Do you prefer to work alone, feel uncomfortable being the center of attention or dream about a quiet afternoon rather than going out? You may be an introvert. Famous introverts such as Mark Zuckerberg or Emma Watson may have their time in the spotlight – but you won’t find them being the loudest voice in the room. If you consider yourself an introvert, rather than an extrovert, you may want to consider becoming a dental informaticist, medical laboratory scientist, forensic chemist, medical librarian or medical coder.

Dental informaticist

Dental informatics specialists look for ways to use computers and new technologies to enhance the practice of dentistry. They create theoretical models that help dental researchers test new ideas, systems and approaches. Dental informaticists study a range of important issues, including creating an electronic oral health record and compiling geographic information for dental epidemiology studies. Informaticists typically work in a team, but tend to work on tasks that are more research and technology focused. They focus on long-term projects that require patience and a strong attention to detail.

Medical laboratory scientist

Medical laboratory science professionals (also called clinical laboratory scientists or clinical laboratory technicians) are highly skilled scientists who discover the presence or absence of disease and provide data that help physicians determine the best treatment for the patient. They provide their services by working with complex biomedical technology while using high skilled manual techniques. Their tasks range from examining tissues and cells to evaluating test result accuracy and then interpreting them for physicians. They spend their time working in laboratories with technology and testing, having no direct contact with any patients.

Forensic chemist

Forensic chemists analyze non-biological trace evidence found at crime scenes in order to identify unknown materials and match samples to known substances. They also analyze drugs and controlled substances taken from scenes and people in order to identify and sometimes quantify these materials. Forensic chemists work in labs and use a variety of techniques and equipment to find information relating to a criminal investigation. Many hours are spent performing repetitive tasks and following procedures, maintaining focus throughout these procedures. This means no interruptions or distractions from others. There is one catch to this profession, and that is you may have to testify in court which means confidently talking in front of a jury and keeping calm when facing cross-examination. So, if you are an introvert that does not mind public speaking as a professional task, this can be a highly rewarding career.

Medical librarian

The tasks of a medical librarian are very similar to that of a librarian of literature. They serve on university or pharmaceutical company research teams, where they provide access to resources in a variety of formats, ranging from traditional print to electronic sources and data. They design and manage websites, blogs, distance education programs and digital libraries. They conduct outreach programs to public health departments, consumers, off-site students and unaffiliated healthcare providers. Although they work closely with a team, it is that of personnel within the library. The focus is specifically on retrieving information and working with their team to conduct outreach programs to public health departments and consumers.

Medical coder

Medical coders review medical records to assign codes and ensure that the health care providers they support are properly reimbursed for services. Physicians and hospitals depend on accurate coding to receive proper reimbursement from insurance companies or patients, making the role of the coder a valued one. They can work in just about any type of healthcare facility and can even work remotely as a contractor.  This is a detail-oriented career, and it requires understanding the doctor’s and nurse’s notes along with private paper policies.