Healthcare is a vast, dynamic field with hundreds of career paths spanning direct patient care, laboratory science, public health, technology, administration, research, behavioral health, and community engagement. Explore the resources below to find a path that aligns with your strengths and vocational goals.
EXPLORING CAREERS: WHO CAN HELP?
Connect with key campus partners and alumni networks to gain diverse perspectives on career planning
Pre-Health & Faculty Advisors Connect with pre-health advisors and faculty for individualized coaching on prerequisite planning, clinical experiences, and graduate application strategy. Students from any major across PLU are welcome! |
Schedule career coaching in Hong Hall via Handshake for resume reviews and graduate search support, or connect directly with practicing alumni for 1-on-1 informational interviews on LuteLink. |
Wild Hope Center for Vocation Reflect on your life calling, personal purpose, and vocational commitment to human and ecological flourishing through the Wild Hope Center for Vocation and Wild Hope Fellows program. |
ExploreHealthCareers.org Explore national interactive databases detailing core job duties, education lengths, salary benchmarks, and growth outlooks across hundreds of health professions. |
National Career Research Databases
In addition to ExploreHealthCareers.org, students can utilize the Mayo Clinic Careers A–Z resource to research over 40 specific healthcare occupations, outlining:
- Work Environment: Direct patient care, laboratory science, administration, and public health.
- Education Required: Professional certificates, associate degrees, bachelor’s degrees, and doctoral programs.
- Role Descriptions: Core duties, day to day responsibilities, and clinical expectations.
- Career Outlook: Projected job growth, average salary ranges, and professional advancement pathways.
There Is No Single Path into Healthcare
Healthcare professions vary widely across several key dimensions:
| Dimension | What to Expect |
|---|---|
| Education Length | Ranging from certificates under one year to multi year doctoral degrees and residency training. |
| Work Setting | Hospitals, outpatient clinics, research labs, community nonprofits, corporate health systems, and public health agencies. |
| Patient Interaction | Options range from continuous bedside care to strictly indirect, observational, or administrative roles. |
| Academic Focus | Varying intensity of STEM coursework, behavioral science, public policy, or health administration. |
| Growth & Compensation | Strong projected employment growth across urban, suburban, and rural regional healthcare markets. |
How to Narrow Down Your Options
As you explore your fit within healthcare, ask yourself these diagnostic reflection questions:
- Do I thrive on direct patient interaction, or do I prefer behind the scenes diagnostics and laboratory work?
- Am I energized by health systems, policy, operations, and organizational leadership?
- How many years of undergraduate or post graduate education am I prepared to commit to right now?
- What kind of daily schedule, work environment, and lifestyle aligns with my long term personal goals?
Healthcare remains one of the fastest growing employment sectors in the nation. The goal is not to select the most prestigious career track, but rather to choose the pathway that authenticates your personal strengths and vocational purpose.
Connect with Pre-Health Advising
If you would like support exploring career options, mapping out prerequisites, or determining how your academic major connects to specific health professions, our advisory team is here to help.