Our system for dragonhealer rank is product of MANY hours of work and study to figure it out. All the dragonhealers in the Pern novels are riders -- for a reason. Moreta's Orlith often helped control a dragon -- after all, would you want a patient the size of a jet plane who you _couldn't_ communicate with? Riders are often unconscious, and therefore unable to assist when their lifemates are injured. No dragonhealer can progress beyond the apprentice stage without a dragon partner - they go to be beast or human healers instead. Sometimes when injuries are heavy, human healers within the Weyr aid in the stitching up of dragons, but even a Master will not attempt a major injury, such as a wing repair. No healer in the Weyr would be lacking in basic dragon healing training -- but only riders specialize in it.

The only printed resource concerning this is on p. 94 of the DLG: "The Weyr trains its own dragon healers, mostly from riders who show an aptitude and an interest in healing, though anyone with training and knowledge can help heal injured and burned dragons." This does not prohibit advancement without a dragon, but implies that Impression is necessary.

The above reasons are the basis for the assumption that dragonhealers must be dragonriders, at least to advance to journeyrank. Without dragons, they'd be JM beast healers or regular healers, and just happen to help out a bit on the injuries where the dragon and rider were capable of assisting in the process.


See Also: Dragonhealing for Journeymen Healers

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