Cal's Career Center Health Team

Occupational Therapy

This lesser-known health career is in HUGE demand.  What do occupational therapists (OTs) do?  Imagine that somebody you love has suffered a devastating stroke, and no longer has the use of their right arm.  Think of the many day-to-day activities that would be impacted by this change.....they can no longer use their right arm to wash in the shower, or to type on their keyboard, for example.  Occupational therapists help people adapt to their new circumstances by teaching them new (and often ingenius ways) of taking care of personal needs, working, and communicating with others.  

OTs work with people with mental and physical disorders---even emotional disorders.  The underlying goal is to help them devise ways to live their lives as independently as possible.  They work with patients across the age spectrum, as these disorders can affect everybody from children to the elderly. 

This work  is highly creative!  If you are interested in health, but looking for a niche where you can apply your creative problem-solving talents, this is a good occupation to consider.  Instead of prescribing a patient medicine, you could be "prescribing" them pottery and art classes. 

OTs also often get to watch their patients progress in a very direct and meaningful way, although the work is emotionally heavy, and can also be physically challenging. 

OTs need a master's degree to gain licensure.  For more information on this profession and the training required, visit the American Occupational Therapy Association  website.   

Are Optometrists Happier?

Recently, I was browsing the web and found that optometrists rank their career very highly in terms of job satisfaction.  This is not surprising, considering that this career is in demand (think of all the boomers with bad eyesight, not to mention the rest of us whose eyes are glued to monitors all day) and optometrists are able to cure most vision problems with relative ease and little pain, hence a high satisfaction rate for patients.  Additionally, there is potential for high income with REASONABLE HOURS!  To learn more, check out Careers Internet.   Also, in a recent U.S. News and World Report article, Optometry was cited as one of the "7 Greatest Careers for 2007."

Considering Those "other" Health Careers

Medicine, dentistry, pharmacy and nursing are all popular career options for students who are interested in health.  But what about those other health careers?  The following is a short list of options that you may also want to consider.  As you can see, the salaries are competitive and training time is usually manageable: 

Genetic Counselor
This is a job for somebody with scientific acumen and exceptional interpersonal skills. Genetic counselors help identify families at risk for genetic disorders and educate them about their reproductive options and how to cope with existing disorders. They also act as advocates, offering community resource information to their clients and providing ongoing emotional support. A burgeoning field, the need for genetic counselors will grow considerably in the next decade. Most genetic counselors work in teaching or private hospitals, though a small number also work in HMOs and private practice. Training programs typically require two years of full-time study.

Bay Area Base Salary: $59,063-$76,521
Learn more: National Society of Genetic Counselors

Physician's Assistant
No, they aren't medical assistants. Physician's assistants or "PAs" work much in the same capacity as physicians, taking medical histories, diagnosing illnesses, and prescribing medications under a doctor's supervision. The majority of positions are available in private offices, but PAs also work in hospitals and outpatient care centers.

Bay Area Base Salary: $77,851-$111,235
Learn More: American Academy of Physician's Assistants

Audiologist
Audiologists evaluate, diagnose and treat hearing problems, and educate other medical professionals and patients about hearing loss prevention. Additionally, audiologists test noise levels in school or work settings and provide lip reading training. This job can be especially fun for people who like to work with gadgets (you get to use a lot of nifty diagnostic equipment and fit cochlear implants); and those who crave security will be satisfied - with a growing elderly population, there will be plenty of jobs available.

Bay Area Base Salary: $61,813-$99,738
Learn More: American Academy of Audiology

Occupational Therapist
People struggling with disabilities ranging from spinal bifida to carpal tunnel syndrome turn to occupational therapists to learn how to carry out personal and work-related tasks independently. According to the American Occupational Therapy Association, OTs teach their clients "skills for the job of living" such as using computers, dressing and eating, and in some cases they also help clients improve abstract reasoning and perceptual skills. Most occupational therapists work in hospitals, public and private educational facilities and nursing homes. A smaller number work in private practice.

Bay Area Base Salary: $63,453-$90,643
Learn More: The American Occupational Therapy Association

What is Career Week?

Today marks the beginning of Career Week, the culmination of a year’s worth of brainstorming and coordinating on the part of Career Center staff and the California Alumni Association.  This week-long series of panels and networking events is not to be missed; when else would you have the opportunity to sit down with a representative from UCSF’s school of Medicine and chat, or learn all about Acupuncture, Nursing, or Anesthesia directly from alum and/or local professionals in these fields.  Here are some highlights: 

KICKOFF  TODAY!  (Food tastes better when it’s free!)

Friday, 4/13/2007

1:00PM-2:00PM

"Ante Up for Career Week": Career Week Kick-Off
211 Bancroft Way, Room 104A

Help us kick off Career Week in style! Come down to the Career Center to mingle with our counselors, pick up your Career Week brochure & free giveaway, enjoy food & beverages, browse our resource library, and have all of your Career Week questions answered! A raffle prize will be given away at the end of the event.

Tuesday, 4/17/2007

6:30PM-8:00PM

"Operation!": Careers in Medicine
155 Dwinelle

Careers in medicine offer so many different options and challenges but what individuals in this career share is the want and need to help others. Come listen to panelists describe how they came to understand that helping others was a very important value.

• Benjamin  Dierauf, Professor & Academic Dean, Acupuncture & Integrative Medicine College, Berkeley
• Miranda  Surjadi, Nurse Practitioner, Dept. of Gastroenterology/Hepatology - San Francisco General Hospital
• Curtis  Tom, Chief Technology Officer, Tessaron Medical, Inc.
• Glenn  Valenzuela, Anesthesia Resident Physician, Stanford University

Wednesday, 4/18/2007

3:30PM-5:00PM

Get a "Clue" about Intern and Career Opportunities in Public Health
Alumni House

Careers in Public Health are often viewed as finding the source of "outbreaks" or understanding why health disparities among different populations exist. Come listen to panelists who not only investigate these problems but who also help in funding programs to address these public health concerns.

• Fatima  Angeles, Director of Evaluation and Organizational Learning, The California Wellness Foundation
• Cecilia Echeverría, Program Officer, The California Endowment
• Cynthia  Jean, MPH, California Dept. of Health Services - Viral & Rickettsial Disease Laboratory
• Patrick Killoran, Research Scientist, California Department of Health Services

This year, Career Café health panelists include a clinical psychology representative, UCSF School of Medicine, and a Network Chiropractor. 

Friday, 4/20/2007

11:00AM-2:00PM

Career Cafe: "Get Started with Your Game Plan"
Alumni House

Do you have a game plan for applying to grad school or getting a job? Here's your chance to talk informally with admissions officers and hiring managers about your career strategy. Employer and admissions representatives will provide you with their expert advice about resumes, application preparation, networking tips, and more.

Enjoy free drinks and snacks!

Co-presented by: The Berkeley Consulting Group

See the full Career Week program here