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Geriatricians

Exploring This Job

You can start exploring this field by reading as much as you can about the profession. Remember to visit Web sites of professional organizations for more career-related information. Ask your school's career services office or a science teacher to arrange for a career day in which a doctor from the local community can come in and speak to your class about the work. You can also talk with your family physician to find out what medical school and the work in general is like. There are also "Day in the Life" videos of geriatricians and other physicians available on YouTube.

One of the best introductions to a career in health care is to volunteer at a local hospital, clinic, or nursing home. In this way, it is possible to get a feel for what it's like to work around other health care professionals and patients. In some settings, such as nursing homes, you will also find out how well you like working with older people. Other volunteer opportunities exist to work with older people as well. Check with local agencies for seniors to see if there are any outreach programs you can join. In this way you'll have direct contact with the elderly. For example, you may be asked to become a "buddy" and visit with a senior on a regular basis. Again, this will help you determine how much you enjoy being around older people as well as give you the chance to discover what they have to offer.

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