When you think of healthcare, the first thing that comes to mind might resemble a medical drama: a hospital corridor where nurses in scrubs assist patients and their families, while doctors with clipboards hurry from room to room. But medical dramas don’t show the whole story, do they?
There are many careers in the healthcare that receive less attention from the media, yet they’re fascinating, rewarding, and integral to keep the whole system functioning. For that reason, they’re also highly sought-after. These BCIT healthcare programs will help you to see a different side of healthcare.
1. Electroneurophysiology (ENPY)
The central and peripheral nervous systems are some of the most difficult-to-diagnose areas of the human body — but thanks to electroneurophysiology, we’re better than ever at unravelling their mysteries. ENPY technologists can attach electrodes to a patient’s head and use them to understand the body’s electrical signals. It looks like sci-fi, but it’s applied every day to help save lives.
The full-time diploma program at BCIT is one of only three specialized ENPY programs in Canada, giving graduates opportunities to work across the country and around the world. Small and personalized 10-person classes combined with clinical experience in the field equip students for success.
2. Biomedical Engineering Technology
The unsung heroes of healthcare are the machines that make it all work. Doctors, nurses, and specialists all depend on a wide assortment of apparatuses and devices in order to save lives, and it’s all maintained — and often designed — by biomedical engineering technologists.
With a practicum, applied learning and research, and design projects, — mean the full-time Biomedical Engineering Technology program at BCIT is unlike any other in the province, providing students with a wealth of industry connections and experience. In fact, its approach — which focuses on both hospital contexts and the broader medical device industry—is unique in Canada.
3. Nuclear Medicine
Don’t worry—nuclear medicine won’t require you to rush headlong into any radioactive danger zones. Specialists in this field are experts in spotting and diagnosing diseases even in the earliest stages. To do this, they combine non-invasive biological tracers with radioactive material to create detailed, luminous images of the body. It’s a lot like taking x-rays from the inside out.
With a renowned curriculum that includes in-hospital clinical experience, there’s no healthcare program in BC like the Nuclear Medicine Technology diploma at BCIT. The faculty are industry experts with firsthand knowledge of every facet of the nuclear medicine process.
4. Clinical Genetics Technology
Genetic diseases are among the greatest challenges facing the healthcare community. They include everything from Down syndrome and Huntington’s disease to an individual’s propensity to develop cancer.
In many cases, there are limited options for prevention and treatment—but there are medical professionals working every day to study these conditions, search for cures, and ensure those living with them are well cared for.
A career in this field is incredibly gratifying, and the Clinical Genetics Technology diploma at BCIT is one of only two programs in all of Canada that will prepare you for it. Students get training in small classes and clinical sites where they can connect with industry professionals and familiarize themselves with the latest technologies.
SEE MORE: What’s the difference between a polytechnic and a university?
5. Occupational Health and Safety
Perhaps the greatest way to care for people is to make sure they don’t get injured at all. That’s why we have occupational health and safety professionals. Governments and businesses hire these experts at many workplaces and job sites to ensure hazards are predicted and prevented.
It’s not your typical healthcare career—in fact, the full-time Occupational Health and Safety diploma at BCIT acquaints students with both the operational and business side of the trade. This means applied learning in the classroom and workplace practicums are complemented by training in human resources, communication, and leadership skills.
6. Food Technology
You may have thought testing food products and processes for quality control would be more related to the food industry, but unhealthy or contaminated food poses a public health risk. Therefore, analyzing, understanding, and reducing these risks requires healthcare expertise.
That’s where the Food Technology diploma at BCIT comes in. The two-year program is designed to focus on real-world context, with industry sponsors who not only provide resources and support for students, but participate in projects so that you can put your knowledge to work.
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7. Radiation Therapy
Almost everyone has had their lives touched by cancer in one way or another, and it can certainly take its toll. Radiation therapists not only provide an essential treatment option, but they’re often a consistent point of contact and a source of emotional support for patients and their families.
At BCIT, the Radiation Therapy program provides a full-time, Bachelor of Science that includes clinical experience placements at provincial cancer centres. With small class sizes and in-depth lectures and labs, this is the only program of its kind in BC.
8. Environmental Health (Public Health Inspection)
From testing the water quality in our swimming pools, ponds, and plumbing, to assessing the sanitation of worksites and utilities, environmental public health officers and inspectors are essential. They ensure the places we visit and the products we consume are held up to a high standard—and for these versatile professionals, every day offers something different.
If you’re interested in a career in healthcare, but want to work out in the field as well as in the lab, consider the Environmental Health program at BCIT. This full-time Bachelor of Technology degree can be completed in two years, and it includes a practicum so that students can apply their learning in the workforce and finish their studies with industry connections.
The healthcare sector is hiring nationwide, thanks to growing cities and a large number of Canadians who are getting on in years. Now’s the time to think about finding a job in this industry that’s thrilling, fulfilling, and unique to your interests.
Need some advice? Register for upcoming Information Sessions. We’re happy to tell you more about programs at BCIT.
(Note: This article was last updated in December 2020)