Marilyn Meierhofer, a Geriatric Nurse Practitioner with HealthEast Medical Care for seniors, talks about her job.

Ian Young, a Histotechnologist in the Anatomic Pathology Department at Hennepin County Medical Center in Minneapolis, talks about his job.

Cindy Schlafmann, a physical therapist and manager at TRIA Orthopaedic Center in Bloomington, talks about her job. She discusses why she chose a career as a physical therapist, what a typical workday is like, and how her role fits into the bigger healthcare picture.

The original role for Physician Assistants was to provide healthcare in underserved rural and inner city areas. Today, the proven effectiveness of physician assistants has expanded the profession into every medical specialty, from pediatrics to psychology. Opportunities will continue to expand in this fast-growing profession.

Radiation therapists combine a lot of patient contact with technical savvy and teamwork to treat cancer and some noncancerous conditions. They work with radiation oncologists, physicists and dosimetrists to make sure patients receive the proper dosage of radiation on the exact location of each patient's body.

Registered respiratory therapists (RRTs) deal with lots of complex equipment. As everyone with a computer or cell phone knows, electronic equipment keeps getting smaller and more portable. At the same time, it offers more functions and requires more technical savvy.

Healthcare

All in a Day's Work: Tracy Meyer, a speech-language pathologist

Tracy Meyer, a speech-language pathologist at Sister Kenny Rehabilitation Institute, part of Abbott Northwestern Hospital in Minneapolis, talks about her job.

Occupational therapy assistants help patients with the physical and emotional aspects of recovery from injuries, surgery and strokes. They may also work in mental health and chemical dependency recovery programs, helping clients navigate everyday challenges.