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April 30, 2003
A: FROM MENTOR JOAN LUSK IN
RI
Doing science really demands good social skills, because you
have to
get people to work together. At that level, every scientist
has to
combine the science with social work. I used to joke that
being an
Associate Dean was a combination of accounting and social
work!
On a more serious note, there are jobs that explicitly combine
the
two kinds of skill. I'm thinking of genetic counseling, where
the
counselor (social work) has to explain the results of genetic
testing
(science) to patients. As medicine in general gets more and
more
sophisticated, based on more arcane science, the need for
people who
can explain it to patients and help them cope with its emotional
impact will only increase.
Hospitals often have social workers who can help patients
and their
families deal with medical problems. I think most of the time
these
people are purely social workers, but the more they understand
the
science that underlies medicine the more they can help patients
understand. (It helps _me_ when I am a patient to understand
the
science, but as a scientist myself I may be a somewhat atypical
patient - but I still think people _ought_ to want to understand!)
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A: FROM MENTOR KRISTIN TAGHON
IN IL
Hi, Allison,
The one right off the top of my head is that of psychologist,
psychiatrist and
psychobiologist.
Psychiatry is the branch of medicine that deals with mental,
emotional or
behavioral disorders. (Websters Ninth). I believe a psychiatrist
can prescribe
medicine, whereas the psychologist cannot.
Psychology is the science of mind and behavior in relation to
a particular field
of knowledge or activity. (Websters Ninth).
And finally, psychobiology is the study of mental life and behavior
in relation
to other biological processes. (also, Websters Ninth). But,this
is more
research based and you would probably not very often be dealing
with people in
need, unless they are involved in a study.
If you look in the dictionary around 'psych' you will see MANY
other types of
sciences that may interest you.
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