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As we enter this new millennium, the world faces both old and new public
health challenges--the HIV/AIDS pandemic, the threat of bioterrorism, epidemics
ranging from heart disease to cancer, the health of our increasingly elderly
populations, the safety of our water and our food, and high-risk lifestyles,
like smoking and substance abuse that endanger our health. (http://www.jhsph.edu/Academics/MPH/prospect_student)
Infectious diseases, such as HIV/AIDS and tuberculosis, have the ability
to destroy lives, strain community resources, and even threaten nations. In
today's global environment, new diseases have the potential to spread across the
world in a matter of days, or even hours, making early detection and action more
important than ever. By assisting state and local health departments the Center
for Disease Control and Prevention works to protect the public every day; from
using innovative "fingerprinting" technology to identifying a food borne illness
to evaluating a family violence prevention program in an urban community; from
training partners in HIV education to protecting children from vaccine
preventable diseases through immunizations. (http://www.cdc.gov/about/default.htm)
Public health is inherently multi-disciplinary and so, too, are the
interests and expertise of faculty and students, which extend across the
biological, quantitative, and social sciences. With roots in biology, they are
able to confront the most pressing diseases of our time-AIDS, cancer, and heart
disease--by adding to the knowledge of their underlying structure and function.
Core quantitative disciplines like epidemiology and biostatistics are
fundamental to analyzing the broad impact of health problems, allowing them to
look beyond individuals to entire populations. And, because preventing disease
is at the heart of public health, one must look towards the social sciences to
better understand health-related behaviors and their societal
influences--critical elements in educating and empowering people to make
healthier lifestyle choices.
Nutrition and epidemiologic aspects of nutrition can also affect public
health. Nutrition policy and the evaluation of nutritional interventions are
long-standing interests, particularly as they concern the populations of Latin
America, Africa, Asia, and the United States. Research ranges from molecular
biology to human studies of cancer and heart disease, including the conduct of
population based intervention trials. Techniques in biochemistry, physiology,
biostatistics, epidemiology, and related fields are all relevant to health and
nutrition.
The need to understand the essential links between the social, physical,
and economic environments and the health of individual patients and their
families is vital. The areas of study represent diverse areas of interest
including family practice, epidemiology and biometry, environmental and
occupational health, nutrition, public health policy, and the social and
economic aspects of the health care system. They direct research efforts at
issues affecting the communities at large and their individuals.
Career Paths and Entry Salaries
Salaries vary widely depending on the size and
nature of the organization as well as the candidate’s level of experience.
Salaries can range between $30,000 and $75,000, with entry level salaries
for those with an advanced degree being in the $40,000-$50,000 range on average.
It is difficult to obtain ideal jobs in high-impact areas without at
least five years experience or more. Jobs in the areas which one wants to focus
in, whether health related or not, are a good place to start. When going
international, it is best and usually required to have a working knowledge and
experience outside of the field. Internships and jobs right out of school are
good ways to achieve this experience.
With the broad nature of a field like this, the career paths are varied.
Food security specialists, health educators, and program managers are just the
beginning of the need that is out there. Many of these paths will lead to jobs
around the world with varied needs and demands. Organizations like Family Health
International, Save the Children and the World Health Organization all have many
programs throughout the world to implement basic necessities in countries where
resources are scarce.
Qualifications Necessary/Application Procedures to
Enter Field
Typically fields like this require at least a master’s degree in public
health, nutrition or a related field. Depending on the nature of the work or the
area of expertise involved, some require a more focused Ph.D. The growing trend
amongst employers seems to be an expertise not only in your field but also the
region one plans to work in. Experience in international affairs relating or not
relating to the health fields is an invaluable advantage when thinking of
choosing a career of this sort in another country.
Sample Employers
·
Massachusetts Department of Health and Human Services,
http://www.state.ma.us/dma/
Demand and Future Challenges of Profession
There is a big demand for professionals in many fields domestically, and
a great need is present abroad. With new initiatives the demand for qualified
individuals is on the rise especially in impoverished lands like Africa, Asia
and the Middle East. New programs and initiatives are constantly arising through
varied organizations, whether it is to start vision testing or an HIV/AIDS
program, the international demand is an omnipresent
outcry that will not diminish.
As our domestic population ages and health care costs continue to rise,
policy issues will not disappear.
The future challenges are difficult to foresee. HIV/AIDS awareness,
prevention and control are at the top of everyone’s list along with cancer
research. Destitution and malnutrition are also challenges that are ever-present
in the areas where these fields are most needed. There is a need to promote,
maintain, and improve individual and community health by assisting individuals
and communities to adopt healthy behaviors. Also to collect and analyze data to
identify community needs prior to planning, implementing, monitoring, and
evaluating programs designed to encourage healthy lifestyles, policies and
environments. This may also serve as a resource to assist individuals, other
professionals, or the community, and may administer fiscal resources for health
education programs. (http://stats.bls.gov/oco/oco20052.htm)
Resources For More Information
Associations/Websites
·
Action
Without Borders,
http://idealist.org/
Publications (in Career Library):
Exploring Healthcare Careers,
Ferguson Publishing (2002)
Federal Jobs: The Ultimate
Guide, Dana Morgan and Robert Goldenkoff, Arco Publishing (2002)
International Career Employment Weekly,
http://www.internationaljobs.org/contents.html
This page current as of: April 24, 2008 |
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