A Primer On The Different Types Of Medical Education/Courses

This guest post by Danielle Ward details the various options available to those interested in a career in the healthcare professions but not sure about what type of degree or what type of specialty to pursue.

The field of medical science is not just confined to physicians and doctors; there are so many degree courses and areas you can specialize in. A Bachelor’s, Master’s, or Doctorate Degree in Medicine is among the most common and popular academic course that almost every aspiring doctor wants to achieve, but there’s much more than that. You also have to crack tough entrance exams and fight through intense competition to win a seat in a prestigious medical college or institution. Most medical colleges cover major subjects, such as medicinal drugs, anatomy, and physiology

Let us delve deeper into the many different types of courses and degree option. Listed below are some practical and interesting career choices for medical students:

General physician

The most primary of medical courses, this involves studying all the different and diverse subjects in medical science. General Physicians are almost never out of work and have ample earning opportunities. It prepares you to deal with the most common ailments, such as common cold, to deadly diseases and disorders, such as cholera and jaundice. One can pursue a career as a general physician after getting an undergraduate degree in Medicine (MBBS) or a post graduate degree (MD) in general medicine.   

Specialized courses

Outside the US, once you’ve achieved a bachelor’s degree in medicine i.e. MBBS, you can either start off with medical practice right away or major in a specialized field. Discussed below are some of the specialised courses that medical students are qualified to apply for:  

Surgeons

Surgery medicine is one field you can specialise in. It involves learning more about the anatomy and the various intricacies of the internal organs of the body in detail. You can further narrow down your course by choosing one particular organ such as the eye or the brain and specialise in it. Your job involves examining the patient, diagnosing his condition and operating on the body to surgically remove the source of the problem. Getting a degree, MD in surgery medicine boosts your credibility and influence in the medical community.  

Dentistry

Dentistry is a brand of medical science that deals with oral care and surgical treatment of teeth. From fixing the alignment to dealing with cavities you have to do it all. The MD in dentistry course involves learning all about the various dental disorders and infections that can possibly happen inside the mouth. It also covers a section about treating disorders relating to gums, and soft tissues inside the mouth.  You’ll also have to study about the many surgical operations and high powered medicine.

Neurology

Neurology as the name suggests deals with nerves. The syllabus is a detailed account of the different nerves and their functions in the human body. Most neurologists are also physiotherapists who plan out proper exercises that help bring sensation back to dead nerves. Neurology also involves a bit of psychiatrist study. As a neurologist you’ll have to diagnose and treat nervous disorders relating to the brain and the nervous system.   

Other areas:

Other than these major courses mentioned above, there are other equally lucrative medical fields that you can choose from. For instance, an MD in paediatrician qualifies you to treat babies and young kids. Studying cardiology trains you to identify and treat heart problems. A dermatologist deals with skin abnormalities and infections. A course in gynaecology includes diagnosing and treating the disorders in the female reproductive system. All these areas of study require a basic MBBS degree and offer high pay packages.   

Medical research

There are many medical students who take up internships at established hospitals and ten join the topmost medical institutions as doctors and surgeons. But not everyone who takes up a medical course ends up being a doctor, there are students who continue their academic studies and venture out in the field of research. A relatively unknown yet interesting course, medical research involves a lot of effort and patience.

The bottom line:

Medical science is a sector full of opportunities. And there are loads of other major and auxiliary degree courses that you can opt for. Consider your field of interest and the practicality of the course before you apply for it.      

Acing Your Medical School Interview

The following sponsored post discusses important considerations for an outstanding medical school interview. 

Going to medical school is no laughing matter. Not only do you have to be smart and hard working but you also have to be determined, patient, strong etc. On top of that you need to have resources or the money to pay for the tuition fee, expensive books, and all the other requirements you'll need. Furthermore, you have to think a hundred times if you really want to be a doctor so that no matter how hard it gets you won't easily give up. You should also be the type who doesn’t complain when they're swamped with homework and would do every single one of them with enthusiasm. Otherwise, you'll end up like those medical students who purchase assignment just to be able to survive med school.

Having said that, you definitely won't be able to enter medical school with only good grades in hand. You must ace the interview or else your chances of getting accepted will be greatly reduced. Interviewing applicants is very important because this is where you'll get essential information that won't appear in any test and academic records. It provides interviewers with an insight on how these students carry themselves in the patient room. Their answers let interviewers know how good and comfortable you sound when interacting with other people which is very important. Since you don't want to fail, there're steps that you can take to ace the interview.

To prepare for an interview, the student should know and understand the different types of interviews. A panel interview is where you'll meet several interviewers in a single meeting and is usually a cross section of the medical school faculty and may include a medical student. A stress interview determines how an interviewee would behave under pressure and often involve personal and sensitive topics. In an open interview, the interviewer may choose the specific information to which he is acquainted with. In a blind interview, the interviewer doesn't know anything about the student and would ask him to say something about himself. Behavioral interviews operate under the theory that past performance is often the best indicator of how you’ll perform in the future.

Being well prepared is a must in any type of medical school interview. Learn and study the usual interview questions, give good answers, and practice the way you'll answer them. In preparing, you must know your strengths and weaknesses and prepare to address them. Get ready to be asked with ethical and moral questions. You should also try your best to make a good first impression. Furthermore, get ready to answer questions as to why you want a career in the medical field.

It's also essential to know the mistakes they’re usually committed so as not to make these mistakes such as answering questions too fast and not staying on topic. You should also stay positive and professional at all times. Always remember to relax and don't give out robotic answers. It's likewise important to listen very carefully to the interviewer so as to get a hint of what they're interested in. Learn about the specific programs and medical specialties the university offers and while you're on campus, talk to medical students and ask them about the program.

Radu Anthony is a blogger who writes about education, travel, health, finance and technology.