Careers Beyond MBBS For PCB Students - Interview with Dr. B. Suresh, Pro Chancellor, JSS AHER, Mysuru

Every year after 10+2 results, there is a mad rush for higher studies with the cream of the students trying their luck in medicine or engineering. But only a minuscule percentage of them get an MBBS seat or an admission to an IIT. However, the scenario is changing with innumerable options in healthcare, pharma and other allied medical sciences that offer great career prospects. Here are some of the frequently asked questions by students who opt for Physics, Chemistry and Biology in 10+2, and answers from Dr. B. Suresh, Pro-Chancellor, JSS Academy of Higher Education & Research, Mysuru

Q. What can be some of the motivating reasons for a student to pursue a career in the healthcare sector?

A. There can be several factors that can work as motivators for a student to pursue a career in the healthcare sector. The healthcare industry is expanding at a rapid rate, and professionals are in great demand both within the country and globally. A person may enter the healthcare sector at an educational level, and these careers are extremely respected and personally satisfying. To make a positive difference in somebody else’s life can absolutely facilitate a sense of fulfilment. Added to this, this sector offers opportunities for career advancement at every stage of pursuance.

Q. Which are some of the highest paid non-physician jobs in the healthcare sector?

A. Some of the highest paid non-physician jobs in the healthcare sector could be that of a Pharmacist, Respiratory Care Technologist, Radiation Therapist; Cardiovascular Technologist; Orthotic and Prosthetic professional; Occupational Therapist; Speech Pathologist; Clinical Embryologist; Dietitian, and so on. These professions can be practised within a hospital, while some of them can also be practised independently. Also, with more awareness about the significance of health, the demand for public health officers is also increasing manifold.

Read more - Medical courses after 12th without NEET

Q. One of the newest and popular courses is Pharm.D. What is this course about?

A. Pharm.D stands for Doctor of Pharmacy. It is an integrated 6-year program, including five years of academic study and one year of internship. Completing this course is equivalent to a postgraduate degree. People having this degree work along with physicians to ensure that patients get complete benefits from the medicines they are prescribed. There are only 270+ institutions offering this course, and there are approximately 8,000 seats for Pharm.D across different colleges in the country. There is immense demand for this course globally, and opportunities within India are rapidly evolving. It is indeed a lucrative choice for students wanting to pursue a career in Pharmacy outside India.

Dr. B. Suresh,

Pro Chancellor, JSS Academy of
Higher Education & Research, Mysuru

It is suggested to all students pursuing courses in Indian systems of medicine (AYUSH courses), that they must take up this field only if they genuinely believe in the systems, and not because these were the only options they had

Q. What are the career prospects after a BSc in Microbiology?

A. BSc Microbiology is a very interesting course, teaching students about the various roles micro organisms can play in the human body, including both their disadvantages as well as benefits. After completing this course, one may work in the hospital, in areas like pathological testing. However, to gain more expertise and be able to take up advanced research, it is always advised to pursue a Master’s, and maybe also a Ph. D in the subject.

Q. Is a B.Pharm degree necessary to become a Drug Inspector?

A. Yes, a B.Pharm degree is essential to pursue a career as a Drug Inspector. The post of a Drug Inspector is controlled by the “Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1945”, according to which a degree in B.Pharm is one of the minimum eligibility requirements to become a Drug Inspector.

Read more - Career options after 12th Science PCB

Q. What are the options in Pharmacy as a career?

A. Pharmacy is a wonderful space; it depends on the passion of each student how far they go. A graduate in B.Pharm may start as a manufacturing chemist, quality control chemist, or as a pharma marketing person, and gradually grow in his career. One may find work opportunities across multiple industries such as pharmaceuticals, food, cosmetics, and so on. Several government positions are also available for pharmacists, as well as options overseas. B.Pharm is a 4-year UG course after 10+2, and students may further add value with a postgraduate degree.

