United States
Medicine
Medicine is the science, art, and practise of caring for patients and managing their diagnosis, prognosis, prevention, recovery, and palliation after an accident or illness. Medicine is a broad term that refers to a range of health-care procedures that have developed to sustain and restore health through disease prevention and treatment.
While healthcare has always held a position of prominence, the Covid-19 pandemic has just reinforced how profoundly important all healthcare professionals are to society as a whole. Throughout this tough situation, they have worked hard to provide the best possible patient care under near impossible conditions, bringing to mind this quote from Hippocrates:
“Wherever the art of medicine is loved, there is also a love for humanity.”
Careers in Medical Field
Medical Practitioners: Some popular specializations include
Nuclear Medicine Technologists: Nuclear medicine technologists use a range of radioisotope equipment to prepare, administer, and calculate radioactive isotopes in clinical, diagnostic, and tracer studies. Prepare radioactive material stock solutions and measure doses for radiologists to administer. Subject patients to radiation. Follow normal laboratory protocols to perform blood volume, red cell survival, and fat absorption tests.
Athletic Trainers: Assess athletes' readiness to play and issue participation clearances when required. Physical exercise devices, procedures, or drugs are used to treat sports injuries.
Veterinarians: Prescribe medicine, set bones, dress wounds, or perform surgery to help sick or wounded animals. Vaccinate the animals against diseases like rabies and distemper. Examine animals to find out if they have any illnesses or accidents.
Nurse Practitioners: Develop accurate diagnosis by analysing and interpreting patients' histories, symptoms, physical findings, and diagnostic details. Diagnose and treat urgent health-care issues including diseases, infections, and accidents.
Pediatricians: Prescribe or prescribe treatment, therapy, medicine, vaccines, and other advanced medical services to babies and children in order to cure or avoid illness, disease, or injury.
Family Medicine Physicians: To cure or avoid illness, disease, or injury, prescribe or administer treatment, therapy, medication, vaccine, and other advanced medical care. To diagnose a patient's disease, doctors order, administer, and interpret tests, as well as examine documents, notes, and examination data.
Courses & various career options
“The aim of medicine is to prevent disease and prolong life; the ideal of medicine is to eliminate the need of a physician.”
—William J. Mayo
Undergraduate
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Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery
Before obtaining degrees in their chosen profession, students who want to practice medicine or become surgeons must take this course.
Duration: 5.5 years
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B.V.Sc& AH - Bachelor of Veterinary Sciences & Animal Husbandry
If you're a medical student who loves animals, B.V.Sc& AH is the programme for you. Candidates who complete this course will be able to work as a licensed veterinarian and administer medications to animals.
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B.Pharm - Bachelor of Pharmacy
Candidates who wish to work in the pharmaceutical industry or open their own pharmacies must take the B.Pharm course to learn about the various chemicals, medicinal salts, and solutions used to treat patients.
Duration: 4.5 years
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B.Sc Nursing
One of the most popular courses for nursing in the country is the B.Sc Nursing programme.
Duration: 4 years
Apart from the above undergraduate courses such as BOT (Bachelor of Occupational Therapy), BMLT (Bachelor of Medical Laboratory Technology), and BPT (Bachelor of Physiotherapy) are other popular options for those who want to pursue a career in Medicine.
Postgraduate
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MD-MS/DIPLOMA
Traditionally after the completion of Bachelors, students have primarily two options:
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Firstly, students can pursue post-graduation in several branches of medicine like internal medicine, respiratory medicine, gynaecology, paediatrics, general surgery etc.
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Alternatively, students can pursue a diploma in Clinical Pathology, Immunohematology, Occupational health, Psychiatry etc.
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M.Sc.
Students can opt for post-graduation courses in different fields of medicine like:
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Anatomy
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Biochemistry
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Forensic Medicine
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Geriatrics
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Dermatology, venereology and leprosy.
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ENT
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Anaesthesia
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MASTERS IN HEALTH ADMINISTRATION (MHA)
It is a two years MD degree course which helps the students to gain knowledge regarding management of big hospitals, insurance companies and clinics.
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CLINICAL RESEARCH
Having pursued this course, students can duly act as practitioners in both rural and urban hospitals according to the contemporary needs.
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MASTERS IN PUBLIC HEALTH
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This course will help the students to get jobs in both public and private sectors, in both governmental and non-governmental organizations and in many multinational organizations.
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The course deals with health economy and policy and public health management, epidemiology and biostatistics etc.
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M. Tech IN BIOMEDICAL ENGINEERING AND BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES
Develop accurate diagnosis by analysing and interpreting patients' histories, symptoms, physical findings, and diagnostic details. Diagnose and treat urgent health-care issues including diseases, infections, and accidents.
FREE COURSES
The below courses provide a good overview on the study area
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Crash Course Anatomy & Physiology on thecrashcourse.com
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So You Want To Be A Surgeon? on edX
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Anatomy Specialization on Coursera
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Introductory Human Physiology on Coursera
An introduction is provided in the below video
Frequently Asked Questions
Let’s take a look at some commonly asked questions by students.
Branches do not matter much if you have skill and knowledge, you can succeed in any branch you want. You can choose the subject you like; market demand should not be the basis of selection. Here are a few lists of popular branches of medicine-
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Cardiology
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Plastic surgery
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Gastroenterology
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Anaesthesiology
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Emergency medicine
Many people are doing well in non-clinical branches like pathology, anatomy, pharmacology, microbiology. There are several scopes after choosing non-clinical branches. Students can work as
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Radiologist
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Biochemist
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Pathologist
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Government jobs
During B.Sc nursing students gain knowledge in various departments of medicine like
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Icu /ccu experience,
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casualty (emergency)
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Surgery wards
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operation theatre
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orthopaedic wards
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psychiatric & gynaecology etc.
After completion of B.Sc nursing they can apply to the hospital, both government and private hospitals offer job opportunities.