Health Science workers have a direct impact on peoples’ lives, every minute of every day. They save lives and improve the quality of life for others, on a daily basis. They keep the records of treatments and vaccinations so we can receive up-to-date care. They help victims of trauma or illness recover their will to live and the ability to lead normal lives. They keep our teeth clean and prevent decay. They operate equipment to fill prescriptions for eyewear…and process laboratory tests. As the world of health care becomes more complex and all encompassing, job opportunities expand. Another factor in the growth of this field is the aging of America. More and more people are living into their 80’s and 90’s; they will require a wide array of health care services, from nursing aides to case managers. This field also includes registered nurses, who are increasingly specialized in the kinds of care they provide. Today, there is a critical shortage of nurses in the health care system. There are jobs in health services that require little or no training; you might need only a high school degree to get a job as an orderly in a hospital or clinic. However, positions with advancement opportunities require additional training. Courses leading to certification as a nurse, therapist, emergency medical technician, or dental hygienist and other health care professions are available in most communities. Or you might explore taking advanced degrees at a college or university to become a dentist, or psychologist. An advantage to having a career in health care is that it’s portable. Just about every community has clinics, hospitals, medical laboratories and other places where health care professionals are needed. Whether you want to be a nurse at a summer camp, or a lab technician at a university hospital, all you have to do is open a classified section of a newspaper in the place you want to live, and chances are you’ll find positions available. If you’re moving to a new state or country, however, you’ll need to look into whether you have to be re-certified so that your license to provide services is valid. The one thing all of these professions have in common is a desire to help people—or creatures, in the case of veterinary health services. For many of these jobs, you need to feel comfortable touching those for whom you care, and most jobs in this require precision and dedication to getting things right, every time. Whether it’s an entry in a chart, or an incision with a scalpel, someone’s life could depend on it!