Q. What is the scope of Life Sciences as a career option?

A. Life Sciences is indeed the future. Today, people having a BSc Biotechnology; BSc Microbiology; BSc Molecular Biology; etc. are all Life Sciences graduates. Experts in the Life Sciences are usually engaged in extensive research on living beings, and are often those working at the backend to support innovations and breakthroughs in medical science.

Pursuing an MSc is an added advantage, since that makes a person explore the comprehensive field of Life Sciences more in depth, as a researcher, academician, and so on. National-level laboratories like the ICMR, Drug Research Institute, National Institute of Immunology, etc. hire Life Sciences graduates to work in the hospital systems.

Read more - Career options after 12th Science PCM

Q. Why is there a growing need for management professionals within the healthcare sector?

A. Since the healthcare sector is growing manifold; it needs the support of management professionals for smoother functioning. Although the doctor is always the boss of the hospital system, other important functions such as managing finances, purchases, and so on, might be carried out more effectively by management professionals. Hence, many universities these days, including JSS Academy of Higher Education, are offering BBA and MBA courses in Hospital Administration. The BBA in Hospital Administration is a great option for PCB students who do not wish to study pure sciences or medicine in college, yet want to stay a part of the healthcare setup in the long run.

Further, one may choose to work as a healthcare consultant, healthcare finance manager, hospital administrator, pharmaceutical manager, blood bank administrator, etc.

Very commonly, doctors who choose to set up their own nursing homes and hospitals, whether independently or in collaboration with other doctors, need the support of experts in hospital administration to ensure that the management aspect of the venture is taken care of well.

Also read- BBA in Hospital Administration- Colleges in India

Q. What are the career prospects after BAMS?

A. Bachelor’s in Ayurveda Medicine and Surgery is a wonderful field, given that the aspirant himself believes in the system. It is suggested to all students pursuing courses in Indian systems of medicine (AYUSH courses), that they must take up this field only if they genuinely believe in the systems, and not because these were the only options they had. This is an essential factor to success in the practice of any traditional Indian system
of medicine.

Q. As an undergraduate course, how can we understand BSc better?

A. For better understanding, we may split the types of BSc courses into three:

BSc in subjects like biomedical sciences or medical lab technology, which lead to the development of a particular type of skill that can be practised within a hospital setup, even just after graduation.

BSc in Life Sciences (microbiology; biotechnology; etc.) which helps in creating an in-depth understanding of the different types of living organisms.

BSc in Natural Sciences (physics, chemistry, geoinformatics, etc.), which are required for pursuing further specialisations like space research, astrophysics, and so on.

BSc is a great course for getting a foothold in science, but to become a professional in any field, a person would usually need to pursue a Master’s or any other professional degree, such as a B.Ed to become a teacher of the subject.

Read more - Courses After 12th PCB

Q. How can a student pursue a career in Forensic Sciences?

A. Forensic Science is a great career, related to analysing materials that are associated with non-ethical activity, such as harming an individual, self-inflicted harm, food poisoning, etc. Forensic scientists are now required by the law and justice system, big-scale laboratories, and this subject has applications even in accountancy and auditing.

In India, opportunities are still emerging, but it is a highly lucrative career abroad.

Also read- Career as a Forensic Scientist

Q. What are the growth opportunities for someone pursuing a career in nursing?

A. One of the perceived drawbacks of a career in nursing is the apparent stagnation that people feel often occurs in the career. A person with a BSc Nursing degree may later choose to pursue a specialisation like operation theatre technology, or even an MBA in hospital administration. The concept of “Practitioner Nurse” has been lately gaining a lot of popularity, wherein, qualified nurses provide nursing care to patients at the comfort and convenience of the latter’s homes. For a career like nursing, all that we need to do is get rid of certain mental blocks surrounding it, and evaluate it with an
open mind.

