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What does a Medical Scientist do?

C. Webb
C. Webb

A medical scientist studies all aspects of human disorder and disease. Symptoms, causes and treatments, are things that a medical scientist is interested in exploring. The field of medical science is broken into many different areas of special focus that can include scientific research, clinical practice and developmental science. Medical scientists can work in academia, private business or government entities. An advanced degree, such as a Ph.D or a medical degree, is typically required to become a medical scientist.

In the world of academia, medical scientists typically focus on teaching the rest of the medical community, generally through research they've conducted. Publishing research results in medical journals is one example of the work of a university driven scientist. Typical venues for such careers are at universities attached to teaching hospitals.

Medical scientists may work in labs run by hospitals, universities, or the government.
Medical scientists may work in labs run by hospitals, universities, or the government.

Clinical trials and experiments also are set up and completed by medical scientists, who then provide a written report about the experiment and its results. The number of possible experiments in the medical field is vast; therefore, many medical scientists choose to focus their careers on specific areas of medicine. Pharmaceutical, psychiatry and biomedical-engineering are examples of areas in which a medical scientist might choose to specialize.

Medical scientists may be involved in pharmaceutical development and clinical trials.
Medical scientists may be involved in pharmaceutical development and clinical trials.

Private sector medical scientists focus on business profit. For example, pharmaceutical companies hire medical scientists to design or improve new medications. Additionally, a company with its own line of physical therapy equipment might hire a medical scientist to design the products the company sells.

Government entities also use medical scientist research to set policy with regard to health issues. Through the examination of past research and conducting new research, the impact of health issues on society can be studied. From those results, governments set policies about vaccination laws, quarantine issues and other elements of societal health concerns.

A medical scientist may perform studies on blood samples.
A medical scientist may perform studies on blood samples.

Becoming a medical scientist requires an extensive education. Most positions require a medical degree or a Ph.D in one of the sciences. A doctorate in biological science is one example of a qualifying degree for working in the medical science field. In some cases, a medical scientist earns both a medical degree and a science-based doctorate so he or she can work in both research and the clinical side of medical science.

Pharmaceutical companies may hire medical scientists to design or improve new medications.
Pharmaceutical companies may hire medical scientists to design or improve new medications.

Some regions require certain types of medical scientists to be licensed in their fields. Working in genetic therapy and administering drugs are job examples that may require special licensing, such as becoming a certified physician. The field is expected to continue growing as the medical community continues its quest to eradicate disease and disorders.

Discussion Comments

clintflint

@Mor - There have been a few times that I've met a doctor who I thought would be much more suited to the research business. People who don't really have the right kind of people skills to make a good doctor. It's not all about the science. It has to be about interpersonal skills as well.

It's too bad a medical scientist salary isn't as much as a surgeon gets paid, or I think that more people would go into that area, rather than becoming doctors.

Mor

@Fa5t3r - I think that doctors are involved in medical research all the time, but it's not the same kind of work as a medical laboratory scientist does. Most doctors would be doing research, or at least helping with research on patients, which is the kind of research that is only done when the drug is believed to be very safe.

Most medical research would be done with isolated cells, or lab animals, rather than on patients and would be conducted by people who dedicate their whole career to it. It can be pretty tedious work, but it's so important. We are really lucky to live in a world where this kind of research has advanced so much.

Fa5t3r
I think most doctors work as medical scientists all the time as well. I know my sister does research papers sometimes and she's not even a doctor. She's an audiologist. It's just the nature of the work that you'll occasionally be pushing boundaries and it's a good idea to record that kind of work.
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    • Medical scientists may work in labs run by hospitals, universities, or the government.
      By: Darren Baker
      Medical scientists may work in labs run by hospitals, universities, or the government.
    • Medical scientists may be involved in pharmaceutical development and clinical trials.
      By: kasto
      Medical scientists may be involved in pharmaceutical development and clinical trials.
    • A medical scientist may perform studies on blood samples.
      By: JackF
      A medical scientist may perform studies on blood samples.
    • Pharmaceutical companies may hire medical scientists to design or improve new medications.
      By: Minerva Studio
      Pharmaceutical companies may hire medical scientists to design or improve new medications.