Top-paying biomedical and laboratory careers require dedication to the craft and post-baccalaureate education.
Microbiologists study microorganisms, observing how they grow, interact with other organisms, and survive within their environment. They also delve into the structure, growth, and development of these organisms.
Allied health professionals called vascular technologists have the training and skills to use ultrasound equipment to examine blood vessels in order to aid doctors in making clinical diagnoses.
Healthcare administrators run the business side of healthcare. That’s no small feat. Over $4.5 trillion in spending flowed through the market in 2022—the latest data available as of October 2024. The mounting technological, regulatory, and financial challenges in the healthcare industry have drastically increased the need for healthcare managers and leaders.
This is a profession that’s grown over 3,200 percent since 1975. It’s not done yet, either: the BLS (2024) projects that jobs in healthcare management and administration will swell 29 percent nationally between 2023 and 2033. Healthcare administration degree programs provide a unique blend of business acumen and healthcare knowledge, allowing graduates can make healthcare delivery more efficient and effective.
The retirement of the Baby Boomer generation is creating one of the most significant demographic shifts in American history. As the population ages, the need for physical healthcare grows in tandem. The aging population does not only need medical doctors; it needs the specialized expertise of physician associates (assistants), nurse practitioners, and speech-language pathologists, among others, which make up some of the fastest-growing occupations in the country.
The state of mental health has reached crisis levels in the U.S. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, half of all Americans will be diagnosed with a mental illness or disorder at some point in their lifetime. Depression is the third most common cause of hospitalization among middle-aged adults and nearly 50,000 Americans commit suicide every year. Mental health professionals fight this epidemic with awareness, compassion, prevention, and treatment. Degree programs stress both social awareness and scientific knowledge. Given the wide scope of mental health and a renewed focus on integrative care, careers in this field range from substance abuse counselors and behavioral analysts to licensed psychiatrists.
If healthcare had a physical brain, it would be located in the lab. Patient-facing care providers rely on the hard-nosed science performed in labs to inform their diagnoses and treatment plans. Pharmaceutical and biomedical advances similarly depend on closed-door research at laboratories to change the scope of what is possible. This is science in its purest form, and degree programs in this field stress the core fundamentals that lay at the foundation of medicine. At the same time, they explore the rapid innovations in technology that are transforming healthcare as we know it. From automation and 3D printing to robotics and nanotech, the future is here—and it’s in the lab.
From registered nurses to advanced practice RNs (APRNs) such as nurse practitioners, the gamut of nursing professions is expected to grow substantially in the coming years. In fact, the BLS (2023) projects that openings for RNs will swell 6 percent between 2022 and 2032, adding 177,400 fresh openings nationwide. During the same period, positions for NPs are projected to increase a staggering 45 percent, with the expected addition of 118,600 jobs. Opportunities for nurse anesthetists and nurse midwives are anticipated to grow 9 and 6 percent, respectively, in that same decade.
Check out the range of nursing professions at all degree levels, including how to join these professions, the certification and licensure procedures, and the salary ranges.
Healthcare speaks its own language. It’s natural to have questions and the HealthcareDegree.com FAQ section is here to help. From term definitions to career roadmaps and job title comparisons, we provide the answers you need in plain English and walk through them step-by-step.
Healthcare is changing all the time. Our blog helps you keep pace. Here you will find posts that are relevant from the time you first apply to a degree program all the way through graduation. We feature interviews with professors and program alumni, briefs on key healthcare laws and policies, professional advocacy issues, and other resources. If you’re going to pursue a career in healthcare, you have got to catch up with the conversation. Get a head start by checking out our blog.