There are more exciting alternatives to medicine

Apr 28, 2002

Career Guidance with Willy Kituuku

Many students who excel today are normally made to believe that they should go for the traditional prestigious Human Medicine. However, the truth is that one may be interested in a career in the medical field but not necessarily to be a medical doctor. There are some alternatives such a one could opt for these are:- DentistryThis course takes as long as medical training, and is just as competitive to get into, and there is a lot of cross - over in course content. This requires a sympathetic attitude.- Medical EngineeringThe link between engineering and medicine is such that medical engineers need to understand how our bodies function, and how to fix them, plus topics like dynamics. Sports engineering (where footballers’ injuries can be found and amended) is a case in point.Tissue engineering ( studies how to re-grow new body parts). There is also robotics. Medical engineers work in hospitals or undertake medical research, designing anything from new artificial organs to high-tech diagnostic equipment.- Biomedical MaterialsHave you ever wondered what synthetic skin is actually made of? After this course you will be able to tell. This covers how to improve contact lenses, design better pacemakers and make longer - lasting hip replacements. Biomedical materials scientists are snapped up by the rapidly - growing healthcare industry.- Biomedical SciencesThis is essentially a medically focused biology degree, from molecular to whole - body level. Topics studied include anatomy, physiology, biochemistry, immunology, and virology.- GeneticsDNA and beyond. This is where the cutting edge in modern biology starts: think forensic science, biotechnology, genetic counselling. Plus the ethical side of genetic modification. There are lots of career possibilities, from scientific research to pharmaceutical industry.- PharmacyThis is the only course that qualifies one to become a pharmacist, it includes pharmaceutical chemistry, molecular biology, medicine design and drug metabolism. One can then work as a hospital pharmacist, community pharmacist (the person in he chemist shop who dispenses prescriptions) or as a scientist in the pharmaceutical industry.- Pharmaceutical ChemistryThis is very popular globally. This involves combining Chemistry, physiology and pharmacology. There are lots of career opportunities in industry and healthcare.- OptometryThis is the study of visual defects and eye diseases, and how to treat or correct them. Optometrists are the people you visit when you get visual problems and realise you need new glasses.

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