Careers in Nuclear Medicine
Nuclear medicine uses advanced technology to provide diagnostic imaging for disease or condition identification. Far more advanced than the standard X-ray, diagnostic machines in nuclear medicine utilize radionuclides to identify differences in the metabolic structure of internal organs. This, in turn, helps to identify and isolate areas of disease. There are several career areas in the dynamic field of nuclear medicine.
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Nuclear Medicine Physician
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Nuclear medicine physicians play a crucial role in rendering diagnoses from nuclear medicine imaging results. Their job is to provide intelligent scientific and analytical perspectives on the condition and level of the disease. Though nuclear physicians have limited contact with patients, they also assist in coordinating the follow-up treatment for the diagnosed disease with other doctors and medical personnel. Some nuclear medicine physicians also choose to dedicate their careers to nuclear medicine research and development.
Nuclear Medicine Technologist
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Nuclear medicine technologists work with nuclear medicine physicians to facilitate the outcome of the diagnoses. They work in patient care and are the ones responsible for retrieving the nuclear images from the patients. They also take medical histories, perform administrative duties and utilize technical skills to facilitate correct diagnoses and patient care.
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Nuclear Medicine Physicist
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Another career choice in nuclear medicine is to become a nuclear medicine physicist. This highly advanced field deals with the radiation processes employed in diagnostics, as well as the functionality of the nuclear imaging equipment. Nuclear physicists possess advanced science, physics, biophysics and medical physics degrees, and are experts at both computer science and nuclear imaging, which are both employed to produce more highly technical results.
Nuclear Medicine Engineer
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Nuclear medicine engineers are experts in biomedical engineering, computer engineering and electrical engineering. They work closely with nuclear medicine physicists to develop new techniques for nuclear medicine. They are also responsible for the maintenance of existing nuclear technology diagnostic instruments.
Nuclear Pharmacist
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Nuclear medicine pharmacists are responsible for the distribution and use of nuclear radio-pharmaceuticals. It is the job of the nuclear pharmacist to develop and test new drugs used in nuclear medicine, as well as to oversee their proper use in patient care.
Other Opportunities
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Nuclear medicine also offers career opportunities as directors, administrators, supervisors and chief technologists. Nuclear medicine technologists can also choose to specialize in nuclear cardiology and other fields, or they can choose to become nuclear medicine instructors.
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- Photo Credit Kenmore Mercy Foundation
