I’ve been thinking about a career in healthcare, but I have a couple of hesitations. For starters, I don’t think I want to be a doctor. The hours don’t look great, the schooling takes too long, and the profession just doesn’t appeal to me. I also don’t want to spend a ton of money on schooling. I know I’ll have to take a fresh look at my education track, but I’d like to get moving on something relatively quickly—I want to find a career where I can help people by becoming a professional before I turn 30! Experts, do you have any suggestions?

The scope of healthcare-related fields is wide. Between nurses, doctors, and physicians assistants, there has been an increased need for such specialists in the medical workplace. And it’s important to note that careers in healthcare extend beyond the traditional image of white-coat professionals. Between therapists, trainers, interpreters, and analysts, the healthcare world offers far more unique opportunities than meets the eye. And not only that, these careers can extend beyond the four walls of a hospital and can be pursued anywhere including labs, gym facilities, schools, and offices. 

One noteworthy path that may be overlooked is that of a speech pathologist. Humans do plenty of amazing things, but one of our most remarkable accomplishments is the formation of spoken languages that act as communication tools. Speech has made it possible for humans to cooperate and build an elaborate society in a way that no other species has. So when an individual has trouble with speech, it can be devastating, as the disadvantages and frustration can be overwhelming. This is where speech-language pathologists come in. 

Speech-language pathologists are experts in speech problems, and their hard work is what makes it possible for us to identify and, in many cases, correct speech problems in people of all ages. That makes speech pathology an incredibly important vocation—and an incredibly rewarding one, as well. 

Speech-language pathologists focus on communication disorders in children and adults. They assess, diagnose, and treat these problems, which means they directly help individuals affected by these difficulties.

Perhaps the most enticing aspect of becoming a speech-language pathologist—aside from its personally-rewarding and fulfilling duties—is the flexibility in place of employment that it offers. Speech-language pathologists can work either in healthcare facilities or in schools. They work to identify speech disorders early on and work closely with those who suffer from such disorders to help treat and correct the problems. Though the work is rooted in health and communications science, there’s nothing cold nor clinical about working as a speech-language pathologist, especially when working with children.

A speech pathologist must complete the proper education requirement, which is typically a masters in speech language pathology. That means, of course, that they should start by securing a bachelor’s degree—ideally with a focus on a related major, like communication sciences and disorders (CSD)—before moving onto a suitable master’s program. 

An additional benefit to this path is that there is always room for advancement. There are doctorate programs and other higher degree programs available that can help a speech-language pathologist progress in their career and, in turn, open up a variety of employment options.

There are more options out there than just this, of course. You could also attend a medical assistant training program and become a medical assistant. Medical assistants can fill all kinds of roles in clinics, patients’ homes, and other spaces and businesses. As such, they need a wide range of skills! Medical assistants can do everything from administrative tasks like answering the phone to patient-facing matters like acting as a patient liaison. Clinical tasks that medical assistants can be responsible range from taking patient histories to drawing blood. 

Medical assistants can complete their training much more quickly than doctors or even nurses, which may make this sort of role a good fit for you. The relatively speedy training process can also make this a more cost-effective career choice for those on a budget.

These are not your only options for a career in healthcare, as the field is truly limitless. We encourage you to do more research and to speak to others who work in healthcare to learn more about the different roles in and dimensions to our healthcare system. Good luck!