Make a Difference by Choosing a Public Health Career
BY Erika N. Davis, Ph.D. | 5 MIN READ
Have you ever tried to prevent a problem from starting or stop it from happening again? That is the everyday mission of public health professionals—and according to the CDC Foundation, that mission is essential to protecting and improving the health of people and communities on a neighborhood, city, state, national and even global scale.
Choosing a career in public health is a great way to make a difference by improving and potentially saving people’s lives. Public health jobs offer opportunities for those who are passionate about making a tangible impact.
What Do Careers in Public Health Involve?
Careers in public health focus on protecting and improving the health of entire communities rather than treating individual patients. The work is broad, multidisciplinary and collaborative. Here are some of the things public health professionals might do:
- Promote healthy lifestyles
- Conduct research
- Protect our environment
- Address social determinants of health
- Control the spread of chronic and infectious diseases
- Reduce the number of accidents and violence
- Work to create laws and regulations that support public health equity
Public Health and Government Policy
Public health is greatly influenced by policy. Government decisions—whether about insurance, special education or access to healthy food—can impact health outcomes. For example, you may have tried to access a critical piece of data or research and are unable to find it. Or perhaps you sought services for a loved one, only to discover they’re no longer covered by insurance. These moments reflect how policy decisions greatly impact public health.
And then there are the more visible impacts, such as the widespread effects of communicable diseases like COVID-19. These experiences remind us that protecting the health of the public is personal and vital.
Public health professionals are especially important in today’s U.S. policy climate because the country is facing complex, overlapping challenges that require evidence-based, population-level solutions. Some of the challenges include widening health inequities, a rise in chronic disease, the spread of health misinformation, and a strained health care system.
Building a Public Health Workforce
Public health professionals and leaders are especially crucial now because the public health challenges we are facing require scientific expertise, clear communication, and solutions focused on prevention and equity.
There is a current need for a larger public health workforce due to around 40,000 workers leaving their jobs between 2009 and 2021. Now more than ever, universities must invest in rigorous and thorough public health programs that prepare students to address emergency preparedness, acute disease prevention, epidemiology, health policy, biostatistics, infectious diseases, and social and behavioral health issues.
Public health is a field that requires adaptability, critical thinking and collaboration. Professionals in this space work alongside government agencies, health care providers, and community organizations. Public health programs that offer the opportunity to partner with students in other fields and participate in simulations, civic engagement and research initiatives are valuable.
Benefits of a Public Health Career
No matter your career path—whether as a nurse, physician, business owner, attorney, teacher, or social worker—public health jobs play a critical role in shaping the lives of individuals in your community and across the globe. Many fields in public health are projected to grow significantly over the next 10 years. Below is a list of jobs within the public health workforce that are all expected to see faster-than-average job growth, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, including:
- Biostatistician: Median Pay $108,627
A biostatistician designs studies and analyzes data so communities, agencies and policymakers can make evidence-based decisions about population health.
- Epidemiologist: Median Pay $83,980
An epidemiologist investigates the causes of diseases and other health-related conditions, as well as how they spread and how they can be controlled in order to help with education and policy decisions that protect communities.
- Environmental Scientist and Specialist: Median Pay $80,060
Environmental scientists and specialists conduct research on environmental issues to help protect natural resources and human health.
- Public Health Administrator: Median Pay $61,633
A public health administrator plans, manages and evaluates programs, people and budgets to ensure public health services are delivered effectively and efficiently to communities.
- Community Health Worker: Median Pay $51,030
Community health workers help connect people with resources that support wellness.
Change the Future with a Public Health Degree
At Elmhurst, we offer both undergraduate and graduate public health degree programs. The Master of Public Health (MPH) program is fully online, providing adult learners with the flexibility to complete their coursework from any location so they can gain the skills, knowledge and experience to navigate today’s complex health landscape.
Graduates from the Elmhurst MPH program can apply for the MBA Option—an additional one-year program that enables them to earn an MBA with a specialization in public health.
If you’re ready to make a difference in the lives of others and become a leader in public health, fill out the form below to request more information about Elmhurst’s MPH Program.
