A gerontologist studies the physical, cognitive, social, emotional, psychological, and societal effects of the aging process on the human body. Gerontologists are health care professionals who specialize in working with elderly patients. They provide their services to people in nursing homes, senior citizen centers, and other similar facilities.

Medical assistants perform administrative and certain clinical duties under the direction of a physician. Duties may include scheduling appointments, maintaining medical records, and billing and coding information for insurance purposes. Clinical duties may include taking and recording vital signs and medical histories, preparing patients for examinations and drawing blood.

Physician assistants provide health care services under a physician’s supervision. They perform tasks that are usually performed by doctors. They conduct physical exams and provide treatment, and counsel patients. Physician assistants may prescribe medications.

Biomedical engineers work in a relatively new area of health care, one that joins with engineering. They apply engineering principles to solve biological and medical problems. They might design machines like artificial organs, prostheses, instrumentation, medical information systems, and health management and care delivery systems.

Medical equipment preparers or sterile processing technicians organize and assemble surgical instrument trays and other sterilized supplies. They clean instruments, disinfecting and sterilizing them. They also examine equipment to find leaks, loose parts or other visible signs of wear. Medical equipment preparers may start equipment before it is used to make sure it is working properly, and maintain records of inventory and equipment use.

Medical equipment repairers test and calibrate equipment and keep records of maintenance, repair and required updates. They take equipment apart, repair and replace any defective parts, and put it back together. They also ensure that the medical equipment is being used properly and safely and may train health care providers on how to use the equipment.

Immunologists are physicians who study the functions and disorders of the immune system. Disorders include asthma, allergies, arthritis, lupus and Crohn’s disease. Career paths include direct patient care or research of diagnoses and treatment options.

Anesthesiologists are physicians who deliver pain-relieving medications during surgical procedures and monitor patients’ vital signs. In addition to working with patients in the operating room, anesthesiologists also provide pain relief services to people who suffer from chronic pain, during labor and delivery, and to patients in the intensive care unit. They work closely with surgeons and other physicians to formulate a treatment plan before, during and after a surgical procedure.

Chiropractors are alternative health care practitioners who diagnose and treat health problems associated with the muscular, nervous, and skeletal systems. Chiropractors treat patients primarily by manipulating parts of the body, especially the spinal column. By means of this manipulation, chiropractors try to correct any disorders of the skeleton or spine that may interrupt the flow of nerve impulses to various parts of the body.

Dermatologists are physicians that specialize in the treatment and care of the skin. They diagnose and treat skin conditions related to the scalp, hair and nails.

Family and general practitioners are often called primary care physicians. They diagnose, treat and help prevent disease and injuries. Family practitioners may refer patients to doctors who are experts in certain diseases, called specialists, when further treatment is needed.

Hospitalists provide inpatient care in settings such as medical wards, acute care units, intensive care units, rehabilitation centers or emergency rooms. They manage and coordinate patient care throughout treatment.

Internists are physicians who diagnose and provide non-surgical treatment of disease and injuries of internal organ systems. They provide care mainly for adults who have a wide range of problems associated with the internal organs.

An OB/GYN, or obstetrician and gynecologist, is a type of doctor that specializes in treating female patients. OB/GYNs can act as a woman’s primary doctor, but they also specialize in care related to pregnancies and the reproductive system. OB/GYNs also identify, treat and monitor ailments related to the female anatomy, including breast cancer, cervical cancer, pelvic disorders, urinary tract infections and hormonal disorders.

Ophthalmologists are physicians who specialize in treating and diagnosing ailments of the eye.

Optometrists, or Doctors of optometry, examine, diagnose, treat, and manage diseases, injuries, and disorders of the visual system, the eye, and associated structures as well as identify related systemic conditions affecting the eye. Optometrists prescribe medications, low vision rehabilitation, vision therapy, spectacle lenses, and contact lenses and perform certain surgical procedures. Optometrists counsel their patients regarding surgical and nonsurgical options that meet their visual needs related to their occupations, avocations, and lifestyles.

Pediatricians diagnose, treat and help prevent children’s diseases and injuries. When children become sick, you diagnose the child and may recommend a treatment plan. Many pediatricians first visit a newborn after he or she is born.

Physiatrists are medical doctors (M.D.) or doctors of osteopathy (D.O.), certified as a specialist in physical and rehabilitation medicine. Physiatrists are certified by the American Board of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation.

