<p>Hey I'm probably not going to go into a medical career but one thing that fascinates me, is curing disease, what profession should you become if this is what you want to do in life. What should you major in? Where should you work? What would your job title be? Can anyone give me some answers to these things.</p>
<p>You mean like coming up with new drugs, or new vaccines, or starting public health initiatives to either lower or eradicate the incidence of a problem?</p>
<p>I guess I don't know exactly what you are hoping for when you say that you're not going into a medical career but want to cure disease - there's really no way to do that without being involved in the medical field.</p>
<p>If you don't think you want to be a doctor, there are other options. Namely research, but you could also do other things like get your Masters in Public Health (MPH).</p>
<p>For the research possibilities - you're probably going to want to major in something like biology or biochemistry. Depending on your school there may be particular focus areas such as genetics, microbiology, or cellular biology. I'd say just go with what you're interested in. You'd then need to apply to graduate schools in a similar sort of fields. If you really want to focus on the biomedical side of things, you'll probably want to look for graduate programs that are based at University Medical Centers rather than just at some random university. Those at a medical center are likely to be much more focused on the disease processes and how your research will affect a disease compared to a regular university environment.</p>
<p>Here's an example of a Medical Center with a graduate college:
<a href="http://app1.unmc.edu/gradstudies/index.cfm?L1_ID=1&CONREF=9%5B/url%5D">http://app1.unmc.edu/gradstudies/index.cfm?L1_ID=1&CONREF=9</a></p>
<p>Your options after getting your phd include doing more research in an academic setting or going to work for one of the many biomedical research companies or pharmaceutical industry - depending on what your PhD is in.</p>
<p>The other option is to get a MPH and deal with more prevention orientated approaches.</p>
<p>No one really "cures" anything. Doctors assist in "curing" by giving medications etc etc, but most "curing" is done by the body itself or with the assistance of medications. But there is nothing a doctor can directly do that will definitely cure things. Odds are medications will help, but the body has to do it by itself.</p>
<p>Not entirely true bigndude. There are a number of drugs which are bactericidal. Not as many as those which are bacteristatic (preventing further population growth allowing the body to catch up immunologically). </p>
<p>It could also be argued that many anti-cancer agents are curative as well. </p>
<p>I'd also say that the rabies vaccine "cures" - but then we're starting to get into the difference between infection and disease, which are distinct processes...</p>
<p>Many surgeries are also curative...transplant surgeries are a good example, but there are plenty of others. Of course transplants open up a number of other co-morbidities, but the initial disease process can be relieved.</p>
<p>It all depends on what you define as cure. With drugs for bacteria, the drug is helping with the curing, but its not doing 100% of the curing. And the doctor isnt the one inside doing curing, the prescribed medication is. To me thats not really curing disease, to others it may be. I knew you were going to bring up vaccines etc, but those things don't really do 100% cures/prevention either. They are good but nothing is perfect, and nothing will guarantee cures. The body is the only thing that can cure itself, doctors just assist in various ways.
With transplants I don't considering that curing either, because usually you end with having to take anti-rejection meds etc etc. You haven't cured anything by making someone have to take those, you have however prolonged life usually, and most likely made it more comfortable, if not completely normal. But you sure as heck haven't cured everything.
To me a cure means, whatever you were sick with is 100% gone with no complications. That is very very rare as you know, and not doctor can directly cure anything. The cant do their best to help, and are usually very sucessful at it. But as far as perfect cures go, thats 1 in a million, very very rare, and no doctor can say they cure on a daily basis. They assist in curing, but to me no one cures, they only assist in curing. The only thing in my mind that can completely cure itself is the body itself.
But thats my philosophical standpoint on the issue. Others have other opinions, and they are entitled to their opinions, I have nothing against them. Whatever makes them feel happy and better. I am satisfied with assisting.</p>
<p>CH10 also leaves me unclear whether he means to cure - to remove a disease from one person - or to eradicate a la smallpox.</p>
<p>Eradication is a PhD (research) and MPH (delivery) combination.</p>
<p>Curing is clearly a directly medical field, for NPs, MDs, DOs, PAs, etc.</p>
<p>I had an interest in working with diseases and cures, so I emailed the CDC a while back. This is the response I received. </p>
<p>*Dear warblersrule86,</p>
<p>Your email describing your interest in working in the field of virology
recently reached the Special Pathogens Branch. Special Pathogens is a
part of the National Center for Infectious Diseases within the Centers
for Disease Control and Prevention. The Branch handles hemorrhagic
fever viruses such as Ebola and hantaviruses and operates a biosafety
level 4 laboratory. Members of the Branch include physicians,
epidemiologists, statisticians, microbiologists, mammalogists, health
educators and administrators. The educational backgrounds of SPB
personnel range widely: from doctorate degrees in microbiology,
medicine, veterinary medicine, and statistics; to master's degrees in
public health, and microbiology; to bachelor's degrees in numerous areas
including computer and laboratory sciences.</p>
<p>A genuine interest in public health and solid foundation in the natural
sciences are needed to be successful in this line of work. Of those who
work in the BSL4 lab, some hold a MD or DVM degree, or a PhD in
microbiology, some are certified as medical technologists, and others
have Master's or Bachelor's degrees in the biological sciences. The
present directors of the virology labs at USAMRIID and CDC, and many of
today's leading virologists, hold MD, DVM, or PhD degrees or, in some
cases, a combination of an MD or DVM with a PhD. </p>
<p>Comparing the virological work done at USAMRIID and CDC, USAMRIID is
generally more involved in studying the viruses and developing
preventive measures while CDC also tracks the spread of diseases in
human and viral host populations (epidemiology). Virologists and
laboratory personnel often move between the two institutes; and as you
can see from the list above, researchers and health professionals with
various training and experiences work in the Special Pathogens Branch,
at USAMRIID, and in other areas at CDC.</p>
<p>Included is a listing of different opportunities available at CDC and
ATSDR <a href="http://www.cdc.gov/train.htm%5B/url%5D">http://www.cdc.gov/train.htm</a>. The listing includes eligibility
requirements, a description of the opportunity, compensation, duration,
and a contact point for the program.</p>
<p>CDC and ATSDR are Federal Public Health agencies committed to the goal
of "Healthy People in a Healthy World - Through Prevention". CDC's
mission is to promote health and quality of life by preventing disease,
injury, and disability. ATSDR's mission is to prevent or mitigate
adverse human health effects and diminished quality of life resulting
from exposure to hazardous substances in the environment. Both agencies
are headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia with various field sites
throughout the country. CDC and ATSDR work with state and local health
departments; academic institutions; professional, voluntary, and
community organizations; philanthropic foundations; school systems,
churches, and other local institutions; and industry and labor to
translate new health promotion and disease prevention techniques into
improved health at every level.</p>
<p>We hope you will find this helpful in working with CDC and ATSDR to meet
your career goals. We look forward to considering you for appropriate
opportunities. Best wishes in your future endeavors.*</p>