What Career Paths Are Available To A Doctor Of Health Science?
Are you exploring the idea of entering the healthcare sector? Perhaps you already work in this industry but are seeking a more rewarding career path? Whatever the reason, you’re reading this for one reason: you want to know what doors can be opened with a Doctor of Health Science (DHSc).
As you would expect, graduates are in a place to work at the health and wellness field’s most distinguished levels, where they can take up positions such as educators, experts, researchers, and managers. Below is a closer look at a number of prospective career options for those in possession of a DHSc degree.
Is a PhD better?
Of course, there are other options available for those seeking a medical-related degree. These choices often lead to people pitting the following two against each other: Doctor of Health Science vs PHD.
It’s not uncommon for people to assume a PhD is the superior degree of the two. However, there are notable advantages in the favor of a DHSc. These positives include greater practical training and flexibility and the opportunity to venture onto a more diverse career path. Furthermore, a DHSc can be twice as fast to earn compared to a PhD.
What is possible with a DHSc?
A DHSc provides the foundation for you to enjoy a versatile, highly specialized career path. Professors, researchers, scholars, and others in higher education were able to enter their fields with a DHSc degree. With that said, many opt to go more directly into the medical sector.
To give you more of an idea of what’s possible with a DHSc in your hands, here are some options to explore following graduation.
Health educator
A health educator is someone that teaches about illness and health behaviors. This can be done for a specific community, where an educator evaluates their health needs and, based on this assessment, puts together materials, events, and programs to educate them. A health educator can also work with a community or individuals to manage existing conditions.
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the annual median pay for a health educator in 2021 was $48,860.
Clinical researcher
A clinical researcher is responsible for conducting laboratory-based research. This is done to test out everything from drugs to medical devices and report on their overall safety and efficacy. For those with a DHSc, they are able to not just work as a clinical researcher – they are in a position to head a clinical research team.
For a clinical research coordinator, the average annual salary is approximately $137,900.
Medical and health services manager
Also known as healthcare administrators and healthcare executives, this person is responsible for planning, coordinating, and managing the medical/health services for establishments such as medical practices, clinic departments, or an entire healthcare facility. Their general task is to improve the quality of care for patients and enhance efficiency.
In 2021, the average annual pay for a medical and health services manager was $101,340.
There you have it; some career paths that are available to a Doctor of Health Science.