Health and Medicine

Healthcare is one of the largest industries in the United States and includes hundreds of occupations. Health and medical careers can be pursued in many ways, including allopathic and osteopathic medicine, dentistry, pharmacy, optometry, therapies, nutrition, nursing, public health, allied health, health administration and management, health information technology, and clinical laboratory science. Jobs that involve direct patient care in this highly regulated industry will require specific certification and licensure. The basic skills needed to pursue a medical or health-related career can be developed through coursework and hands-on internship, volunteer, or work experiences. It is best to find a career that will fit your unique interests, skills, and values.

For more information on graduate and professional schools for health professions (e.g. medical school or health-related graduate degrees), visit the UC Davis Health Professions Advising office.

Visit the health-related internships section of our website to learn about experiential learning opportunities for enrolled UC Davis undergraduates.

Some possible job titles in health and medicine include:

  • Physician
  • Physician Assistant
  • Registered Nurse
  • Nurse Practitioner
  • Dentist
  • Pharmacist
  • Dietician
  • Physical Therapist
  • Occupational Therapist
  • Speech Therapist
  • Health Information Technician
  • Genetic Counselor
  • Podiatrist
  • Health Educator
  • Health Administrator

Areas of Interest

Learn about a wide variety of healthcare career options at ExploreHEALTHCareers.org. Additionally, the Occupational Outlook Handbook provides detailed information about career options in medicine and surgery, athletic and exercise physiology, dentistry, dietetics and nutrition, EMTs and paramedics, genetic counseling, healthcare administration, medical research, medical transcription, nursing, occupational therapy, optometry, pharmacy, physical therapy, podiatry, speech therapy, and much more. Be sure to check out the “Similar Occupations” tab on each page to explore related fields.

Related fields

If you have an interest in health and medicine careers, you might also be interested in exploring careers in: animal sciences, biological sciences, business and management, counseling and social services, food and beverage, law and public policy, government, international and nonprofit.

Visit the ICC and Meet with an Advisor

For further guidance narrowing down your career interests, you can schedule an advising appointment. Our advising page has a list of all ICC advisors or you can review the list of undergraduate advisors below: