The public health sector offers a diverse range of career opportunities. With all the options available, you can apply a master’s degree in public health to a specialty that makes use of your talents and is in line with your passions. These five careers not only provide a good salary but also give you the chance to help people improve their health.
Health Educator
Current trends and fads so often contradict each other that the general public is in a constant state of confusion about how to be truly healthy. Health educators work with the public and within organizations to empower individuals to take charge of their own well-being by becoming discerning consumers of health information. Working in this field means it’s your job to untangle the web of faulty “facts” and deliver solid, research-based advice that people can use to make educated choices. You may create materials such as health guides or handouts to provide further assistance.
Nutritionist
Similar to health educators, nutritionists work with individuals or groups to help them on the journey to better health. Nutritionists focus on the benefits of making proper food choices and may also design meal plans for people with specific dietary needs. Some professionals in this field run private practices. Others work in doctor’s offices, hospitals or even grocery stores, providing nutrition services to patients and the public. The current focus on corporate wellness has also created a demand for nutritionists in the business sector as employers seek to improve the health of the workforce through onsite incentive programs.
Pharmacist
According to the Mayo Clinic, almost 70 percent of the American population is taking at least one prescription medication. Many take more than that, especially older adults managing multiple health concerns. Pharmacists not only dispense these medications but also provide information about potential side effects and alert patients to any risks of interactions between prescriptions. This requires a thorough knowledge of the drugs currently on the market, what conditions they’re commonly used for and how they work. Pharmacists may also offer information about immunizations, provide health screenings or answer patients’ health questions.
Epidemiologist
If you prefer to study diseases rather than treat them, you may choose to apply your public health degree to a career in epidemiology. This field involves studying the causes of common diseases and public health concerns. Heavy on research, epidemiology focuses on figuring out why people are unhealthy and what can be done to develop solutions to the most pressing problems in public health. These solutions can help a great number of people avoid serious health consequences by giving healthcare providers actionable, scientifically backed plans to address the diseases they see most often in their patients.
Biostatistician
Another research-heavy discipline, being a biostatistician involves a lot of time crunching numbers that relate to public health. Using existing data, people in this field analyze the current state of health in a population to discover which areas should be given top priority. After determining what further data is necessary to address these areas, biostatisticians design experiments to gather that information. The results are sorted and interpreted to determine the best course of action to support public health. This process may be used in disease research, to develop health policies or in the pharmaceutical industry to create new products.
Choosing a public health specialty that’s in high demand offers a great deal of potential for growth. As you continue to learn more about the field by working with people and studying data, you’ll become even better equipped to deliver high-quality health care that saves lives.
Additional Resource: Top 10 Best Online Health Science Degree Programs
