Careers you've never heard of... Podiatry

The next career which I will shed light on is the glamorous career of podiatry. Podiatry is the study and diagnosis of the foot and ankle problems. If you work as a podiatrist you will have the opportunity to work with a combination of health care professionals such as nurses, doctors and social workers. You will start off working in general clinics assessing and evaluating foot care in a wide variety of patients and many of these patients have long standing foot problems some of which have no cure. As a podiatrist you will play a major part in keeping patients mobile and comfortable.

 You can specialise in general clinics where you will have a wide variety of patients with differing problems. Bio-mechanics is another area that podiatrists can specialise in, and are concerned with preserving, restoring and developing the foot function. A growing area is developing ways to treat sports injuries. Working with children is called podopaediatrics and another area in which podiatrists can work within. Foot surgery is another area which podiatrists can work within and can administer local anaesthetics and treat nail and minor surgery of the soft tissue.

To qualify as a podiatrist you will have to complete a BSc undergraduate degree in podiatry which also includes medical placement.

• University of Brighton - Podiatry BSc (Hons) 3 year degree 
• The University of Huddersfield - Podiatry BSc (Hons) - 3 year degree
• The University of East London- Podiatric Medicine BSc (Hons)- 3 year degree 
• The University of Salford - Podiatry BSc (Hons)- 3 year Degree 
• The University of Northampton - Podiatry BSc (Hons)- 3 year degree
• Plymouth University- Podiatry BSc (Hons)- 3 year degree 
• University of Southampton- Podiatry BSc (Hons)- 3 year degree 
• Queen Margaret University- Edinburgh- Podiatry BSc (Hons) 3 year degree
• Glasgow Caledonian University- Podiatry BSc (Hons)- 3 year Degree
• University of Ulster- Podiatry BSc (Hons)- 3 year degree 
• Cardiff Metropolitan University- Podiatry BSc (Hons)- 3 year degree 

So if you are interested in an interesting career in feet, helping people to live an independent life, research more into a career in podiatry. 

Careers you've never heard of? Optometry

In my careers series, I have decided to focus on careers which are less well known in the health care arena. Optometry is the next topic that I am going to de mystify.

I went to the optician today and I feel sorry for them sometimes, peering into someone's eye, the client could be smelly or have bad breath and there you are in a dark room with a complete stranger. If this career appeals to you, you can travel, set up your own clinic and makes peoples lives better, read on.

Optometrists examine patients  eyes, test their sight, prescribe contact lenses and glasses by assessing long and short sightedness, glaucoma  and cataracts. The General Optical Counsel accredit 9 specific undergraduate degrees which require a person to practice as an optometrist. To become an optometrist, you will have to pursue an undergraduate degree at one of theses 9 universities, usually lasting 3 years with a substantial placement component. You will usually need 3 good A- Levels at least one in a science subject such as chemistry, physics or biology.

• Anglia Ruskin University 
• Aston University 
• University of Bradford 
• Cardiff University 
• City University 
• Glasgow Caledonian University 
• Plymouth University
• University of Manchester 
• University of Ulster

If you would like to pursue this well paid and stable profession don't let any thing get in your way. 

Careers you've never heard of? Audiology

If you are interested in a medical career but aren't keen on medicine, dentistry or nursing, this series of posts will give you an awareness of alternatives.

Audiology?

I'd never heard of this profession until 2008 when I did a temporary job with a girl who was doing an audiology degree. So what is it? Audiologists assess hearing and balance, they recommend treatments and therapies to minimise or treat hearing problems and disorders. Audiologists can specialise in paediatrics,  adult auditory rehab, tinnitus,  balance assessment or cochlear implants. Audiologists work directly with patients, often giving advice and counselling to those coping with hearing loss or damage. They are also responsible for assessing and interpreting hearing assessments and reporting back to patients and other health care staff.

How do I enter the profession?

To become an audiologist, one may enter the NHS practitioner training program (PTP) which involves usually a three year BSc undergraduate degree from an accredited university. These courses include a placement for students to understand the practicalities of the discipline. Here is a list of all accredited degrees in audiology:

• Aston University, (Birmingham)- Full time, three year BSc (Hons) Healthcare Science (Audiology)
• University of Leeds- Full time, three year BSc (Hons) Healthcare Science (Audiology)
• University of Swansea (Wales)- Full time, three year BSc (Hons) Healthcare Science (Audiology)
• Leicester, De Montford University - Full time, three year BSc (Hons) Healthcare Science (Audiology)
• Middlesex University (London)- Full time, three year BSc (Hons) Healthcare Science (Audiology)
• University of Manchester- Full time, 3 year BSc (Hons) Healthcare science (Audiology)
• University of Sunderland - Full time, three year BSc (Hons) Healthcare Science (Audiology)
• University of Southampton - Full time, three year BSc (Hons) Healthcare Science (Audiology)

If you already have an undergraduate degree in another subject and want to specialise in audiology through the NHS scientist training programme (STP) specialising in neurosensory science. The minimum entry requirements are usually a relevant degree  at 2:1 undergraduate level. Also if you haven't got a degree you can also become a newborn hearing screener, those who help identify newborns who need to have hearing screening using screening equipment  You will need the equivalent of 3 GCSEs at grade C or above.

So if you are interested in helping and assessing hearing, don't hesitate to research the profession more.