Many dream of wearing a white lab coat and hanging a stethoscope around their neck. But, does that mean they are confined to traditional medical professions like surgery, nursing, pediatrics, and dentistry? Not quite. There are a variety of unheard of careers in the medical field that deal with important health issues.

1. Cardiac Perfusionist – Love surgery but afraid of the scalpel? Good with mathematics and technology? This might be the way to go. While open heart surgery goes on, a cardiac perfusionist manages the machine that pumps blood through the body, acting as a heart when the real one is getting work done. The annual salary is between $70,000 and $90,000, and the demand for this specialist is growing.
2. Dosimetrist – For those comfortable around radiation, and who have a creative outlook, this profession offers excellent pay and rewarding outcomes. A dosimetrist works with radiation treatments and therapies, mostly with cancer patients. They work closely with oncologists, help determine the most effective treatment, and make between $81,000 and $112,000 a year.
3. Cytotechnologist – This job takes guts and steady hands. A cytotechnologist prepares, evaluates, and runs tests on tissue samples that could, and often do, contain disease or hazardous substances. This requires expertise in the area of medical equipment such as microscopes, chemicals, and other testing equipment. It’s a research job, but it definitely gets down and dirty. Plus, the pay goes up tp $83,000.
4. Orthotist – If there are bone specialists, eye specialists, brain specialists, heart specialists, then there has to be a muscle specialist. That’s the orthotist. These work with the development of muscles, creating devices for those with muscle issues, and developing treatment or physical therapy plans for patients. Salary ranges from $42,000 to $60,000.
5. Anesthesiologist – These professionals are responsible being the expert in anesthesia and other numbing agents for medical operations, surgery, certain procedures, and invasive assessments. Knowing specific rules, ratios, and being very attentive is important for the role, but it definitely pays of with an average annual salary of $232,830. So if that white lab coat and stethoscope are part of one’s dreams, a careful search of opportunities in the medical field will surely turn up a rewarding career with great importance to the public.