Healthcare

Over the last decade, healthcare has become the U.S.’s largest employer, with much of the job growth relating more to non-clinical roles that span a number of other industries. If you desire a fast-paced and challenging work environment where your work directly impacts others, enjoy streamlining complex processes and resolving emerging issues, or conducting research and implementing programs that positively contribute to individuals’ and community health and wellness, then you might want to explore work related to healthcare.

Below, find information and resources related to opportunities in clinical, administration/management, technology/analytics, and public health, policy, and health promotion.

Health Administration/Management

Roles and Work Environment

While the day-to-day work for a health administrator may vary by organization, the responsibilities remain the same. Health Administrators and Managers work to ensure the smooth operation of a hospital, hospital system, or healthcare organization. For more information about specific roles in this field, reference this “Guide to Careers in Health Administration” in addition to the other industry resources listed below.

Skills and Training

Opportunities in this field often require a specialized level of education and training, often beyond a bachelor’s degree. Common degree types include Master’s in Public Health, Master’s in Health Administration, Master’s in Business Administration, Certificate in Health Sciences Management, etc. The UVA Career Center offers a DC Healthcare Academy for students to expand their knowledge of the healthcare field.

Consider coursework and training in the following areas to gain experience:

Healthcare service delivery
Social Sciences
Finance and Economics
Organizational Management and Leadership
Policy
Quantitative Research
Information Systems

The following skills and experience are helpful when considering opportunities in this field:

Experience working within a clinical setting
Management skills
Strong interpersonal and communication skills
Strong detail orientation
Ability to lead and motivate others
Genuine interest in the healthcare industry and optimizing systems

Additional Industry Resources

Job/Internship Search

Career Builder Health Care Jobs & Resources
HealtheCareers Network (Healthcare Administration/Executive Jobs)
HealthJobs Nationwide
Hospital Jobs Online
Indeed Healthcare Administration

Professional Associations

Blogs and Industry Research

Health Informatics, Technology, and Analytics

Roles and Work Environment

Health informatics is a discipline that includes all aspects of healthcare information science. Medical informatics encompasses all means of understanding and promoting the effective organization of clinical systems, healthcare process improvement, population studies and community/consumer education. This is one of the fastest growing career fields with a goal of implementing the “meaningful use” of electronic health and medical record. For more information about this industry, check out this health informatics industry overview.

Sample informatics job titles:

Sample organizations hiring for health informatics:

Consulting Firms
Medical software companies
Health Systems
Start-ups
Medical device companies

Skills and Training

Opportunities in this field often require a specialized combination of education, skills, and experiences. Positions often require that candidates have both medical and information technology expertise, which can be hard to find. Consider seeking out opportunities and training in the following areas to gain experience:

Work within a medical setting
Experience with electronic medical records systems
Coursework related to computer science and systems, biostatistics, data science, project management
Leadership roles within student organizations
Strong analytical thinking skills
Ability to develop, manage, and execute project plans