Health care professionals not only help cure the sick and fight disease, but also work as a team to instill policies and attitudes toward health that will benefit ordinary people around the world. At some point, biologists, pharmacists, nurses and hospital directors are all required to develop innovative ways to treat those most in need.

Professionals who succeed in these demanding roles are recognized as industry leaders and relied on for future progress. Dr Mario Burton, a director of pediatrics at the Medical University of South Carolina who has spent his entire career in healthcare, was elected president of the American Academy of Pediatrics, Independent Mail reports.

Burton established a division of community pediatrics at the University in 1991 and has been responsible for approving Medicaid policies and treatment plans for more than 930,000 low-income South Carolinians.

"This is an opportunity to serve children and my pediatric colleagues in a broader sense than I have ever been able to do before," said Burton. "I consider my election as president-elect to be an extraordinary honor personally and professionally."

The Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates that employment in the healthcare industry will increase 22% by 2016, about twice as much as employment for all industries over the same period.