Dr. B. Suresh,

Pro Chancellor, JSS Academy of
Higher Education & Research, Mysuru

Veterinary Science might be a very interesting career option. Vet food is a big business these days, and there is also a great demand for veterinary scientists in research involving animals. Hence, options for veterinary scientists are growing beyond just treating animals

Q. Does nutrition and dietetics have a good scope?

A. One of the major challenges that is rising in India is lifestyle diseases, because our work in the pandemic has become passive and people’s lifestyles are becoming more sedentary. After the pandemic ends, there is likely to be a great need for people who can advise people into getting back to a healthy and active lifestyle. These people are certainly dietitians and nutritionists. Also, the elderly are often put under the care of dietitians, in order to ensure the best of physical health for them as they age. Dietitians and nutritionists can find multiple opportunities in the hospital system, food industry, fitness industry, and can even run their own practice.

Also read- Nutrition and Dietetics courses

Q. What are the future prospects in physiotherapy?

A. Physiotherapy is one of the widely demanded paramedical services, not just within the hospital set up, but also in sports and athletics. Physiotherapists are skilled in providing scientific physical attention to patients and sportspersons, such that any discrepancy in their physical functioning can be rectified and efficiency in the person’s functioning can be retained.

Q. What kind of a future beholds for a field like Environmental Sciences?

A. Environmental Sciences is a constituent of the sustainable goals that are put forward by the UN. Every manufacturing industry these days has to evaluate both the amount of benefit and harm they are causing to the environment, for which they need to recruit experts in Environmental Sciences. Students who have a strong inclination towards PCB subjects, as well as a genuine love for the environment, can definitely look at Environmental Sciences as a
prospective career.

Q. What are the opportunities for BDS graduates?

A. Bachelor of Dental Surgery (BDS) is one of the most promising career options in the medical industry after Class 12. It is a well-designed undergraduate program that is widely taken up by PCB students. All those students who opt to pursue a career in this course are nurtured to understand the foundation of a denture, dental problems, and surgery. The course duration for BDS is four years, followed by the one-year rotational internship. A BDS can be followed by an MDS, for the practitioner to gain expertise in a particular field of dentistry and thereby look at more lucrative career opportunities.

An advantage for medical and paramedical professionals is that apart from looking for jobs, setting up their own practice and working independently is always an option for them, and this holds absolutely true for dental practitioners too.

Q. What are some of the factors a student must keep in mind while choosing a college to pursue a course like B.Tech in Nanotechnology or B.Tech in Biotechnology?

A. When choosing to pursue a course like this, students must always try to get into a university that has an active health sciences department as well. Otherwise, they might get only theoretical knowledge and remain devoid of any practical exposure to their subjects.

Also read- B. Tech in Nanotechnology

Q. What are the course and career options for a student who wishes to pursue Biomedical Sciences?

A. A student interested in Biomedical Sciences may choose from a variety of course options, depending on his interest, merit and other such determining factors. Some of the options could be, BSc in Medical Lab Technology; BSc in Medical Renal Dialysis Technology; BSc in Cardiac Care Technology; BSc in Medical Respiratory Care Technology; BSc in Emergency Medicine, and so on. These professionals actively support physicians and surgeons, and are an inevitable part of medical practice. For instance, a cardiac care technologist would work alongside a cardiologist and assist the latter with surgical procedures. Similarly, experts in emergency medicine usually work in the critical care departments of hospitals.

Students pursuing BSc in Biomedical Sciences can start working immediately after graduation (three years plus one year of internship) and earn handsome salaries.

Q. What are some of the Life Sciences courses a PCB student can pursue?

A. Life Sciences experts usually work at the backend, and engage in extensive research that supports or often even leads to major breakthroughs and innovations in the medical industry. For e.g., tremendous efforts of microbiologists and biotechnologists across the world contributed to the development of the Covid-19 vaccines.

