Health Careers

Why a Health Career? A Chance to Change History

One of the greatest challenges regionally, nationally and globally is to provide people with adequate, appropriate and sustainable health care. You can make a difference in meeting these challenges! There are hundreds of health career opportunities, and the needs for specific types of occupations can be quite different in urban versus rural locations and around the world and go far beyond the careers of doctor, dentist or nurse. When you consider your health career choices, don't forget to research workforce needs in the locations where you want to live.

The Health Field

• National Academy of Medicine’s Publications and Programs
• American Hospital Association’s Data & Insights, including “Health Care: The Big Picture” 
• CDC “Explore Global Health Issues”
• Mayo Clink College of Medicine and Science: Explore Health Care Careers

Diversity and Health Careers

The diversity of the healthcare workforce needs to better reflect that of the populations it treats. All healthcare workers need to be aware of their patients' varying cultural perspectives on health and healing. The term used in health professions to describe this goal is "cultural competence" and it is a major issue in current health careers training.

Learn more about diversity and cultural and linguistic competency in healthcare:

• NCBI Publication: Improving Cultural Competence
• ExploreHealthCareers.Org: Why Diversity Matters in Health Care
• Health Resources & Services Administration: Culture, Language, and Health Literacy
• U.S. DHHS Office of Minority Health: Minority Population Profiles and Briefs and Publications
• United Health Foundation: America’s Health Rankings (reports provided by year and state)
• World Health Organization [WHO]: Monitoring Health Inequalities
• Indian Health Service: Fact Sheets
• National Indian Health Board
• EthnoMed: Integrating Cultural Information Into Clinical Practice
• UCSF Heatlhforce Center: “Is Cultural Competence Training a Solution to Structural Racism in Health Care?” 

Health Career Options

• ExploreHealthCareers
• CareerOneStop.Org Health Science Overview I Health Science Occupations I Fastest Growing Careers
• U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics’ Occupational Outlook Handbook: Healthcare Occupations
• Association of Schools & Programs of Public Health [ASPPH]: Areas of Study
• Summer Health Professions Education Program [SHPEP] is a free program for high school graduates--who are currently enrolled as freshmen or sophomores in college--to explore health fields of interest to them. 
• University of Washington is a partner institution, and CWU undergraduates meeting the requirements are encouraged to apply.