Working to make this world a healthier place to live is a common goal shared by public health professionals all over the globe. From helping slow the diffusion of incorrect information about health crises to making efforts to enhance care delivery, these professionals empower communities with the knowledge to make the right health decisions.
The public health field has long-standing experience in developing policies and implementing them to improve the health of communities. Delivery of vaccinations, preventative medicine, racial equity, safe workplaces, and smoking cessation are a few examples of remarkable work of public health professionals.
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Why Consider a Master’s in Public Health?
A career in public health isn’t just a career; it’s an opportunity to establish the basis for improving healthcare access to people in need. Today, health disparity is one prevalent issue that has spelled catastrophic impacts on communities, such as increasing fatality rates and the rapid spread of diseases. Besides, insufficient access to nutrition and food insecurity are other issues that have left devastating effects on societies.
Considering the issues plaguing this field, people interested in making a difference in the healthcare sector are leaning towards a degree in public health. A degree in public health enables you to analyze health care disparities from a sociological standpoint and create solutions to these problems.
With easy access to online platforms, people are enrolling in online masters in public health to help improve the communities’ environmental, social, and economic health. The degree imparts comprehensive knowledge about health laws, ethics, and social and behavioral sciences required to address and solve health disparities among vulnerable populations. Plus, an online degree helps professionals to maintain their career momentum as it enables them to improve practical expertise while effectively managing studies.
Since the field of public health covers a diverse range of areas, there are many exciting career pathways for these degree holders. Let’s take a look at some.
- Epidemiologist
When health threats spring up, or disease outbreaks occur, epidemiologists are the ones that work at the scene to investigate and collect information meticulously. Also referred to as disease detectives, these professionals are responsible for determining the underlying causes of disease, identifying susceptible populations, and figuring out measures to prevent the spread of diseases.
Even when there’s no health crisis, these professionals work hard to foreshadow the diseases that may occur in the future and propose preventative measures. On a given day, the job duties of epidemiologists include:
- Oversee public health programs and initiatives and keep tabs on their progress
- Gather the data methodically, examine it, and present the findings in meetings with other healthcare practitioners
- Assess sterilization and disinfection methods to ensure their effectiveness against various disease pathogens
The median pay of epidemiologists was $78,830 per year as of 2021, as stated by the BLS. Also, the field is likely to grow by 30% by 2030.
- Biostatistician
Individuals who are enthusiastic about the medical field but don’t want to pursue typical healthcare roles can choose to become biostatisticians. These professionals implement mathematical and statistical techniques in real-world settings of biology, medicine, and public health to derive answers. In simpler terms, biostatisticians assist the healthcare field in making well-informed and data-driven decisions with the help of mathematical analysis.
Some of the job duties individuals may encounter as biostatisticians are:
- Study data of population vulnerable to chemical and environmental conditions to gain a better understanding of risk factors and impacts
- Contribute scientifically and strategically to clinical study protocols and integrated analysis
- Work in close collaboration with researchers and investigators to formulate, appraise, and report findings
- Draft clinical trial documents such as investigator brochures, protocols, manuscripts, and scientific abstracts
Individuals looking forward to being part of this profession can expect an average base salary of $78,065 annually.
- Medical and health services manager
This career is ideal for individuals who want to work in healthcare but don’t want to opt for bedside roles. Medical health and services managers are responsible for monitoring the entire healthcare facility or a specific department within the healthcare enterprise.
These behind-the-scenes professionals serve the needs of patients and healthcare professionals alike and ensure the healthcare organization operates without any hiccups. It’s safe to state that these managers are the moving parts of healthcare facilities.
The following are typical job responsibilities:
- Draw up budgets to improve the financial standing of healthcare organizations without compromising patient satisfaction
- Ensure each department work in compliance with legal regulations and resolve conflicts among employees
- Work closely with executives and other faculty members to devise workplace policies
As the data reported by the BLS, the 2021 median salary of these professionals was $101,340. And the field is likely to witness an astonishing growth rate of 32% by 2030.
- Occupational health and safety specialist
Occupational health and safety specialists gather data about work environments to pinpoint safety hazards, inspect workplace protocols, and examine the factors behind injuries. In addition, these professionals inspect the ventilation conditions, lighting, machinery, and equipment that can influence the employee’s safety and health.
Let’s shed some light on the day-to-day responsibilities of occupational health and safety specialists:
- Monitor installations and analyze samples of toxic chemicals such as mold and foreign residue
- Work in collaboration with field engineers to fix unstable scaffolding and prevent slip and fall accidents
- Perform risk assessments and ensure workplace procedures conform to OSHA guidelines
- Come up with safety training programs for employees and provide education about the workplace hazards and safety procedures
As revealed by PayScale, these professionals earn an average base salary of $60,650 each year.
Final Words
Public health is constantly evolving, from new trends in healthcare to new mutations of viruses. Thus, a master’s in public health can offer plenty of exciting opportunities for aspiring graduates.
The vast number of public health career pathways come under the two main groups – administrators and researchers; based on the education levels, skillset, and nature of the work. Although these categories share the same concern of enhancing the health of communities and improving healthcare access, the day-to-day duties of administrators conspicuously vary from that of researchers.
Naturally, there exists a meaningful relationship between both groups, as it’s pretty evident one cannot achieve positive results without the contribution of the other. And this, in turn, makes public health careers rewarding and more impactful.