Impactful and Unique Healthcare Careers

Chances are when you think about healthcare careers, what comes to mind is working as a physician, surgeon, or nurse. But the healthcare industry has so many other options. If you have different passions and feel torn about what to study in college or trade school, you should know that it’s possible to combine your love of music or art, for example, with your interest in helping others. 

We did a little research to see what other healthcare careers are growing in demand — and that pay well, too.

Advanced Practice Registered Nurse (APRN)

APRNs are an important component in the healthcare system. Under this umbrella are distinct specializations, each with its own focus and responsibilities.

Nurse practitioners provide primary, acute, and specialty healthcare to all patient demographics. Many serve as primary care providers, managing chronic conditions and emphasizing preventive care. They work in clinics, hospitals, and private practices and play a vital role in increasing access to healthcare, particularly in underserved areas.

Nurse anesthetists specialize in administering anesthesia and providing pain management before, during, and after surgical and other medical procedures. They collaborate with surgeons, anesthesiologists, and other healthcare team members to ensure patient safety and comfort.

Nurse-midwives provide prenatal, labor, and postpartum care. They also offer gynecological care, family planning services, and health education. Nurse-midwives emphasize a holistic approach to care and often work in hospitals, birthing centers, and clinics.

Animal-Assisted Therapist

These healthcare professionals incorporate animals into therapeutic interventions. They facilitate interactions between trained therapy animals like dogs and horses and people based on the patient’s therapeutic goals. These sessions guide patients to achieve outcomes like reducing stress, improving social skills and communication, increasing motivation and engagement, or enhancing physical mobility and coordination.

Animal-assisted therapists work as part of a multidisciplinary team, collaborating with other healthcare professionals to develop and implement treatment plans. They assess client needs, monitor progress, and adjust settings as needed. They have a deep understanding of animal behavior and welfare and work in various settings, including hospitals, nursing homes, schools, rehabilitation centers, and private practices.

Art, Dance, or Music Therapist

These therapists use creative expression as a tool to improve patients’ physical, emotional, and mental well-being. While each type of therapist has a unique approach, they share a common goal of facilitating healing and growth through artistic engagement, encouraging individuals to explore their thoughts and feelings through art, dance, or music.

Dance and movement therapists can improve motor skills, coordination, and body awareness. Music therapy can enhance cognitive function, memory, and communication skills. Art therapy can help with fine motor skills and hand-eye coordination. All of these therapies can help people develop coping mechanisms, build self-esteem, and improve emotional regulation.

Athletic Trainers

These healthcare providers specialize in preventing, diagnosing, and treating injuries and illnesses related to physical activity. They design and implement injury prevention programs like conditioning exercises and flexibility training. Athletic trainers provide clinical evaluation and diagnoses, and when an athlete gets hurt, develop and oversee rehabilitation programs to facilitate recovery.

Clinical Laboratory Technologist and Technician

These technologists and technicians conduct tests on biological specimens to obtain data for the diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of diseases. While both analyze body fluids, tissues, and other samples, operate lab equipment, and record and report test results, there are a few differences.

Technologists, who need a bachelor’s degree, perform more complex tests and procedures, may supervise technicians, and often specialize in areas like blood banking, microbiology, or chemistry. Technicians only need an associate’s degree and perform more routine tests and procedures.

Cytotechnologist

A cytotechnologist examines cells to detect abnormalities, screening cell samples for signs of cancer, precancerous conditions, and other diseases. Their work is crucial for early detection so intervention and treatment can happen faster. Cytotechnologists work closely with pathologists, providing essential information to help with the final diagnosis.

Embryologist

These highly specialized scientists work in reproductive medicine, primarily in in vitro fertilization (IVF) clinics, helping individuals and couples with infertility issues. Embryologists perform various lab procedures, including egg retrievals, embryo transfers, intracytoplasmic sperm injection, and embryo biopsy. They also culture and monitor embryo development, evaluate embryo quality at various developmental stages, conduct cryopreservation and ensure viability for future use, and conduct genetic testing.

