If you want to study how the body resists diseases with its immune system then Immunology is your field.  "Immunology is not yet a defined career path in South Africa, but often a sub-specialisation within existing careers. So you will need to obtain initial qualifications, such as a general scientific degree, to embark on a career in this field. You can find immunologists within the fields of medical microbiology, infectious diseases, internal medicine, biochemistry, microbiology, or even medical technology. Job qualifications may range from medical doctor to scientist to medical technologist." Cited: SA career focus, 2010.

An immunologist is an expert scientist who measures antibodies, executes blood studies, investigates transplant rejections and studies the mechanism of a patient's immune system.  Immunologists may have a clinical or a laboratory specialty. Each immunologist works with other clinical specialists to develop improved treatments for the immune system. The immunologist can be directly responsible for the clinical diagnosis and treatment of patients with immunological diseases like AIDS, allergies or leukemia using complicated molecular techniques

Immunologists destination

An immunologist may be employed by hospitals, private practices, clinical and academic research laboratories, universities, pharmaceutical industries, public health and other governmental agencies.

Sources:

• Unixl
• Nhscareers
• SAcareerfocus

Page created: 02 September 2010