Health Advocates

One way to explore this field is by talking to people in it. Ask your school counselor to help you set up an information interview with a health advocate in your area. In such an interview—which can be conducted in-person, on the phone, or through video-conferencing technology—you will get the opportunity to ask health advocates about their job duties, work environment, likes and dislikes about their careers, educational training, and other topics that will help you to learn more about the field. You may also be able to arrange to spend part of a day shadowing the advocate. Another way to find out more about this field is to learn about the issues that relate to patient advocacy. Visit your local library or surf the Internet to learn more. A good way to find out whether this field is for you is by volunteering at an organization that helps people. Join a nonprofit group that helps the elderly or volunteer at a local hospital. Hospitals and nursing homes may also have paid part-time or summer positions available. Taking such a job will give you experience working in a health care environment and the opportunity to learn about patients' day-to-day needs. Stay up to date in this field by visiting related Web sites such as MyHealthfinder (https://odphp.health.gov/myhealthfinder) and WebMD (http://www.webmd.com).