The Stages of Forging your Career in Cardiac Physiology

A Cardiac Physiologist is the person who carries out tests related to the diagnosis and treatment of heart diseases. It is a challenging and fulfilling role as a Cardiac Physiologist will always be working with new patients who present unique problems, but in many cases they get to help patients and watch them recover and improve. For many cardiac physiologists they have motives very close to their own hearts, or they just want to help the vulnerable or worried ones in their community. But how do you go about securing a future in Cardiac Physiology?

If you are considering a career in healthcare, you might think you need to start carefully choosing your subjects as early as GCSE level. In reality, the requirements are fairly open, as long as you achieve a minimum of 9 GCSEs at grade C or above, and go on to complete at least 2 A levels, ensuring one of these is a science, you should be able to apply to most degrees in healthcare science. If you’re already past this stage and don’t think you meet the necessary requirements, done fear! There are other options for pursuing this career, such as taking a science foundation degree.

The next step is to choose your undergraduate degree. It’s ideal to choose one with placement options so you gain experience while learning, rather than having to build it up later. Exeter University and it’s supporting Medical School have some great degrees on offer, a prime example being BSc Sport and Exercise Medical Sciences with Professional Training Year as you can gain that all important professional experience along the way.

Four years of study later you might think you’re ready to and go and get that job, and with the right placements and professional experience, you might just be! But many Cardiac Physiologists will have gone on to study a masters degree, which allows them to really specialise in the subject. You might want to stay close to home, but you can also search for masters degrees all over the country or worldwide to find the course that is best for you.

With the studying out of the way you’re finally ready to begin your career as Cardiac Physiologist, but where do you look for such a specific role? The chances are that by this stage you will have completed many work placements, and if you made a good impression, this is the best place to seek future employment as you already have good relationships and know what it’s like to work there. Alternatively, a professional and specialised staffing agency could guide you to a range of ideal jobs in Cardiac Physiology.

Whether you’ve just started out in the process of becoming a Cardiac Physiologist, or you’re nearing the end of your training, we congratulate you for your determination in pursuing a career in which you will dedicate yourself to others. We know it’s not always easy, but remember the positive experiences will usually outweigh the negative ones! Your community will be ever-grateful for your efforts, which will no doubt save the lives of their loved ones.