Epidemiologist

These “public health detectives” investigate patterns, causes, and effects of health-related conditions in defined populations. Their work is vital for understanding and controlling diseases and other health issues. Epidemiologists study how viruses spread within populations, identifying factors contributing to outbreaks, pandemics, and epidemics. Their research helps pinpoint environmental factors, lifestyle choices, and genetic predispositions leading to disease/health issues.

Based on their findings, epidemiologists develop strategies to prevent and control the spread of disease, like vaccination campaigns, health education programs, and policy recommendations. They’re vital for protecting and improving public health.

Genetic Counselor

These healthcare professionals collect and analyze family and medical histories to assess the risk of inherited conditions, using their knowledge to calculate the chance of someone developing a genetic disorder. Genetic counselors also help people make informed decisions about genetic testing and healthcare management and support those dealing with the emotional, psychological, and social implications of results.

Health Information Technologists and Medical Registrar

Both of these professionals are vital to the accurate, efficient management of healthcare data. While their roles intersect, each has a different focus area, but essentially, they’re the people managing the information physicians and healthcare institutions use.

Health information technologists focus on the technical elements of health information, working with electronic health records (EHRs), implementing and maintaining health information systems, and ensuring the accuracy, security, and accessibility of patient data.

Medical registrars specialize in maintaining databases of patient information related to specific conditions or treatments. For example, cancer registrars track patient data for cancer registries. They are heavily involved with data collection, analysis, and reporting for quality improvement, research, and public health purposes.

Medical Dosimetrists

These specialized healthcare professionals work closely with radiation oncologists and medical physicists to develop treatment plans that maximize radiation dosage to tumors while minimizing exposure to healthy tissues. They use computer software and imaging techniques (CT and MRI scans) to create detailed 3D radiation dose distributions.

Medical Examiner Technician

Also known as morgue or autopsy technicians, these professionals assist the medical examiner or coroner and pathologists to determine the manner or cause of death. They help with autopsies, collect, process and preserve specimens, keep and maintain detailed records — including photographs, diagrams, and written descriptions — and may collaborate with police departments to help with evidence collection.

Medical & Health Services Manager

Also known as healthcare administrators, these managers plan, direct, and coordinate services within a healthcare facility or system. Medical and health services managers develop and implement policies, procedures, and programs to improve service delivery, implement and evaluate quality improvement initiatives, control budgets, negotiate contracts, and ensure regulatory compliance.

Medical Illustrator & Filmmaker

These healthcare professionals combine art and science to create visual materials used for medical education, research, and communication. While their mediums differ, they aim to convey complex medical information accurately and effectively. 

Medical illustrators produce visuals for textbooks, journals, presentations, websites, and patient education materials. In some cases, their work is used to guide surgical planning. They have a strong understanding of anatomy, physiology, and other medical sciences and use drawing, painting, digital imaging, and 3D modeling.

Medical filmmakers create videos and animations that explain procedures, illustrate disease processes, and document surgical techniques. Their work is used for medical training, patient education, scientific presentations, and documentaries. In addition to medical knowledge, they have solid videography, editing, animation, and sound design skills.

Medical Statistician

Essential in the world of healthcare research, medical statisticians design, analyze, and interpret data from medical studies and clinical trials. Their work is crucial for generating evidence-based conclusions and informing medical practice and public health policies.

Medical statisticians collaborate with researchers to design studies, analyze data, identify patterns and trends, and interpret the results’ clinical significance by translating complex findings into clear, understandable language. They also create and refine statistical models to predict disease risk, assess treatment effectiveness, and understand the factors influencing health outcomes.

Nuclear Medicine Technologist

Nuclear medicine technologists use radioactive materials to diagnose and treat diseases. They administer drugs containing small amounts of radioactive substances and then use imaging equipment (PET scanners, gamma cameras) to capture images of the body’s internal organs and structures. Diseases these technologists help to diagnose and treat include cancer, heart disease, and neurological disorders.

Orthotists, Prosthetists & Pedorthists

These allied health professionals specialize in designing, fabricating, and fitting orthoses and prostheses to improve the function and mobility of patients who may have lost limbs or have musculoskeletal issues.

