"Medicine is a science, but also the art of letting our own individuality interact with the individuality of the patient."
Albert Schweitzer
Health career professionals range from working in the laboratory to working with patients or clients. The prospects are endless! You could work in nursing, medical physics, radiography, podiatry, occupational therapy, nutrition and dietetics, midwifery, speech-language pathology, audiology, biomedical science, food science, physiotherapy and much more. Your career could be in hospitals, clinics, schools, private individual practice, and consultancy in industry, among many others.
Pharmacologist: Pharmacology is the science of understanding how medicines work. Pharmacologists conduct research to develop chemical compounds and substances to develop new medications. They can test the medication by experimenting and observing cell and tissue samples and also in humans. Pharmacologists drive innovation in drug development and delivery, ensuring the safety and efficacy of pharmaceutical products and contributing to better healthcare outcomes for individuals.
Pharmacotoxicologist: Toxicology is the study of how potential adverse impacts that toxins, such as chemicals and radiation, can have on the environment, animal and human health. Pharmacotoxicology focuses on the understanding, prevention and treatment of poisoning due to prescribed, over-the-counter or illicit medicines and drugs.
Speech language pathologist (SLP): SLPs are healthcare professionals with skills and expertise in prevention, assessment, diagnosis and intervention for individuals of all ages experiencing speech, fluency, voice, language, communication, feeding, and/or swallowing disorders. SLPs work in settings ranging from acute hospital and rehabilitation centres to long-term care, community health care, school environments and private practice contexts.
Audiologist: These healthcare professionals provide services in preventing, identifying, diagnosing, and treating balance, hearing, auditory processing, and other audiological disorders.
Physiotherapist: The physiotherapist helps individuals and populations to develop, maintain and restore maximum movement and functional ability throughout the lifespan.
Medical Physicist: This professional applies advanced knowledge of physics, mathematics and computing to help ensure that medical equipment in hospitals is used effectively, safely and efficiently. In fact, an EU directive makes it compulsory to have Medical Physicists at expert level present in hospitals.
Midwife: The midwife supports women through preconception care, pregnancy, childbirth, and the postnatal period, offering care, advice, and emotional support to ensure the health and safety of both mother and baby. Midwives also play a crucial role in promoting women’s overall health, educating families, and providing ongoing care.
Podiatry: This healthcare professional is focused on diagnosing, treating, and preventing conditions related to the foot, ankle, and lower limb. Podiatrists play a vital role in helping people stay active and pain-free, whether they are managing chronic conditions like diabetes, addressing sports injuries, or providing specialised care for children and the elderly.
Radiographer: A healthcare professional accountable to patients’ physical and psychosocial wellbeing, prior to, during and following medical imaging examinations and/or radiotherapy. Radiographers are key persons in radiation safety of patients, their representatives and others while performing duties in Medical Imaging and/or Radiotherapy. Being part of a multidisciplinary team, radiographers work closely with other healthcare professionals to deliver the best care and/or treatment, while also being attentive to applying scientific and technological knowledge to ensure the safe and responsible delivery of ionising radiation.
In Medical Imaging, radiographers work with several medical imaging devices and modalities, such as X-rays, Computed Tomography (CT), Fluoroscopy, Nuclear Medicine, Mammography, Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI), and Ultrasound, among others, so as to contribute to the diagnosis of various conditions or pathologies. In Radiotherapy, radiographers use ionising radiation to deliver treatment to patients with cancer.
Occupational Therapy (OT): The OT is a healthcare profession dedicated to empowering individuals across the lifespan, from infants to older adults, who have experienced injury, disease, or developmental delay to achieve their highest level of independence in daily life. Occupational therapists promote health and prevent potential health issues, particularly for at-risk individuals, through lifestyle redesign, occupation-based activities, exercise, and environmental modifications. In paediatrics, this often involves tailored interventions to enhance motor coordination, sensory integration, and social participation, helping children develop essential skills for daily living, play, and learning. Additionally, occupational therapists adapt environments, recommend assistive technologies, and teach strategies that empower people of all ages to engage in meaningful activities that support their well-being and quality of life.
Nutritionist: The nutritionist focuses on public health, wellness, and preventive nutrition. Nutritionists work with individuals, communities, and policymakers to improve nutritional habits and address issues like childhood obesity, malnutrition, and food insecurity. They play a critical role in designing and implementing public health programmes, often working in government, public health organisations, wellness centres, and sports institutions.
Dietitian: This professional specialises in clinical nutrition. Dietitians assess, diagnose, and manage diet-related health issues, creating personalised, evidence-based nutrition plans to treat chronic diseases and support recovery. Commonly employed in hospitals, clinics, and public health roles, they also contribute to private practice by offering safe, practical dietary guidance.
Food Scientist: The food scientist is an expert in the science of food safety, quality, and technology. Food scientists apply research to improve food products and ensure regulatory standards are met. They work in research institutions, the food industry, and regulatory agencies, focusing on innovations in food processing, product reformulation, and quality control to enhance public health and safety.
Applied Biomedical Scientist: This professional ( and the Medical lab scientist) works in clinical, industry, and research laboratories. In clinical laboratories, scientists plan, design and carry out diagnostic tests in a variety of subject areas (microbiology, haematology, genetics, biochemistry, histology, cytology, immunology and transfusion medicine) to aid with the diagnosis of disease. In industry, they carry out quality control and research and development (R&D) roles. In research labs, biomedical scientists carry out basic and translational research which leads to a better understanding of the molecular basis of cellular processes and disease.
Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse: The role of the Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse is critical in the assessment, diagnosis, treatment, and support of individuals with mental health disorders. These nurses work in a variety of settings, including hospitals, outpatient clinics, and community mental health centres. Their responsibilities range from direct patient care to advocacy, education, and collaboration with multidisciplinary teams.
Nursing: Nurses collaboratively care for individuals of all ages, families, groups and communities who are sick or well. They work in a variety of settings, ranging from community health centres and schools to acute hospitals and specialised clinics. Nursing encompasses a wide range of responsibilities beyond direct patient care, including health promotion, advocacy, research, education and participation in shaping health policy.
Pharmacists: Pharmacists play a vital role in healthcare, focusing on the discovery, development, and provision of therapy according to the patient's needs. Career opportunities are diverse, ranging from working in community or hospital pharmacies to roles in pharmaceutical regulatory science, and industrial pharmacy. Whether you are interested in direct patient care or the science behind medication and medical devices, a career in pharmacy offers a variety of paths to explore.
Pharmaceutical technologists: These professionals contribute to the development, production and quality assurance of medications through the application of pharmaceutical sciences. They ensure that medications meet the necessary standards, regulatory requirements and patient needs. Career opportunities in this field include pharmaceutical research, developing new medicines and medical devices, ensuring the quality of medicinal products and pharmaceutical services, and managing the distribution and patient access to medicines. If you're interested in the pharmaceutical science that contributes to the safe use of medicines and healthcare services, a career as a pharmaceutical technologist offers a range of specialised roles to explore.
Medical Biochemistry
Biochemistry is the interface between cellular biology, medicine, and chemistry. It provides an understanding of how the human body functions, the molecular changes that result in disease, and how this knowledge may be applied to the development of therapeutic agents and diagnostic technologies.
Biochemists work in the biotechnology and pharmaceutical industries, both in research and development laboratories, in quality assurance, and with governmental and environmental entities. This area of science confers graduates with transferable skills and the flexibility to work in diverse roles ranging from sales representatives to scientific writers. Biochemists have the opportunity to specialise further in areas of forensic science, genetics, and microbiology to mention a few examples.
