Category — Academics

Did you know there is a school, started in 1972, that offers one of the best educations in the world? It is the F. Edward Hebert School of Medicine and Graduate School of Nursing; which is part of the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences in Bethesda, Maryland.

It serves all four branches of the military and Public Health Service. Uniformed students receive their usual pay and benefits. Medical students have a seven year obligation to serve after graduation. Only military nurses are accepted in the post-graduate nursing programs for Master’s degree or PhD completion. Some civilians who are employed by the federal government may be eligible for admission and receive their full salary while attending.

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The rigors of medical school take an immense toll on prospective physicians. They are put at risk financially, physically and emotionally for the impending pay off of a career in medicine. While there are many factors that will determine the success of the gamble medical school presents, resident placement is important. After the long years of school work have been completed a student’s choice of residency depends upon location, specialization and reputation of the University. Prospective residents may have little to say about where they are accepted, making the application and interview process to a particular residency significant. Knowing what to expect and what’s expected of you can help.

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The practice of medicine began with Hippocrates. It progressed from an education by tutelage to formal training in specialized schools.

In 1874 a physician grew wary of the treatments rendered and lack of success with most medications. Dr. Andrew Taylor Still founded a school that paralleled the teachings of medicine and added the concept of holistic health. He determined nutrition played a large part in the maintenance of well being; the body has the potential for healing itself, and the musculoskeletal system plays a role in good health. The best way, perhaps, to put the differences succinctly, is to say medicine tends to treat the individual ailments while osteopathy treats the entire being.

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Preparing for a career in health can begin in high school. While you will probably not get on-the-job training, there are ways to hone your personal skills and develop a strong base of knowledge.

There are a number of fundamentals shared by almost everyone who wants to be involved in the health industry: from EKG technician to the physician who does stereotactic radiosurgery. All such occupations involve taking care of the human body in one way or another: and this means being capable of handling the emotional as well as physical aspects of treatment.

Here are eight concrete things you can do while in high school to get ready for a college education and career in health.

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What criteria are considered when selecting a profession? Which factor is the most significant? All things being equal, salaries are largely dependant on the geographic region versus exactly what function is performed. For instance, a cardiovascular technician and technologist in Florida can expect a mean annual salary of $31,900. The same position in New York will pay a median wage of $46,700 (the national median is $42,300)

Financial influences in your decision should include housing costs, utility bills, urban versus rural living, and whether you want to ski or play golf. Of course you could do both in a place like New Mexico for most of the year; but the cost will be a lower wage: but living expenses will be lower.  If you live in New York City, you may only be able to afford a one-room walk-up.The training required for those choosing cardiovascular, is two to four years. Technicians and Technologist take similar courses in the first year, then go on to specialized areas. Technologists can qualify to take the national certification exam and generally earn a bachelor’s degree.That being said, it’s time to discuss the breadth of occupations within the healthcare industry.

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In no particular order, the following schools offer quality health education programs at a variety of levels and specialties. So if you’re preparing for a career in health, these schools are great options.

Ashford University (Clinton, Iowa)
Ashford University prides itself on offering one of the lowest tuition costs for a private school in the Midwest, while still providing low student-teacher ratios. The college has about 4,000 students who have the option of attending classes on campus or participating in an online program. Ashford’s health education options include Bachelor’s Degrees in Biology, Clinical Cytotechnology, Clinical Laboratory Science, Health Care Administration, Health Science, Health Science Administration, Natural Science, and Nuclear Medicine Technology. http://www.ashford.edu/home/

Eagle Gate College (Utah)
Eagle Gate College has campuses in Salt Lake City, Layton, and Murray, as well as an online program. The college offers Diploma and Associate’s programs that take about 12-18 months to complete. Some of the health programs include Medical Assisting, Dental Assisting, Professional Massage and Bodywork, Personal Fitness Training, Pharmacy Tech, and Medical Insurance Billing and Coding. http://www.eaglegatecollege.edu/index.php

Miller-Motte Technical College (Southeast US)
MMTC offers a variety of programs, from Certificates (Therapeutic Massage) and Diplomas (Professional Massage Therapist, Medical Office Assistant) to Associate’s (Surgical Technology, Medical Assisting, Massage Therapy, Dental Assisting) and Bachelor’s Degrees (Allied Health Management). They have seven campuses in Tennessee, North and South Carolina, and Virginia. http://www.miller-motte.com/

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Many students select the route to a medical degree in an international setting. On the surface it appears to be a good alternative to institutions of North America when their grades are not quite up to the test of competition, costs are prohibitive, and even the lure of other countries has its appeal.

However, statistics from the US Medical Licensing Exam, less than 42% of Americans studying abroad pass step 1 of the test, because there are cultural issues. Few will want to discuss the realities, but it is important to know what the social climate is if venturing to any country other than Canada. This was pointed out with a recent article about a school in Sweden: but could have been almost anywhere.

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Guest article by Lynsey Keep

Twenty years ago nursing students were recognized as being young, eager ‘new recruits’, in fact, relative ‘virgins’ to employment, least of all a career.

To become a nurse was something to be proud of, a vocation, and lifelong commitment to the caring profession. These people were innocent and impressionable and would be perfect candidates to join the healthcare profession.

To enter into a career choice that was renowned for paying a low wage, have high expectations for the student to embark on gruelling study, along with juggling awkward shift patterns and unsocial hours, was a vocation that these keen new-starters accepted without question

In the early nineties, nursing in the United Kingdom was taken by storm, by the introduction of a new innovation in nurse training. ‘Project 2000’ aimed to take the student away from bedpans and the sluice room, and instead place them in university classrooms, studying from behind a desk, as opposed to learning at the patients bedside.

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