Career in Medical Science in USA and Canada

by Charu Malik

A graduate degree in the medical sciences opens up a world of possibilities when it comes to countries such as United States and Canada. For most of the students, a graduate degree in the medical sciences is a stepping stone to becoming a doctor or dentist. But graduates can also working in fields of medical research, pharmaceutical manufacturing and biotechnology

Medical Sciences: an Emerging field in USA and Canada

Nowadays some of the top jobs / opportunities can be seen in the field of Medical Sciences. As per the information provided by U.S Department of Labor, jobs in medical sciences are expected to be among the fastest growing sector at the international level for the next 10 years.

One new career field is in the pharmaceutical and medicine manufacturing industry. The Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates that about 28 percent of all jobs in the pharmaceutical and medicine manufacturing industry are made up of scientists and science technicians.

Ongoing research and development of new drugs to treat and cure diseases will require the talents of:

Scientists
Engineers
Technicians
Chemists
Biochemists
Microbiologists
Pharmacologists
Pathologists
Toxicologists
Biophysicists

A Graduate Degree Opens Doors

Graduate school provides the opportunity for students trained in the sciences to pursue specialized programs like biochemistry and molecular biology, cell biology, genetic counseling, clinical nutrition, occupational and environmental health, microbiology and immunology, neurobiology, nursing science, pathology, pharmacology and physiology.

One way to narrow your choices is to decide which kind of work environment best fits your career goals. Some graduates might prefer working for a government agency. Others might want to follow a career path in private industry. Many set their sights on academia. Others dream of running their own lab one day.

Remuneration

The more education, the higher the earnings, report the Office of Science Education, a division of the National Institutes of Health. Those who complete more than 16 years of schooling can expect their salaries to start at about $55,000 annually, compared to $40,000 for those with 16 years of education or less. Individuals holding masters degrees in the medical sciences can earn average salaries like these:

Biophysicist ($76,000)
Biostatistician ($65,000)
Epidemiologist ($56,000)
Genetic Counselor ($52,000)
Medical Scientist ($61,000)

When weighing the advantages of getting a graduate degree, be sure to consider the growing need for collaborations between research institutions and commercial enterprise programs. Technology centers are springing up all over the world, specifically designed to move ideas from the laboratory into the marketplace.

This opens up even more employment opportunities for those armed with a graduate degree in the medical sciences.

If you can't decide which path to pursue, you can consider a career as a medical science liaison. Medical science liaisons fill a consulting role at pharmaceutical, biotechnology and medical device companies and often earn six-figure salaries.

Source: Gradschools.com

Image Credit: tico_bassie