may encounter a broken piece of equipment for Austin’s Eanes Independent School technologists can result in serious harm
while treating a patient.” District, Curtis sees a variety of pediatric to patients.
Another element of good communication patients: “I work with children with physical As a pharmacist, Walters knows the
is the ability to listen, says Walters. “I listen disabilities, autism, blindness, deafness, and importance of getting his work exactly
to patients because sometimes that’s the best developmental delays.” right. “My specialty is preparing retail
way to assess their condition.” Curtis finds her career inspiring. She prescriptions,” he says. “This includes
The Healing
says she is heartened by her patients’ interpreting the prescriptions correctly,
Daily variety resilience. “Children are growing,” she phrasing instructions in a way that the
Because he works with an always changing points out, “and their nervous systems patient can understand, determining if
assortment of improved technologies, are pliable and able to adapt.” there are any potential interactions with the
Bateman’s job is never dull. “I enjoy the patient’s other medications, determining if
variety of work,” he says. “There’s something Openness to new ideas the dosage is correct, ensuring the proper
new every day. There is always new Because health science is changing so drug is dispensed, and, finally, counseling
equipment being developed, such as surgical rapidly, it’s crucial for those in the field to the patient.”
robots, 3-D ultrasound, and 3-D modeling stay informed and embrace new ideas. Walters carries a lot of responsibility in his
of organs such as the heart.” “I like to look at alternative medical career, but also reaps substantial rewards. “I
Although new equipment gives Bateman’s options, ” says Curtis. “For some conditions, fill prescriptions,” he says, “but I also help
job variety, it also gives him a lot to learn. there are many benefits to yoga and patients make choices in drug therapy or
“There are usually multiple activities or acupuncture, for example. They help treatments that will improve their lives.”
projects going on each day,” he says, “such patients feel less discouraged and more
as planning for new equipment being empowered to participate in their own
purchased, investigating equipment failures, healing process.”
updating policies to meet new regulations,
and planning staffing and workload for the Details Matter
coming months.” Professionals in health science fields must
Variety comes in a different form for pay careful attention to detail. Mistakes
Cheryle Curtis. As a physical therapist made by physicians, nurses, or laboratory
5
Cool Careers
cHeck ouT THese excITIng careers In HealTH scIence.
1. 2. 3. 4. 5.
rEsEarch nEuroloGist clinical laBoratory GEnEticist cosmEtic dEntist BiomEdical EnGinEEr
although the human brain only sciEntist Human genes are a map of ever wonder why celebrities’ The healing arts are complex,
weighs about three pounds, it physicians rely on laboratory who we are as individuals. teeth are so white and perfect? and sometimes it takes a
defines who we are, what we testing to help them diagnose The wealth of new information with so much emphasis on combination of biological
think, what we crave, and how disease. with population growth being discovered almost daily good looks, people are eager and mechanical expertise to
we smell. so it’s no wonder that and the constant development of about the human genome is to have youthful, healthy- overcome disease. Biomedical
a number of health scientists new tests, employment of clinical helping us understand just how looking grins. cosmetic engineers design the artificial
have chosen to focus on the way lab technologists and technicians we are constructed and how dentists can turn brown, organs, limbs, and technical
our brains function. research is growing quickly. clinical lab to identify problems, such as uneven teeth into true pearly devices that make this possible.
neurologists study the physiology scientists use sophisticated breast cancer, before a person whites. By repairing chipped, Their instrumentation may
of the brain, determine how it instruments to analyze and even has symptoms. geneticists cracked, missing, discolored, replace natural structures that
works, and devise ways to repair examine body fluids and cells. are working on ways to use this or otherwise unattractive teeth, have been damaged or help
it when things go wrong. These professionals must be information to more precisely cosmetic dentists help keep doctors “see” what is going on
well trained and credentialed target drugs and maybe even the world smiling. inside the body without having to
to perform their critical role in repair “broken” genes. perform an operation.
diagnosis and healing.
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