLS). A physical therapist also helps sportspeople/ athletes recover from their injuries during the games.
5. Radiologic Technologist
Radiologic technologists are also known as radiology techs who are responsible for managing diagnostic activities such as CT scans and x-rays. The primary role of a Radiologic tech includes to:
- Prepare patients for diagnostic procedures - dressing and x-ray rooms.
- Provide instructions to assist patients during radiography - observe patients safety and comfort during scan.
- Position the radiologic equipment to set exposure distance and time.
The growth rate for a radiologic profession is expected to rise by 28% between 2010 and 2020, which will lead to additional 61,000 job openings across the world.
Regardless of the remuneration, a career in the Medicine and Healthcare Industry is revered for its honour and will add value to your life. Alongside helping people when needed the most, a profession in this industry will also provide you with a great deal of international exposure, and of course, everyday learning.
