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What Is a Health Science Specialist and How to Become One


What Does a Health Science Specialist Do?

A health science specialist is a person that can perform many different roles in the medical field, such as laboratory research, genetic studies, disease investigation, and new treatment studies. As a health science specialist, you are more concerned with how to perform health care treatment than with actually treating patients. You may work in clinical studies, public health initiatives, and medical advancement efforts. The research you do as a health science specialist is critical for doctors and nurses to have the latest, proven methods of treating patients and diagnosing diseases. The qualifications for this career vary significantly by field, but research experience and basic lab skills are always required to complete your duties.

How to Become a Health Science Specialist

The qualifications that you need to become a health science specialist vary significantly with your exact job duties and responsibilities. You usually need a bachelor’s degree in health sciences from an accredited institution, excellent research skills, and relevant work experience in a health sciences position. If the job you are applying for is in a college or university’s health science department, you may also need some experience in college advising or educational planning. These positions rely heavily on computer reporting and data analysis, so you must have excellent computer skills. You specifically need experience with word processing and data entry software, web applications, and internet research platforms.