5 Most-in-Demand Biochemist Jobs in Hospitals

Medical Biochemistry is one of the branches of medicine that utilizes concepts and ideas of Biochemistry of human’s body for development and enhancement of human health issues. Medical Biochemists play an essential role in the diagnoses and treatment of varying diseases and biochemical disorders.

Moreover, Medical Biochemistry involves various sub-branches through which a wide variety of problems are solved within the health-care system.

This article provides general information regarding the 5 high-demand jobs for Biochemists in hospitals.

Clinical Biochemist

Clinical Biochemistry is the sub-branch of Laboratory Medicine, which addresses the measurement of patient samples and interpretation of the results for medical staff. A Clinical Biochemist is a laboratory-based medical professional, responsible for testing of various physiological samples, including but not limited to specimens of blood, tissues, urine, or stools.

The diagnostic methodologies implemented for the analysis are usually automated processes and do not require manual interventions in case if no chemical or biological anomalies are present. As soon as abnormalities are encountered, Clinical Biochemists get directly involved in the process through performing advanced tests utilizing various tools, devices, and applications, including but not limited to electrophoresis, electron microscopes, spectroscopes, and chromatographs.

Along with that, Clinical Biochemists are also responsible for analysis of the results and writing reports of findings accordingly.

As analysis and evaluation of patient samples remain the primary responsibility of a Clinical Biochemist, there are various other duties that they deal with throughout the working hours. Such responsibilities include designing experiments used to test theories, conducting periodic checks of automated testing devices, accurate calibration of testing equipment, management of laboratory teams composed of students, assistants, technicians, and interns.

Being a Clinical Biochemist is an extremely responsible decision since proper diagnosis and effective treatment of patients entirely depends upon the accurate and precise test results provided by Clinical Biochemists. For that reason, Clinical Biochemists require not only strong educational background in the field of expertise but also other skills and qualities, including motivation, attention to details, commitment to patient health care, ability to work both independently and in a cooperative environment.

Nutritional Biochemist

Nutrition is the science that provides detailed information regarding the interaction of nutrients and other substances in food concerning development, growth, reproduction, health, and disease of a living organism. Nutritional Biochemistry, on the other hand, integrates Biochemistry and Nutrition to examine and describe the function of dietary requirements for human health at the cellular and molecular level. More specifically, Nutritional Biochemistry involves concepts, ideas, and methodologies connected with chemical properties, biochemical, metabolic, and physiological functions of various nutrients and dietary constituents.

Nutritional Biochemists are generally responsible for the determination of optimal dietary intakes for every nutrient and food component throughout the whole life cycle of an organism.

A Nutritional Biochemist is an expert in the field of food and nutrition who advise people on how to intake dietary supplements to follow a healthy lifestyle or enhance health-related issues. One of the several workplaces for Nutritional Biochemists is a hospital where they evaluate the health conditions of their patients based on which they propose individual treatment plans.

Because nutrition is a crucial aspect of a healthy lifestyle, nutritional diseases can cause illnesses in humans. Such diseases might vary from deficiencies or excesses in the diet of an individual to obesity, eating disorders, and chronic diseases (e.g., diabetes, hypertension, cancer, cardiovascular diseases, etc.). Due to this, Nutritional Biochemists take an important place as professionals at various hospitals or healthcare facilities.

Endocrinologist

Endocrinology is the field of science that studies the endocrine system in the human body. The endocrine system is a system of glands which are responsible for the secretion of hormones. Moreover, Endocrinology explores a wide variety of hormone-related diseases affecting the proper functioning of different organ systems in the body.

Accordingly, an Endocrinologist is a doctor specializing in the endocrine system who can diagnose and treat varying hormone-associated diseases. Even though some disorders deal only with the endocrine system and can be detected solely by endocrinologists, there are lots of ailments which might have not only endocrine but also other origins. In such cases, endocrinologists work in collaboration with other professionals to identify and propose effective treatment.

To become an endocrinologist, individuals must firstly gain a Bachelor’s degree in Medicine, Chemistry, Biology, Biochemistry, or a related discipline. After graduating from college/university, individuals go to medical school for another 4 years and work in hospitals and clinics as residents for 3 years. After final 2-3 years of training specifically in Endocrinology, they become eligible to work as Endocrinologists at hospitals.

Pharmacist

Pharmacy is a science that studies the techniques of preparation, uses, effects, and mechanisms of action of various drugs. Furthermore, Pharmacy is concerned with not only the chemical properties of drugs but also its impact on living organisms.

On the other hand, a Pharmacist is a health professional specializing in Pharmacy, focusing on the safe and effective use of pharmaceutical drugs. Pharmacists not only work in pharmacies but also varying healthcare facilities, including hospitals. Such Pharmacists are called Hospital Pharmacists.

Hospital Pharmacists are responsible for the determination of optimal medication form for each patient. Moreover, their duties also include resolution of patients’ medical condition and medicine history, examining if a patient has any allergy on any medication, checking the valid drug history of a patient, reviewing and ensuring accuracy of prescriptions from doctors, keeping records of different pharmacy files, monitoring drug charts, preparing and discharging patients.

Along with the work that Hospital Pharmacists perform independently, there are issues which require cooperative work of Hospital Pharmacists and hospital staff members (e.g., dieticians, physicians, etc.).

Working as a Hospital Pharmacist is a very responsible profession since each and every decision must be made in an efficient manner and in the shortest time possible considering various aspects that were discussed above. Since Hospital Pharmacists play an essential role in the proper treatment of patients, becoming a Hospital Pharmacists requires full qualification in the field of expertise along with necessary experience in the area.

Anesthesiologist

Anesthesiology is the branch of medicine concerned with the complete care of a patient before, during, and after the surgery. Anesthesiology involves the use of varying injected or inhaled medication for a patient to lose sensation. A medical doctor specializing in this field is referred to as an Anesthesiologist.

An Anesthesiologist is responsible for proper implementation of anesthesia and anesthetics to safely support a patient’s essential functions throughout the perioperative period. The duties of an Anesthesiologist include evaluation of the patient before surgery, consultation with the surgical team, providing pain control and controlling vital functions during operation, supervising patients’ conditions after the surgery, and discharging the patients.

Considering the fact that there are no specific Anesthesiologist majors, individuals willing to become an Anesthesiologist should pursue a Bachelor’s degree in Biology, Chemistry, Biochemistry, Health Sciences, or other medical-related disciplines and complete further specific training in Anesthesiology.

Being an Anesthesiologist requires in-depth knowledge of organ support techniques through which they appraise a patient’s medical readiness for surgery. Anesthesiologist plays one of the most critical roles within the hospital facilities since, without them, it would not have been possible to perform various necessary operations and procedures.

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