When you hear the word tech, what comes to mind? Do you picture someone sitting at a computer trying to develop a new app? If so, it’s okay. Most people don’t automatically associate tech with anything else, especially healthcare. Health tech is a booming industry with plenty of job opportunities. All you need is the right education and a desire to succeed.
Education Always Comes First
Just like any other tech job, you need the right education and experience. This means earning a degree in a related field, such as computer science. You’ll need to earn at least a BA, which is a four-year program. You also need a viable way to pay for your education: scholarships for college students. You can use scholarships to pay for half or even all of your degree. All you need to do is search online and find ones you’re eligible for. Then, you simply put the application and turn it in. If approved, you don’t have to pay it back, and can use the money to pay tuition or other educational costs.
Data Scientist (AI, Machine Learning, Deep Learning)
A data scientist is someone who analyzes data to discover trends, patterns, and other useful information. As technology continues to advance, companies are becoming increasingly reliant on machine learning algorithms and complex software programs. If you love computers and have an interest in statistics and analytics, then a career as a data scientist could be right for you. To become a data scientist, you’ll need a bachelor's degree in computer science or related field is required. Some employers do prefer candidates with masters’ degrees or PhDs; however, degrees earned outside this might be accepted with enough experience.
Digital Health Specialist
A digital health specialist uses technology and software to improve their patients' health. They work with healthcare providers like doctors, nurses, and pharmacists to help them deliver care more efficiently. Below are examples of digital health specialists:
- A patient intake specialist who uses technology to streamline patient registration.
- A claims processing technician who uses software from insurance companies or government agencies on their computers to process payments for medical offices and hospitals.
These jobs require different types of education levels and certifications depending on what industry you want to work for.
Mobile Health Developer
Mobile health is a relatively new field that uses technology to improve the health of individuals and communities. As the name suggests, it often involves the use of mobile apps. Mobile health developers are responsible for building these apps, which can range from fitness trackers to mental health interventions. They have strong technical skills in coding or other programming languages. They also need comprehensive knowledge of how technology can be used in healthcare settings to ensure their applications are effective and safe for consumers.
Chief Innovation Officer
Chief Innovation Officers identify new ways technologies that can improve the company. They focus on being a B2B thought leader as well as a champion for workplace culture and creating a culture where employees feel safe to come up with ideas, and then help them develop those ideas into solutions. As a CIO, you must have excellent communication and work well with others. You also need strong interpersonal skills, so that you can collaborate with teams from other departments and who may be working on similar projects or have different skill sets than yours. In addition, you need to be an effective problem solver. To apply for this position, you should have several years’ experience or earn a certificate in project management.
Health Informatics Director
Health informatics is the practice of applying information technology to healthcare. Health informatics directors are responsible for the management of health information systems, including proper use by clinicians. They also help ensure that data collected from these systems can be accessed by researchers and other stakeholders in order to understand how well a healthcare organization's services are performing. A director will likely need to have an advanced degree in public health or computer science with additional training in business administration, project management or other related fields.
Bioinformatician
Bioinformaticians analyze and interpret biological data. They can be found in a wide range of industries, including pharmaceuticals and medical research laboratories. Bioinformatics is a growing field with a lot opportunity. While it’s not the most common of jobs in health tech, it’s one that will continue to grow.
Biomedical Engineer
Biomedical engineers are medical professionals who develop and design medical devices and equipment to help people live longer, healthier lives. They must be well versed in biology, physics, mathematics, and engineering to develop solutions. Their work may include developing new technologies for diagnostics or therapeutic treatments, improving existing products in order to enhance quality of life, or collaborating on research projects with doctors and scientists.
