The fictional character Dr. Derek Shepherd (more commonly known as “McDreamy”) is, of course, best known for his love affair with the star of the show, Meredith Grey. (Where are the “Grey’s Anatomy” buffs at?) After this, he is best known for his signature pre-surgery line: “It’s a beautiful day to save lives.”

For many, this line embodies the reason why they decide to go into a medical field. Not only is this career route full of prestige, but it allows for a great sense of accomplishment as it allows us to help save people’s lives, every day. A worthwhile and respectable goal to say the least.

Regardless of whether you’re already on track to studying in a medical field or are just interested in knowing more, it never hurts to investigate our options. Check out these five programs for students considering entering a career in health and medicine.

 Dentistry

A career in dentistry not only allows for a more reliable and flexible schedule (as opposed to an “on-call” doctor), but it also allows for a sense of accomplishment by changing people’s lives. Not only can dental problems cause a considerable amount of pain, but according to the Mayo Clinic, studies suggest that we may be more prone to certain diseases when certain bacteria associated with severe forms of gum disease are present.

Plus, for children going through the awkward years of trying to “fit in” a crooked smile can lead to years of unneeded self-consciousness. This is a good reason why you should consider studying Ortho at Rutgers School of Dental Medicine.

Nursing

Not only does a career in nursing bring a ton of job satisfaction and flexibility, but according to the Bureau of Labor Statists, employment for registered nurses is projected to grow by 15 percent between 2016 and 2026. This growth is expected due to the rising age of the population, the rise of chronic conditions, and the fact that there is expected to be a nursing shortage by 2020. All the more reason to consider pursuing an online nursing degree.

Tip: If you’ve already finished your nursing degree, check out ACLS certification online to make getting certified easy.

Physical Therapist

This option is quite grueling but very rewarding. As a physical therapist, you’ll be helping people regain mobility and manage pain, but will also have to study just as long as a regular doctor (about 7 years). However, once you complete the prerequisites at a four-year university, then you can complete the actual Doctor of Physical Therapy degree online. Plus, there seems to be quite a bit of job security in this field as well. According to U.S. News, the field of physical therapy will grow by 28 percent between 2016 and 2026. They also say that in 2017, the median annual salary for a physical therapist was $86,850.00.

Medical Laboratory Technician

To become a laboratory technician, you must complete two years in an approved associate’s degree program and then get certified. This career path is probably one of the easiest ways to become part of a very important diagnostic process. By helping doctors diagnose serious conditions, you could be helping save lives.

Health Care Administration

For those who may be a little squeamish when it comes to the human body, but are still interested in health care and helping people; a degree in health care administration may be the way to do it. This way, we can help people without ever seeing any blood or being around sick people. Plus, according to Glassdoor.com, the average annual base pay for a healthcare administrator is $78,378.00 (not too shabby for not even needing to get our hands bloody).