Allied Health — Many fields, many jobs
Television shows about medicine such as “House” and “Grey's Anatomy” always focus on the doctors. Yet without Allied Health professionals, our hospitals, clinics and doctors’ offices would shut down. They take x-rays, help people breathe, keep medical records, run lab tests and work alongside doctors and nurses. Popular forensic crime shows such as “CSI and “NCIS” highlight how laboratory science helps catch criminals. In medicine, laboratory science has an even broader reach. Allied Health professionals in labs help doctors decide how to treat sick patients and help researchers evaluate new drugs. Many jobs involve direct patient interaction; others mean working in an office, or a lab. New technology and medical specialization create a huge demand for trained, skilled employees, and the variety is vast.