Some of the Life Sciences courses a PCB student could pursue are those in Microbiology; Biotechnology; Environmental Science; Food, Nutrition and Dietetics; and even Psychology. With mental health gaining much-deserved acceptance and people becoming more open to seeking help for mental health issues, psychologists are in great demand across various sectors, be it hospitals, corporates, schools, sports etc. After BSc, students may follow it up with a Master’s program in any of the subjects of their choice, such as Geoinformatics; Microbiology; Cosmetic Science; Nanoscience and Technology; Nutrition and Dietetics, and so on. A Master’s degree will help students gain advanced knowledge and more expertise, thereby opening up doors to careers like medical statistician, nanotech scientist, environmental scientist, bioinformatics analyst, nutritionist etc.

Q. What are AYUSH programs?

A. AYUSH programs belong to Indian systems of medicine. The acronym AYUSH stands for Ayurveda, Yoga, Unani, Siddha, and Homeopathy. A student interested in AYUSH programs might choose to pursue any of the following courses:

• Bachelor’s in Ayurveda Medicine and Surgery (BAMS)
• Bachelor’s in Naturopathy and Yogic Sciences (BNYS)
• Bachelor’s in Unani Medicine and Surgery (BUMS)
• Bachelor’s in Siddha Medicine and Surgery (BSMS)
• Bachelor’s in Homeopathy Medicine and Surgery (BHMS)

AYUSH courses are for five and a half years, and aspirants may top it up with a 3-year Master’s degree. There is undoubtedly a growing demand for AYUSH practitioners, since people are getting back to believing in the Indian systems of medicine and the effectiveness of their application. However, students who choose to pursue these courses must do so only for their sheer interest in the course, and not take them as a fall-back option in cases they don’t get through an MBBS course. Only then they are likely to flourish in their careers and also work as accountable medical practitioners.

Q. What is the future likely to be for a student pursuing BSc Genetics?

A. BSc Genetics is a great course for those who are interested in it, since the incidence of genetic disorders, also called ‘Rare Diseases’ has been on a steep rise. There are more than 22,000 rare diseases that medical practitioners have discovered, and more people are needed to pursue research surrounding this. Also, for example, every drug, be it one as common as paracetamol or a drug for a typical disease like cancer has a different reaction inside the body of each person who consumes it, because every body is likely to have a different genetic structure from the other. This is called pharmacogenomics, and requires experts in this area to have in depth knowledge of genetics.

Career opportunities for a student with BSc Genetics might multiply if they top it up with MSc in Medical Genetics.

Q. Can an AYUSH practitioner do surgery?

A. The Indian government has recently given Ayurveda practitioners permission to carry out certain surgeries, including orthopaedics, ophthalmology, general surgery, and ENT. This shall be inclusive of procedures like removal of benign tumours, cataract etc.

Q. What is an MBA in Pharmacy Administration/MBA Pharmaceutical Management all about?

A. MBA in Pharmacy Administration/Pharmaceutical Management is a specialised program for students or professionals, who wish to understand the management aspect of the pharmacy industry. This course talks about how the various processes related to managing a pharmacy are carried out, right from sourcing of materials to manufacturing, to managing the finances and human resources. The processes and challenges encountered can be quite typical since the field relates to human life, and has its own sensitivities that need to be addressed from time to time.

Q. What is the scope of career options like Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Sciences?

A. Both Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Sciences are exciting career options, with an evidently growing demand. However, certain misconceptions often hinder interested students from pursuing this career path in Agricultural Sciences. In reality, agricultural scientists are recruited in large numbers by food companies across the globe, as they are working increasingly on concepts like food security, and need the expertise of agricultural scientists for the same. Agricultural Sciences is in no way limited to only taking up farming, or a redundant government job.

Similarly, for those who love working around and for animals, and also have an inclination towards PCB subjects, Veterinary Science might be a very interesting career option. Vet food is a big business these days, and there is also a great demand for veterinary scientists in research involving animals. Hence, options for veterinary scientists are growing beyond just treating and curing animals
of diseases.