Dentists specialize in diagnosing and treating conditions related to the patient’s oral cavity (teeth, gums, structure). They provide education and instruction on how to take care of the oral structures as well as providing information on diet choices that may affect oral health.
Naturopathic doctors are educated and trained in accredited naturopathic medical colleges. They diagnose, prevent, and treat acute and chronic illness to restore and establish optimal health by supporting the person's inherent self-healing process. Rather than just suppressing symptoms, naturopathic doctors work to identify underlying causes of illness, and develop personalized treatment plans to address them. Their Therapeutic Order™ identifies the natural order in which all therapies should be applied to provide the greatest benefit with the least potential for damage.
Nurse practitioners provide a full range of primary, acute, and specialty health care services. They may order and interpret diagnostic tests; diagnose and treat chronic conditions; prescribe medications; manage patient care; and counsel and educate patients on disease prevention. It is common for nurse practitioners to specialize in areas such as acute care, adult health, family health, gerontology, neonatal health, oncology, pediatric/child health, psychiatric/mental health, and women's health. Additional sub-specializations are also available.
NOTE: Ithaca College does not have a bachelors of nursing (BSN) program. Our students typically complete a different undergraduate degree of interest and then apply to an "accelerated" or "direct entry" graduate nursing program (masters or doctorate) which admits students with a non-nursing undergraduate major.
Optometrists diagnose and treat diseases, injuries, and other disorders of the visual system. They examine patients, test their depth/color perception, and evaluate their ability to coordinate/focus their eyes.
Pharmacists prescribe medication to patients based on the specific medical needs of the person and educate people on the safe use of the prescriptions.
In a primary care setting, physician assistants can provide nearly all of the clinical services a physician does, such as taking medical histories, performing physical exams, ordering and interpreting laboratory tests, diagnosing and treating illnesses, assisting in surgery, and setting fractures. Physician assistants also work in specialties outside of primary care, including medical and surgical specialties and sub-specialties.
Veterinarians are doctors that treat injuries, disease, and illnesses as well as perform medical procedures on all animals (domestic, farm, or exotic animals). They also play a key role in the maintenance of an animal’s health and the education of owners on their animal’s health.
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