STEM Connections
This branch of STEM focuses on living organisms, diseases, body systems, and how the body functions.
What is science/biology
This professional investigates diseases by examining tissues, cells, and other biological evidence.
What is a pathologist
This educational pathway generally requires completing a college program and earning an associate, bachelor's, master's, or doctoral credential.
What is a degree
This career-exploration activity allows a student to observe a professional performing their job.
What is job shadowing
A skill involving analyzing information and determining what the evidence means is especially important in scientific careers.
What is critical thinking/analysis
A pathophysiology professional might use this STEM area to analyze patient data, calculate percentages, or interpret laboratory results.
What is mathematics
This career uses laboratory testing to help identify diseases and abnormalities in patient specimens.
What is a medical laboratory scientist/technologist
This pathway typically demonstrates that a person has developed specific knowledge or skills in a particular occupational area.
What is a certification
This involves guidance and advice from an experienced person working in a career field.
What is mentorship
A scientist uses a spreadsheet to organize laboratory results and identify trends. What STEM skill is being demonstrated?
What is data analysis
Medical imaging systems, prosthetic devices, diagnostic equipment, and drug-delivery systems demonstrate how this STEM field helps solve healthcare problems.
What is engineering
A student is interested in studying how medications interact with the body and how drugs can be developed to treat disease.
What is a pharmacology/pharmaceutical career
This pathway combines structured training with supervised, hands-on workplace experience.
What is an apprenticeship
A student finds a healthcare job posting. Name two pieces of information the student should examine before deciding whether the opportunity is appropriate.
Possible answers include:
A biomedical engineer must design a device that solves a healthcare problem while considering safety and effectiveness. What major STEM skill is being used?
What is problem-solving/engineering design
Electronic health records, laboratory analyzers, artificial intelligence, medical imaging, and wearable monitors are examples of this STEM area.
What is technology
A professional studies how diseases develop at the cellular and molecular level and may work with genetic or molecular testing.
What is a molecular biology/genetics-related career
Which pathway would generally be most appropriate for a student who wants extensive academic preparation for a research career that may require advanced scientific study?
What is a college degree pathway, potentially followed by graduate education
A website claims that a particular STEM career requires a specific certification. What should a student do before accepting the information as accurate?
Evaluate the source and verify the information using reliable sources, such as an official professional organization, educational institution, licensing board, or government career resource.
A pathophysiology researcher must explain research findings to scientists, healthcare professionals, and sometimes the public. Name two important skills.
Possible answers:
A scientist studies disease mechanisms, an engineer designs a diagnostic device, a technologist operates the equipment, and a mathematician analyzes the data. Together, these demonstrate what important STEM concept?
What is interdisciplinary collaboration
A student wants a career that combines disease research, laboratory investigation, data analysis, and development of new diagnostic or therapeutic approaches. Name one possible STEM career.
Possible answers: Biomedical scientist, biomedical engineer, research scientist, molecular biologist, epidemiologist, clinical laboratory scientist, or another appropriately justified career.
A student says, "I want to become a healthcare professional, but I don't know whether I need a degree, certification, or apprenticeship." What should the student do first?
What is research the specific career's education, training, licensing, and certification requirements
You are investigating a biomedical career. You find three websites with different education requirements. Describe a strategy for determining which information is most reliable.
Compare the sources, check the date, identify who published the information, look for official or authoritative sources, and verify requirements through professional organizations, colleges, licensing agencies, or government career resources.
A student researches a career and discovers that workers must collect data, operate laboratory equipment, interpret results, document findings, follow safety procedures, and communicate with a team. What does this information describe?
What are work activities and occupational skills?