Healthcare & Life Sciences
Rooted in Research
As the county’s two largest employers, Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist and Novant Health sit at the epicenter of the healthcare and life sciences sector. The healthcare industry is booming in Forsyth County thanks to an extensive network of local care providers. These medical centers offer expertise in more than 100 areas of medicine, including specialties in cancer treatment, pediatrics, neurology and more.
With excellent medical programs at Wake Forest’s School of Medicine, students are fast-tracked to successful careers in healthcare and related fields. The Wake Forest Institute for Regenerative Medicine is an international leader in translating scientific discovery into clinical therapies. Its interdisciplinary team of about 400 researchers works to engineer replacement tissues and organs, and develop healing cell therapies. WFIRM also fosters innovation through shared lab space, allowing companies like ProKidney to grow their research and biomanufacturing operations here. New innovators like Javara Research, focused on integrating clinical research within the healthcare ecosystem, and KeraNetics, the global leader in keratin medical products, are also thriving in Winston-Salem’s innovative ecosystem.
Facts & Rankings
1300+
Degrees Awarded to Forsyth County Graduates (2022)
42998
Employed in Forsyth County
21%
of Forsyth County Employment is in this Industry Family (2024)
+4%
of Employment Growth in the Past 5 Years
Is Healthcare & Life Sciences the Right Industry for You?
You may be interested in the healthcare industry if you have a passion for making a difference in others’ lives. Skills needed to thrive in the healthcare industry include communication, empathy, attention to detail, and critical thinking. As medical technologies continue to expand, employees in this field will want to increase technical proficiencies, in addition to requirements related to ethics and safety.
Below are some of the most in-demand Healthcare & Life Science jobs in Forsyth County
Careers in Healthcare & Life Sciences
With two of the largest healthcare providers in the country located in Forsyth County, jobs in this sector are among the fastest growing in the area.
Descriptions Source: O*Net
Registered Nurse
Registered nurses assess patient health problems and needs, develop and implement nursing care plans, and maintain medical records. Administer nursing care to ill, injured, convalescent, or disabled patients. May advise patients on health maintenance and disease prevention or provide case management. Licensing or registration required.
$68,400- $105,900
Bachelors Degree
Medical & Health Service Managers
Medical & Health Service Managers plan, direct, or coordinate medical and health services in hospitals, clinics, managed care organizations, public health agencies, or similar organizations.
$79,400- $227,400
Bachelors Degree
Nurse Practitioners
Nurse Practitioners diagnose and treat acute, episodic, or chronic illness, independently or as part of a healthcare team. May focus on health promotion and disease prevention. May order, perform, or interpret diagnostic tests such as lab work and x rays. May prescribe medication. Must be registered nurses who have specialized graduate education.
$104,500- $164,700
Masters Degree
Certified Medical Assistants (CMA)
Certified Medical Assistants perform administrative and certain clinical duties under the direction of a physician. Administrative duties may include scheduling appointments, maintaining medical records, billing, and coding information for insurance purposes. Clinical duties may include taking and recording vital signs and medical histories, preparing patients for examination, drawing blood, and administering medications as directed by physician.
$33,600- $47,200
Credential
Certified Nursing Assistants (CNA)
Certified Nursing Assistants provide or assist with basic care or support under the direction of onsite licensed nursing staff. Perform duties such as monitoring of health status, feeding, bathing, dressing, grooming, toileting, or ambulation of patients in a health or nursing facility. May include medication administration and other health-related tasks. Includes nursing care attendants, nursing aides, and nursing attendants.
$25,700- $38,100
Credential
Get Trained for a Career in Healthcare & Life Sciences
Forsyth Tech
With more than 25 programs across a variety of disciplines, including Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA), Medical Assisting and Health Information Technology, Forsyth Tech has the healthcare program for you.
Salem College
Through their Health Leadership program, Salem College prepares individuals for leading the transformation of organizations and our society to make healthier and more equitable communities.
Winston-Salem State University
As the #1 HBCU Nursing School in the country, and a top 10 school for nursing in the east, WSSU’s nursing program leads to a variety of healthcare careers. WSSU graduates the greatest number of Black students into health professions in North Carolina
Wake Forest University
Wake Forest University School of Medicine has once again been recognized by U.S. News & World Report for its medical research. The 2024 edition of Best Graduate Schools ranked the School of Medicine #47 in research. In addition, the school of medicine’s PA program is ranked #16 and the Nurse Anesthesia program remains #10 in the country.