Into the Medical Field

The medical field is a vast landscape with a multitude of professions that stem from various forms of health. These different branches of healthcare require different specialized skills for their corresponding careers, and everyone can be provided with an occupation in the medical field based upon their talents, values, and goals.

Internal Medicine Hospitalist and Vice President of Clinic at Sanford Bismarck, Dr. Mubashir Badar acknowledges the extensive curriculum medicine assumes and the opportunity that comes with it.

“When I went into medical school, I saw myself as a surgeon. Then, when we start doing rotations, you see yourself getting more involved,” Badar said. “That’s where medicine was more intriguing to me, because it was more intellectually challenging. The medical field is so vast. If you have the capability, any personality or any interest that you have, can fit in.”

Inpatient Orthopedics, Neurology, Stroke Program, and Total Joint Program Nursing Director, Samantha Richter elaborates on the opportunities available in the plane of nursing.

“If I look back on my journey as a nurse, I started as a med-surg nurse. Then, I became a little more specialized in orthopedics. Then, I was offered a job as a Clinical Care Leader in patient rehab. Now, I’m the director of nursing,” Richter said. “I’ve changed my career path every two to four years, and that happened organically. There are opportunities that you can find a niche that you love, and work your way up the clinical ladder, or you try different things and become a well-rounded nurse with many different attributes. The opportunities are endless.”

Badar thinks pursuing a career in healthcare offers intellectual and emotional challenges.

“If you like problem solving, if you like to be challenged on a day-to-day basis, this field is for you,” Badar said. “Now at the same time this comes with having to deal with sadness, breaking bad news, or unintended consequences. This field does require some amount of strength to bear that, and to be strong for somebody else when they’re at their weakest.”

Badar feels the biggest benefit from his profession is the satisfaction from helping his patients.

“Even on the tough days, where I’m seeing complicated patients, just the fact that you’re able to help one individual in their suffering or healing. That just means the world to me,” Badar said. “If you’re that individual that gets personal satisfaction from helping people, there’s no better feeling. The impact you can have is huge, and you can touch many people’s lives.”

Lead Technical Consultant of the blood bank and Medical Technologist, Kelly Guenthner feels a job in the medical field is an act of service.

“I find it incredibly satisfying to know that I am saving lives. I joke around at work, when people ask ‘are you busy?’ I’m like, ‘I’m saving lives!’ But we are, in small ways, and in large ways,” Guenthner said. “We’re a whole planet of people who have to take care of each other. You have to care for the most vulnerable people in your community, it’s an act of service.”