You should take advantage of any available opportunities to learn more about the psychiatric field and about working with the elderly. Use your local library or search the Internet for resources on the field. You can learn about psychotherapy in general by reading books such a Theory and Practice of Counseling and Psychotherapy, by Gerald Corey. You can also take a look at articles from the American Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry, which is the official publication of the American Association for Geriatric Psychiatry. Articles from the journal are available online at http://ajgponline.org. You can also ask your school's career services office for help in setting up an information interview with a local psychiatrist or other physician. Even if you are only able to talk to a family doctor, you can still ask him or her what medical school was like, what college courses were particularly helpful to take, and other general questions about the profession.
It is very important that you get experience working with the elderly. Hands-on experience will allow you to find out how much you like working with this group of people, and it will make you a more desirable candidate when you apply to colleges and medical schools. Begin in high school by getting a summer or part-time job at a hospital, clinic, senior day program, or nursing home. If you are unable to find paid work, become a volunteer.
- Addiction Therapists
- Adult Day Care Coordinators
- Advanced Practice Nurses
- Aerospace Medicine Physicians
- Alcohol and Drug Abuse Counselors
- Allergists/Immunologists
- Anesthesiologist Assistants
- Anesthesiologists
- Behavioral Health Technicians
- Biomedical Equipment Technicians
- Cancer Exercise Specialists
- Cardiologists
- Cardiovascular Technologists
- Career and Employment Counselors
- Career and Employment Technicians
- Child Life Specialists
- Chiropractors
- Clinic Managers
- Clinical Applications Specialists
- Clinical Nurse Specialists
- Clinical Pharmacist Practitioners
- Community Health Nurses
- Community Health Program Coordinators
- Community Health Workers
- Community Nutrition Educators
- Conflict Resolution Specialists
- Contact Tracers
- Cosmetic Surgeons
- Creative Arts Therapists
- Critical Care Nurses
- Cytogenetic Technologists
- Cytotechnologists
- Dental Assistants
- Dental Hygienists
- Dental Laboratory Technicians
- Dental Therapists
- Dentists
- Dermatologists
- Diagnostic Medical Sonographers
- Dialysis Technicians
- Dietetic Technicians
- Dietitians
- Directors of Telehealth
- Directors of Volunteers
- Dispensing Opticians
- Ear, Nose, and Throat Specialists
- Elder Law Attorneys
- Electroneurodiagnostic Technologists
- Emergency Medical Technicians
- Emergency Nurses
- Endocrinologists
- Endodontists
- Endoscopy Technicians
- Epidemiologists
- Ergonomists
- Gastroenterologists
- General Practitioners
- Genetic Counselors
- Geriatric Care Managers
- Geriatric Nurses
- Geriatric Social Workers
- Geriatricians
- Grant Coordinators and Writers
- Grief Therapists
- Health Advocates
- Health Educators
- Health Informaticists
- Hematologists
- Histologic Technicians
- HIV/AIDS Counselors and Case Managers
- Holistic Physicians
- Home Health Care Aides
- Home Health Care and Hospice Nurses
- Hospice Workers
- Hospitalists
- Human Services Workers
- Industrial-Organizational Psychologists
- Informatics Nurse Specialists
- Kinesiologists
- Licensed Practical Nurses
- Medical Assistants
- Medical Ethicists
- Medical Laboratory Technicians
- Medical Screeners
- Medical Scribes
- Medical Technologists
- Microbiologists
- Music Therapists
- Naturopaths
- Neonatal Nurses
- Neurologists
- Neuropsychologists and Clinical Neuropsychologists
- Neuroscientists
- Nuclear Medicine Physicians
- Nuclear Medicine Technologists
- Nurse Anesthetists
- Nurse Assistants
- Nurse Managers
- Nurse Practitioners
- Nurse-Midwives
- Nursing Home Administrators
- Nutritionists
- Obstetricians/Gynecologists
- Occupational Health Nurses
- Occupational Therapists
- Occupational Therapy Assistants and Aides
- Oncological Nurses
- Oncologists
- Ophthalmic Laboratory Technicians
- Ophthalmic Medical Technologists
- Ophthalmologists
- Optometrists
- Oriental Medicine Practitioners
- Orientation and Mobility Specialists
- Orthodontists
- Orthoptists
- Orthotic and Prosthetic Technicians
- Orthotists and Prosthetists
- Osteopathic Physicians
- Pathologists
- Pediatricians
- Pedorthists
- Perfusionists
- Periodontists
- Personal Care Aides
- Pharmacists
- Pharmacologists
- Pharmacy Technicians
- Phlebotomy Technicians
- Physiatrists
- Physical Therapists
- Physical Therapy Assistants
- Physician Assistants
- Physicians
- Podiatrists
- Preventive Medicine Physicians
- Prosthodontists
- Psychiatric Nurses
- Psychiatric Technicians
- Psychiatrists
- Psychologists
- Public Interest Lawyers
- Radiologic Technologists
- Radiologists
- Recreational Therapists
- Registered Nurses
- Rehabilitation Counselors
- Remote Health Care Engineers
- Respiratory Technicians
- Respiratory Therapists
- School Nurses
- Senior Care Pharmacists
- Sign Language and Oral Interpreters
- Social Workers
- Special Procedures Technologists
- Speech-Language Pathologists and Audiologists
- Speech-Language Pathology Assistants
- Sports Physicians
- Sports Psychologists
- Surgeons
- Surgical Technologists
- Toxicologists
- Transplant Coordinators
- Tutors and Trainers
- Urologists