Abbreviations
Who Does What
Where do they work?
What's the Difference
Beyond the Usual
100

HHS

What is the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services 

100

This specialist operates the heart-lung machine during open-heart surgery.

Who is a cardiovascular perfusionist?

100

Nutritionists and Dietitians are essentially the same thing. (True/False)

What is FALSE.

Registered Dietitian Nutritionists (RDNs) are food and nutrition experts with a minimum of a graduate degree from an accredited dietetics program and who completed a supervised practice requirement, passed a national exam and continue professional development throughout their careers.

100

One may design workout programs for healthy individuals looking to improve fitness, while the other is a licensed healthcare professional who evaluates injuries, provides emergency care, and guides return-to-play decisions.

What is a personal trainer and athletic trainer? 

100

This professional analyzes blood, tissue, and urine samples to help diagnose disease.

Who is a medical laboratory scientist?


200

This professional works with teams and designs strength, speed, and conditioning programs to improve athletic performance and reduce injury risk. 

What is a Strength and Conditioning Coach

200

This healthcare professional works with issues related to swallowing.

(ANY of these)

Who are: Speech-Language Pathologists, Registered Dietitian Nutritionists, or Occupational Therapists

200

This health professional works in community health programs, wellness initiatives, and disease prevention without necessarily earning a clinical graduate degree.

Who is a Health Educator

200

A patient has recovered physically from a stroke and can walk independently. However, they still struggle to prepare meals, manage medications, and get dressed without assistance. Which rehabilitation professional would likely take the lead?

What is an occupational therapist? 


"problem-driven vs. protocol-driven)

200

This position manages the critical care transport arm of a healthcare organization.

Who is Flight Program and Critical Care Operations Manager

300

This part of the US Department of Health and Human Services is considered the nation's medical research agency. 

What is NIH (National Institutes of Health)

300

These professionals take and interpret X-rays in their offices and commonly treat musculoskeletal conditions without surgery.

What is a Doctor of Chiropractic Medicine (DC)

300

When a person is exposed to a potentially harmful chemical, medication, or environmental substance, this scientist studies how the substance affects the body and helps determine whether it poses a health risk.

What is a toxicologist?

300

Both careers can be pursued with a bachelor's degree and involve working directly with patient information. One primarily collects and manages health data for quality improvement and electronic medical records, while the other works with physicians and patients to organize clinical trials. Name both careers.

What are a Health Informatics Specialist and a Clinical Research Coordinator?

300

This healthcare professional uses ultrasound to visualize the heart.

Who is a cardiac sonographer? 

400

Both complete dental school, but one spends additional years specializing in tooth movement while the other specializes in diseases affecting the tissues that support teeth.

Who are Orthodontists and Periodontists? 


General Dentist: DDS or DMD

Orthodontist: DDS or DMD with specialty training

Periodontist: DDS or DMD with specialty training 

400

A patient experiences chronic dizziness, ringing in the ears (tinnitus), and progressive hearing loss. This specialist performs hearing and vestibular (balance) testing to help diagnose the problem and recommend treatment options.

Who is an audiologist?

400

Dietitians work in these types of settings. 

What is: 

Hospitals, food companies, private practice, health care facilities, foodservice, athletics, nutrition-related businesses, grocery stores, restaurants, universities, schools, correctional facilities, pharmaceutical companies, professional sports, public health settings, community services, fitness facilities, government....

400

Two providers enter the exam room. Both can diagnose your strep throat, order a throat culture, prescribe an antibiotic, and write a referral to an ENT specialist. The biggest difference is not what they can do today, but the educational model on which they were trained.

Who are a Nurse Practitioner and Physician Assistant?

NPs have a credential as a Registered Nurse before advanced training to become a nurse practitioner. Physician Assistant / Associate is a graduate degree that follows the medical model rather than the nursing model. 

400

This professional designs and fits artificial limbs and braces.

Who is an orthotist/prosthetist? (O&P)

500

"Doctor" is abbreviated as ____ as refers to _______.  

What is.... It depends on what the "doctor" is next to! 

MD / DO: medicine

DDS / DMD: dentistry

DPT: physical therapy

PsyD: psychology

PhD: independent researcher

DAT: athletic training

DNP: nurse practicioner

PMSc / DPA / DScPAS: physician assistant 


500

This career is often considered the fastest route to become a surgeon. 

What is Doctor of Podiatric Medicine?

DPMs focus on prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of the foot, ankle, and lower leg. 

500

This healthcare professional may be employed by companies to educate clinicians about products such as implants, prosthetics, or monitoring equipment and often has a science or health-related bachelor's degree.

Who is a Medical Device Sales Representative

500

Both complete four years of medical school, pass national licensing exams, complete residency training, and can practice medicine and perform surgery. However, one receives additional training in manipulative treatment and emphasizes a whole-person approach to patient care.

Who is a Doctor of Osteopathy? 

Osteopathic Medicine (DO) versus Allopathic Medicine (MD)

500

 During a disease outbreak, this professional tracks cases to identify patterns and determine who is at greatest risk.

Who is an epidemiologist?

This professional studies how diseases spread through populations and focuses on populations rather than a single patient. 

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