Podiatrists are doctors who specialize in treatment of the feet and ankles. They work with patients to prevent injuries and diagnose and heal existing injuries. Podiatry involves taking x-rays, setting fractures and treating other injuries, as well as prescribing physical therapy and medication.

Sports medicine physicians prescribe treatments for professional and amateur athletes who have become injured. These doctors may work in hospitals and clinics, or with high school, collegiate or professional sports organizations. Specialized training in a sports medicine fellowship program is required.

Surgeons are physicians who treat diseases and injuries by performing surgery. Some surgeries are invasive, and others are minimally-invasive or non-invasive. They examine patients to get information on medical history and surgical risk. They operate on patients to repair injuries, prevent and treat diseases or restore patient’s abilities.

Urologists diagnose, treat and help prevent benign and malignant medical and surgical disorders of the genitourinary system and the renal glands.

Athletic trainers help prevent injuries among athletes and help them recover from injuries. They are health care professionals that diagnose and treat injuries caused by stress to the musculoskeletal system. They are also trained to teach injury prevention methods to people who work in jobs that have a high demand of physical activity.

Audiologists have studied the science of hearing. They study, diagnose and treat hearing loss and balance disorders. They identify hearing problems and help people improve their hearing. Audiologists conduct ear exams, train clients in speech and lip reading, and teach people how to use hearing aids or other devices.

Creative art therapists use art, music and dance to assess and treat clients with emotional, cognitive, physical, and/or developmental needs and disorders. Creative arts therapy interventions can be designed to promote wellness, manage stress, improve physical functioning, alleviate pain, enhance memory and cognitive functioning, improve communication, and provide unique opportunities for interaction. Using their skills in evaluation and psychotherapy, they choose materials and interventions appropriate to their clients’ needs and design sessions to achieve therapeutic goals and objectives.

Music therapists are clinicians who treat medical conditions using various forms and genres of music to bring about health benefits. Music therapy may involve both playing and listening to music. Music therapists plan activities like song writing, music improvisation and receptive music listening.

Occupational therapists (OTs) use practical movement and exercise to rehabilitate patients with disabilities or injuries. Therapists may also design work or home environments to suit an individual’s needs, thereby enabling them to succeed in daily care activities and in the workplace.

Occupational therapy assistants assist occupational therapists in treating patients. They help patients improve their lives and perform daily tasks. They could help a person learn how to move from a bed to a wheelchair or help an injured worker re-learn how he can perform his job. OT assistants also make sure exercises are done correctly and provide assistance.

Orthotists and prosthetists make and fit devices that help people move. A certified prosthetists makes and fits devices that replace the arms or legs of patients who lost them through injury or disease. A certified orthotists designs and fits braces like surgical supports and corrective shoes. Both may use computers to create the devices and tools, like hammers, drills and saws, to manufacture prosthetics.

Physical therapist assistants assist the physical therapist in treating patients. They may help them exercise, apply hot or cold packs, or perform special ultrasound or electrical treatments. They may help patients increase their strength and assist in developing treatment plans or keep track of the patient’s progress.

Physical therapists assess patients and create plans to help them improve their movement, relieve pain and increase strength. They evaluate the effects of treatment and adjust to maximize the benefits. Physical therapists also test the patient’s strength, motor skills and functions, sensory perceptions, respiratory or circulatory efficiency and show patients how to perform the prescribed exercises and review progress. Physical therapists help decrease or prevent problems due to disease or injury.

Physical therapy aides clean and set up the treatment area, move patients and perform clerical duties.

Physical therapy aides clean and set up the treatment area, move patients and perform clerical duties.

Recreational therapists work with people who have physical, social or emotional disabilities. They help people by providing treatments and recreation activities to people who are ill or disabled. This helps them improve or maintain their physical, mental and emotional well-being. It also helps reduce depression, stress and anxiety.

Rehabilitation Counselors help disabled people who may have physical, mental or social disabilities. The goal is to help them get back to satisfying and productive lives. They might counsel patients about job training and help them find a job. They also may counsel them in adjusting to their new work environment.

Speech pathologists assess, diagnose and treat disorders related to speech, fluency, language, cognitive-communication and voice. They work with people who have trouble producing speech sounds or who have speech rhythm and fluency problems, such as stuttering. The speech problems that they treat can be congenital, developmental or acquired due to a health problem or disorder.