Medical scientists study human disorders and diseases, focusing on symptoms, causes, and treatments. They work in academia, private companies, or government entities, and often specialize in specific areas of medicine. Advanced degrees and licensing may be required.
A medical scientist studies all aspects of human disorder and disease. Symptoms, causes, and treatments are all things a medical scientist is interested in exploring. The field of medical science is divided into many different areas of special focus which may include scientific research, clinical practice and developmental science. Medical scientists can work in academia, private companies or government entities. An advanced degree, such as a doctorate or doctor of medicine, is typically required to become a medical scientist.
In the world of academia, medical scientists are often focused on teaching the rest of the medical community, often through the research they’ve done. Publishing research results in medical journals is an example of the work of a university scientist. Typical locations for these careers are at universities linked to teaching hospitals.
Clinical trials and experiments are also set up and completed by medical scientists, who then provide a written report on the experiment and its results. The number of possible experiences in the field of medicine is vast; therefore, many medical scientists choose to focus their careers on specific areas of medicine. Pharmaceutical engineering, psychiatry, and biomedical engineering are examples of areas in which a medical scientist might choose to specialize.
Private sector medical scientists focus on commercial profit. For example, pharmaceutical companies hire medical scientists to design or improve new drugs. Also, a company with its own line of physical therapy equipment might hire a medical scientist to design the products the company sells.
Government entities also use research from medical scientists to set policy regarding health issues. By examining past research and conducting new research, the impact of health issues on society can be studied. From these results, governments set policies on vaccination laws, quarantine issues and other elements of societal health concerns.
Becoming a medical scientist requires extensive education. Most positions require a medical degree or doctorate in one of the sciences. A doctorate in biological sciences is an example of a qualification to work in the medical sciences field. In some cases, a medical scientist receives a medical degree and a science-based doctorate to be able to work in both the research and clinical side of medical science.
Some regions require certain types of medical scientists to be licensed in their fields. Working in gene therapy and administering medication are examples of jobs that may require special licensing, such as becoming a certified physician. The field is expected to continue to grow as the medical community continues its quest to eradicate diseases and disorders.
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