Careers in Healthcare

Several weeks ago, I was asked to write an article for the newspaper. I was asked to address a health care issue and a wide variety of topics were made available to me.  The more I thought about it, the more difficult it became for me to come up with a topic that has not been already done a couple of times over.  I will devote this column to discuss careers in health care.

Our present health care crisis is a multifaceted one, yet I want to discuss one of the elements that deeply affects our health care system now and clearly threatens it even more in the near future.  Specifically, I want to address the shortage of the human element in the health care field. 

Taking care of people affords us a unique opportunity to make a difference in people’s lives and solidifies my personal belief that being in medicine is a special calling.  I want to invite you to consider a career in health care.  A career in health care is challenging but at the end of the day the difference our team makes in someone’s life cannot be measured by the hours we have spent training or the sacrifices we and our families have made to get us and keep us there.  Health care is a team approach where physicians, mid level providers, pharmacists, nurses, paramedics, technologists, respiratory therapists, physical/occupational therapists, and nursing assistants pull their resources together to take care of the sick and injured.  Training for certification in any of the above named career field’s ranges from 6 months to 6 years for those that complete graduate level programs.

Unfortunately, health care requires the staff to be on duty around the clock every day of the week.  This certainly makes the field less attractive, particularly for young high school and college students trying to decide on a career path.  It is also true the business world now is moving in that direction with establishments that operate pretty much around the clock as well.   Unlike other business that may come and go, health care will continue to be in demand.  This trend is not going to change as our population continues to grow and age.  In addition, there are no geographical limitations to where you may choose to work.  Even if you have been out of school or presently are employed in a different field, visit the local career counselors at the University and Community College to see if a particular field in health care fits your future plans.  It may be a choice you will not regret making.

--Ed San Miguel, M.D.

Dr. San Miguel received an AA degree in Electrical Technology from Broome Community College in Binghamton, NY, a BS degree in Electrical Engineering Technology from the State University of New York at Binghamton, in Binghamton, NY, and his MD degree from East Carolina University School of Medicine in Greenville, NC.  Upon completion of his residency at St. Vincent Mercy Medical Center/The Toledo Hospital in Toledo, Ohio, Dr. San Miguel did an EMS and Aeromedical fellowship there as well.  Dr. San Miguel also completed the Air Force Flight Surgeon Course of Aerospace Medicine at Brooks, AFB, San Antonio, Texas and the Flight Surgeon Course for the Army at Fort Rucker, Alabama. Dr. San Miguel is active in the United States Air Force Reserves, currently holding the rank of Major.  Most recently he has been appointed as Chief of Aerospace Medicine for his air wing.  In addition to his full-time physician status with Eastern Carolina Emergency Physicians (since 1999), presently Dr. San Miguel is the Medical Director for the Cape Fear Community College EMS program and for the New Hanover Health Network Airlink/Vitalink Flight and Ground Critical Care Transport Unit in Wilmington.