Immunologist
Career Highlight Video
Teaching Points
Immunologists are interested in diseases that affect natural immunity. They focus on allergies, sinus infections, pneumonia and abscesses that occur repeatedly even with treatment. Immunologists include research scientists (Ph.D.) who work in laboratories. Immunologists also include physicians (M.D.) who treat patients with immune system disorders. Some immunologists are physician-scientists who combine laboratory research with patient care
Grades K-2: Every child has had an immunization shot. These are to protect them from getting certain diseases like measles and mumps. That's the job of our body's immune system and the job of immunologists to find ways to protect us from the disease. Start a discussion of only taking your medicines and not someone else's, because medicine is specialized for treating certain conditions.
Grades 3-5: When studying the body systems, especially the immune system, raise questions about why we have vaccinations, how people get sick, why some people are allergic to certain things, etc.
Grades 6-8: Have a discussion of those diseases that attack the immune system i.e. multiple sclerosis, HIV, and their long-term effects, may be appropriate for students of this age.
Suggested Reading
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Germs Make Me Sick, Melvin Berger & Marylin Hafner. 2015. Grade Level: Pre-3
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Vaccinations (My Health), Alvin Silverstein. 2002. Grade Level: 3-4
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Dr. Jenner and the Speckled Monster: The Search for the Smallpox Vaccine, Albert Marrin. 2002. Grade Level: 5-6
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Louis Pasteur and the Fight Against Germs: Life Science. Lisa Zamosky. Grade Level 3-6
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Immune System (Amazing Body Systems. Karen Kenney. 2017. Grade Level: 3-7
Additional Career Links
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U.S. Department of Labor Occupational National Institutes of Health Office of Science Education - Lifeworks® curriculum units
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American Association of Immunologists High School Teachers Program archive of curricula