Medical Laboratory Technician
medical laboratory technician is a health care professional who works in a
hospital, clinic, and less frequently in public health agencies,
pharmaceutical firms, and research institutions. Technicians perform such tasks as collecting blood specimens and a wide variety of laboratory tests on patients' specimens.
Clinical Laboratory Science
laboratory scientists (medical technologists) are health-care
professionals that play a vital role in modern medicine. Clinical
laboratory scientists are extensively educated in all aspects of
laboratory medicine. They are responsible for providing accurate
information to physicians so that they may diagnose, monitor and treat
disease, monitor patient health, and practice preventive medicine. It
is estimated that 70 percent of all medical decisions made by
physicians are based on the vital information provided by clinical
assistants work with dentists as patients are examined and treated.
Dental assistants who can document training in expanded functions may be
delegated by the dentist to perform those functions on patients. In
addition, they may carry out a variety of laboratory, clinical and
office duties. Some dental assistants manage the dental office and are
responsible for bookkeeping and scheduling patients.
to the American Association of Medical Dosimetrists (AAMD): “The
Medical Dosimetrist is a member of the radiation oncology treatment
planning team, who is thoroughly familiar with the physical and
geometric characteristics of radiation equipment and radioactive sources
commonly employed and has the training and expertise necessary to
measure and generate radiation dose distributions and calculations under
the direction of the medical physicist and the radiation oncologist.”
The Dosimetrist’s responsibilities include the many functions related to
planning treatment delivery using sophisticated computers and
Nuclear Medicine Technology
medicine technology, NMT, is the medical specialty concerned with the
use of small amounts of radio-pharmaceutical drugs for diagnostic,
therapeutic, and research purposes. It is a vigorous, dynamic field that
has grown phenomenally over the past several years. NMT
is a multi-disciplinary field, linking medicine to quantitative sciences
such as chemistry, anatomy/physiology and physics. Nuclear Medicine
Technologists use their technical expertise to assist physicians in the
diagnosis of disease and injury. Technologists work directly with
patients. The job market in NMT is wide-open. All graduates are professionally employed. Upon
graduation, students can find a job in the NMT field almost anywhere in
the United States, although most remain in the Wisconsin/Minnesota
therapists work with people of all ages facing physical, emotional, or
mental challenges due to injury or disease. Occupational therapists are
part of a healthcare team that may also include physicians, physician
assistants, physical therapists, speech pathologists, and recreational
therapists. “Occupation” refers to those everyday meaningful tasks that
individuals do everyday. Students who choose a career in occupational
therapy will be instrumental in helping others participate fully in
Occupational Therapy Assistant
occupational therapy assistant (OTA) is a health care professional who
cares for people of all ages with physical, developmental, and
psychological disabilities. Occupational therapy is a
health care service that uses activities that are personally fulfilling
to help people to learn skills they need in order to live as
independently as possible. An OTA may work with a wide
variety of individuals of various ages and disabilities or specialize in
a particular area such as pediatrics, hand function, geriatrics, and
therapists work to prevent and remediate pain, physical disability and
loss of function associated with injuries, disorders or illnesses. People
who see physical therapists typically have disorders such as:
musculoskeletal conditions including back, arm or leg pain or weakness;
neurological disorders such as cerebral palsy, multiple sclerosis,
Parkinson’s disease or stroke; cardiovascular problems; post-surgical
weakness or stiffness; balance problems; wounds or burns. Physical
therapists work in diverse settings including private practice,
hospitals/clinics, schools, nursing homes, sports medicine facilities,
research institutions, and universities. The job market for physical therapists is excellent throughout the United States.
Physical Therapist Assistant
physical therapist assistant (PTA) works under the direction and
supervision of the physical therapist, helping manage conditions such
as; back and neck injuries, sprains/strains, fractures, arthritis,
burns, amputations, stroke, multiple sclerosis, birth defects, injuries
related to work and sports, and others.
assistants (PAs) are health professionals licensed to practice medicine
with the supervision of a physician. PAs are qualified to take medical
histories, examine patients, order and administer tests, make diagnoses,
treat illness and assist in surgery. The PA Program in the Health
Science Center is a partnership involving the University of Wisconsin –
La Crosse, the Gundersen Lutheran Medical Foundation and the Mayo School
of Health Sciences.
therapists work as a team with doctors, nurses and physicists using
radiation in the treatment of disease (typically cancer). The field
offers great satisfaction in working with patients during a difficult
time in their life. The UW-L RT program is the only baccalaureate program in Wisconsin.
Radiation Therapists’ major roles include (1) treatment planning, (2)
daily delivery of treatments for patients’ 2-8 week course of therapy,
(3) patient education & assessment and (4) quality assurance.
radiographer is a medical professional who performs diagnostic x-ray
imaging examinations on patients, with the use of ionizing radiation. We are responsible for accurately positioning patients and making sure that a quality diagnostic image is produced. We work closely with radiologists, the physicians who interpret medical images for diagnosis.
Recreation Management professionals are trained to assume middle management positions in government recreation/parks, for-profit enterprises, tourism businesses, or non-profit recreation organizations. Recreation Management professionals work as directors, associate directors, assistant directors, associate managers, coordinators, programmers, and specialists in any of the following areas: National, state, county, or city parks and recreation agencies , Commercial resort businesses, camping agencies, university and intramural recreation, convention centers, visitors bureaus and Military MWR recreation (civil service).
Therapeutic Recreation Certified Specialists
Certified Therapeutic Recreation Specialists are trained to help individuals with physical, cognitive, and/or behavioral disabilities. They assume positions in hospitals, geriatric centers, drug rehabilitation centers, correctional institutions, and community centers and work with older adults, children, adolescents, spinal cord injuries, brain injuries, neuromuscular disorders and stroke.