As a senior MCB major, I take advantage of every career information session I can. The Biology Career Series on Health Professions was such an event, and I found it to be extremely informative and diverse. There were five panelists, representing different educational and professional backgrounds.

Dr. Doug Larson, a perfusionist and Director of the UA Perfusion Science Program, spoke about his career in operating and maintaining instrumentation during open-heart surgeries that supports heart, lung, and kidney function. The UA two-year Masters degree program in this field leads students to become full time perfusionists or to seek other medical related degrees. Dr. Jennifer Lin, a family practitioner, incorporates acupuncture into her practice. Dr. Lin mentioned several motivations for becoming a family physician, including her desire to maintain her own family life while caring for her patients.

Diverging from the commonly sought medical fields of biology majors, Camilla Butler, RN, BSN and juris doctorate candidate, spoke about the experiences, which led her to combining a law degree with her nursing and research background. Using her medical knowledge and background, Camilla participated in an internship in Washington, D.C. where she worked on legislation aimed to end the selling of women from third world countries into prostitution, using health risks and dangers as a support. Ali McBride, MS and third year pharmacy student at UA discussed the variety of options available to pharmacy students, including pharmacology, research, and industry, as well as the common path taken by pharmacists into retail.

Dee Quinn, MS, CGC, a genetic counselor at the UA, spoke about her profession, which stemmed from her experience in nursing. As a counselor, Ms. Quinn offers support and information to patients and their families regarding birth defects, genetic diseases, and cancer inheritance.

During my educational career at UA I have learned the value in attending career information sessions, regardless of the previous knowledge I have about any career. I am very thankful for the opportunity to hear from about all the career opportunities available, and I especially enjoyed this series due to the wide variety of professions and panelists.

Syerra Henderson, UBRPer in Dr. Carol Gregorio’s lab, Cell Biology & Anatomy

Don’t miss the final Biology Career Event series of the year, Thursday, April 6 at 5:30 pm in Life Sciences South on the fourth floor. The theme of this event is Careers in Science Education, broadly defined. Panelists include Ms. Vivian Van Peenen, Education Curator for the Tucson Zoological Park; Dr. Ann Christensen, Natural Sciences Division Head at Pima Community College; Dr. Katrina Mangin, Science Outreach Coordinator for the UA College of Science and Director of the Marine Discovery Program; Ms. Alana Kurasoki Anderson, biology teacher at Salpointe Catholic High School and UBRP alum; and Mr. Roy Simpson, Ranger, Tumacacori National Historical Park and former Peace Corps volunteer, who runs a river ecology program for children. Networking and information acquisition is essential in figuring out your next educational and career moves. Biology Career Events are excellent forums for exploration. They are free and open to all interested. Dinner is included. This series is funded by a grant to the University of Arizona from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute.