Many people are increasingly interested in a career in health care, especially after the experience of living through a global pandemic. It’s become clear to all of us how important our health care workers are, and it can be both challenging and rewarding to work in the field. One thing to keep in mind is that many jobs in health care require a lot of education and training. Doctors in particular can need over a decade of additional training after receiving their undergraduate degrees in certain specialties. With how competitive some graduate programs can be, it’s essential that you start getting your child ready as soon as you can. Keep reading to learn how you can help your teen prepare for a career in health care.

How can you help your teen prepare for a career in health care?

Preparation for a career in health care should start as early as high school if your child has expressed a desire to pursue one. Many jobs in the field require advanced education, so prioritizing academics early on is a good idea. You should also look into national honor scholarship society programs that your child is qualified for. They can help you prepare for the college application process, apply for scholarships, and connect with a network of other motivated students.

Medical school is notoriously difficult to get into, so talk to your college counselor as soon as you can if your career path requires it. They can help make sure you know which courses you’ll need to take to be a competitive applicant for the program you want to attend. Try to find mentors in your department who can help teach you more about how to find the right graduate program to help you achieve your dream career in health care.

It’s also a good idea to look for doctors who have been successful in the specialty you prefer. Find highly regarded offices to look to for examples, like this office for Beverly Hills internal medicine. You can even reach out and ask questions, though some busy offices may not have time to respond. You can always send a nice note and see what happens; a lot of people in the medical field are eager to help those looking to plan their careers. Cardiology and internal medicine have always been fascinating and in-demand fields that attract the attention of many students.

What are some examples of careers in the medical field?

The medical field is diverse and expansive, as are the types of careers within it. Most people who think about working in health care think about becoming a doctor, but health care has plenty of other opportunities as well. Anyone who enjoys patient care or even the hospital environment but doesn’t want to pursue a career as a doctor could look into nursing. There are a lot of different nursing specialties, too, and you can find the type of medicine you’re best suited for.

There is also a wide range of medical technology jobs worth considering. One growing field is cybersecurity for hospitals and other health centers. You may have heard about the recent wave of ransomware attacks on hospitals. Many health care facilities are looking to improve their cybersecurity practices to guard against cyberattacks that could harm their patients or their ability to operate. This fast-growing and important field may be appealing to those who are interested in tech and medicine.

It can be demanding to prepare for a career in health care, but that’s primarily because of the amount of responsibility you’ll have for the lives of others. Those on the frontlines of patient care are doing so in straightforward ways, but even those in fields like cybersecurity and medical technology play a central role in protecting patients. Health care isn’t easy, but you can trust that you’ll be doing important work that will make a real, tangible difference in people’s lives, which can make for a meaningful and satisfying career.