There are few subjects more fascinating or complex than the study of human anatomy. Many students love the challenge of understanding anatomy and want to work with the human body, but they don’t know much about their career options outside of oft-discussed fields like surgery and nursing. The truth is that there are a significant number of other jobs that involve anatomy and working with the human body in one way or another. Some of these jobs don’t even require a graduate degree or advanced STEM skills. If you’re interested in human anatomy, keep reading to learn more about three career paths that might be perfect for you.
1. Chiropractic Care
Becoming a chiropractor has a number of professional benefits including low stress, a reasonable work-life balance, and a competitive salary. Typically, aspiring chiropractors attend chiropractic school after college. After completing chiropractic school, they can consider pursuing a specialization like pediatrics or sports medicine. These specializations usually require a few hundred additional hours of coursework and give you the training you need to center your career on the type of chiropractic care that most interests you.
Many physicians, like chiropractor Dr. Robert Shire, work in an outpatient setting or operate their own practice. This model means that many chiropractors work with patients with chronic conditions over a long period of time. For many who want to practice medicine, this type of patient care is preferable to a hospital environment.
2. Radiologic Technology
Radiologic technologists are responsible for performing diagnostic imaging procedures like X-rays, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans and computed topography (CT) scans. Producing high-quality diagnostic images requires a thorough understanding of human anatomy and proper patient positioning, which will be the primary areas of focus in a radiologic technology degree program. You’ll get to work closely with radiologists, who will use the images you produce in the diagnostic process.
The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects continued job growth within the field, which is another reason to consider radiologic technology. As the population grows older, the need for medical imaging is likely to increase, which means that there will be a significant need for qualified radiologic technologists.
3. Medical Photography
One field that is becoming increasingly popular is medical photography. Many of the careers that use the study of anatomy involve advanced schooling or a doctoral degree. However, medical photography is an engaging and fast-growing field within the health care ecosystem. Skilled clinical photography is incredibly valuable to practicing medicine.
Medical photographers are responsible for producing detailed and accurate images to help assist in diagnoses and the monitoring of the patient conditions. While most medical photography jobs require a four-year degree in a photographic discipline, you’ll also need a basic understanding of biology and a common medical vocabulary.
The most useful photographic disciplines for those who want to pursue medical photography are those that focus on light behaviors, studio lighting techniques, and anatomy. Due to the limited number of dedicated medical photography programs, many medical photographers receive education in some specialized skills through on-the-job training.
Working with the human body is ideal for anyone interested in a career that offers both significant challenges and meaningful rewards. Which career path is right for you depends entirely on your skills, interests, and level of schooling. Anyone who prefers hands-on work may be well-suited for chiropractic care. Those interested in the role of anatomy in the diagnostic process may prefer radiologic technology. Gifted artists can even use their photographic talents to pursue medical photography. No matter where your interests lie, there are a number of valuable and fulfilling careers available for students who excel in the study of human anatomy.