Public Health

Public health is dedicated to the assessment of health problems and risks, the creation of policies to solve or alleviate health problems, and the oversight and management of health care systems, including the promotion of well-being and disease prevention. Graduate programs in public health prepare candidates for successful careers in public health through an interdisciplinary approach, involving the study of both the politics and science behind health care and public health policy.

Whether investigating communicable diseases, working with the mentally ill, implementing nutrition programs, or studying policy, public health professionals strive to live up to the World Health Organization s ideal that Health is a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity."

Public Health graduate programs vary greatly in terms of academic emphasis and training, so it is important to research which programs will best fit your interests and meet your career goals. Some of the most common specialties within public health grad programs are environmental health, health education, epidemiology and biostatistics, health services, international health, disease prevention, and child health. In addition to an education focusing on their specialty, most MPH programs also address program management, policy, and public health problems. Along with traditional classroom and lab instruction, MPH students also work outside the classroom, doing field research in a range of health care environments.

Most graduate students will work toward a master s degree in public health (MPH) or a doctorate in public health (DPH). Joint degrees are possible such as a MD/MPH.; MPH/JD, MPP/MPH. (with a school of public policy), or an MPH/MSW (with a school of social work). Some graduate programs also offer a combined MPH/NP (nurse practitioner). Another option is to be a Certified Health Education Specialist (CHES).

• What is the program's emphasis or focus? What types of health issues does the basic curriculum address?
• What range of electives are offered?
• What research opportunities exist for students?
• What topics of health research does the faculty engage in?
• What opportunities exist for community involvement? Are there internships available?
• Do students have access to a wide range of health environments and facilities?
• What type of health services career do I wish to pursue after graduation? Do I want to be a community organizer, a health educator, a health administrator, or something else?
• Will the programs that I am considering give me the resources, training, and opportunities to help me achieve my career goals?

Public health professionals monitor the public s health needs, evaluate complex problems facing health care, promote healthy practices and behaviors, and try to identify environmental hazards at workplaces and in the broader community. They work in every aspect of the health care system, including the government, hospitals, health systems, universities, and private companies.

Depending on your educational focus, a degree in public health can take you in many different directions depending on where you want to go. For example, some public health graduates use their skills in administrative/management positions in health-related institutions and organizations, such as pharmaceutical companies, hospital supply firms, government agencies, or HMOs. Other MPH professionals may work in community medicine in positions such as city health planner, medical center infection control practitioner, county epidemiologist, and director of public health nursing services.

Many graduates also choose to work as public health educators, with the responsibility of planning, organizing, and directing health education programs for specialized groups or the community. Health educators work in a variety of environments, such as consumer advocacy organizations, state legislative committees, hospitals, and nonprofit organizations.

Public health professionals also work in basic and applied research. Their work addresses a range of areas and topics, including the toxicological and chemical effects of toxic wastes, the psychosocial impact of disease and injury, cancer epidemiology, the human/animal interface, the design and evaluation of clinical trials for drug therapies, studying behavioral changes to prevent disease, and alternative delivery systems of care, to name a few.

There are no licensing requirements necessary for a career in Public Health.

Due to the wide range of career options available with the MPH degree, starting salaries for MPH graduates range between $32,000 and $80,000, depending on the type of agency and the type of position held.

World Health Organization (WHO)
WHO is the United Nations specialized agency for health. It provides links to all WHO websites, information on current disease outbreaks, and all sorts of information on health topics.

American Public Health Association
The American Public Health Association has a wealth of information on the subject of Public Health as well as links to other Public Health resources.

Society for Public Health Education
The Society for Public Health Education is a professional organization for health educators.