Orthotists work with patients of all ages and match patients to the proper orthoses, including braces, splints, and shoe inserts used to treat conditions like scoliosis, cerebral palsy, and sports injuries.

Prosthetists work with patients who have amputations, congenital limb differences, or other conditions requiring artificial replacements.

Pedorthists design and modify footwear and foot orthoses to address lower limb problems, including foot pain, diabetes-related foot complications, and other conditions affecting the feet and ankles.

Pathologist (and all the sub-categories)

These medical doctors specialize in the diagnosis and study of diseases. They examine tissues, cells, and body fluids to identify each illness’s cause and nature. Pathology is a broad field with subspecialties focused on specific areas of disease diagnosis.

Anatomic pathology focuses on the examination of tissues and organs to diagnose diseases. Sub-fields include surgical pathology, cytopathology, dermatopathology, forensic pathology, neuropathology, and pediatric pathology.

Clinical pathology focuses on analyzing body fluids like blood and urine to diagnose and monitor diseases. Sub-fields include hematopathology, medical microbiology, clinical chemistry, transfusion medicine, and molecular genetic pathology.

Perfusionist

Perfusionists operate the heart-lung machine during cardiac surgery and other medical procedures where a patient’s circulatory or respiratory function requires temporary support or replacement. They monitor blood flow, blood pressure, and other vital signs to keep the patient physiologically stable.

Perfusionists may also help with other procedures like extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (longer cardiac/respiratory support to patients with severe heart or lung failure) or hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (delivering heated chemotherapy directly to the abdomen during cancer surgery).

Pharmacist/Compound Pharmacist

Pharmacists dispense medications and provide advice on drug therapies. They also monitor patient outcomes, assess medication effectiveness, and recommend adjustments as needed. Many pharmacists administer vaccinations like flu and shingles shots and provide health screenings such as blood pressure checks.

Compound pharmacists prepare customized medications for patients with unique needs, like those with allergies to certain ingredients or those requiring specific formulations (liquids instead of pills, for example). They have expertise in compounding sterile preparations (injections) and non-sterile preparations (creams, ointments).

Phlebotomist

These healthcare professionals specialize in drawing blood for medical testing, transfusions, and blood donations. They ensure the safe collection of blood via venipuncture and capillary puncture and, in some settings, also perform basic lab tests like blood typing or glucose monitoring.

Radiation Therapist

These key members of the healthcare team administer radiation therapy to patients diagnosed with cancer and other diseases. They work with radiation oncologists to deliver precise radiation doses to targeted areas of the body to shrink tumors and destroy cancer cells. Radiation therapists use various sophisticated equipment, including linear accelerators and CT scanners.

Recreational Therapist

Therapeutic recreation specialists (or recreational therapists) use leisure activities and interventions to improve individuals’ physical, cognitive, emotional, and social well-being. Some of the therapies include arts and crafts, sports, games, music, dance, and community outings to help each patient achieve their therapeutic goals. They work in various environments, such as adult care programs, community health centers, correctional facilities, hospitals, nursing homes, parks and recreation departments, and school districts.

Speech-Language Pathologist (SLP)

SLPs assess, diagnose, and treat people with communication (speech sound, language, fluency, voice, cognitive-communication) and swallowing (dysphagia) disorders. They work with patients of all ages, from infants to the elderly, evaluating the nature of the issue, developing treatment plans that incorporate exercises, activities, and strategies, and providing support and education to the patients and their families.

Wound Care Specialist

These healthcare specialists have expertise in treating acute, chronic, and non-healing wounds. They can help treat chronic wounds, diabetic ulcers, and pressure sores. They diagnose wound causes and issues preventing healing and create treatment plans that may include skin grafting, hyperbaric oxygen therapy, or regenerative medicine. They also educate patients and caregivers on wound care and work in hospitals, clinics, long-term care facilities, and other healthcare settings. 

Want more tips and insights? Check out our full Guide to Your Future In Healthcare here.