public health degrees

public health degrees

The Importance of Public Health Degrees

1. Introduction

All the above requires a fairly deep understanding of health and the way it is determined, and a set of skills somewhat different from those required by medical doctors. This is not just the biomedical sciences applied to an MSc with an added extra module on ‘health’. The argument about converting medical doctors into the public health workforce and stepping up the global training of doctors is a good one, but that’s a whole different blog post. What is quite crucial is that health is everybody’s business, and most people drafting and implementing policy outside the health sector do not have a good understanding of the health impacts of their actions. Public health education has a much larger audience than medics.

There is considerable evidence and firsthand testimony from our international members that many countries value UK public health professionals in health systems strengthening and re-evaluation of current policy, both national and local. And before we try to do some good, we need to avoid doing harm. Random donation of clinical manpower and kit, described as ‘cargo cult’ by a particularly eloquent past MSc PH student, is well meant but often results in exacerbating global health inequalities and does no good for the UK either. A sound knowledge of health and, above anything else, humility are needed to set things right.

Health should be an issue of economic and social development and stability. The most important health decisions made in the UK are not health decisions; they are made by local and national government in discussing policy where health is an afterthought. Who in the UK has the most influence over the wider determinants of health for the UK and indeed the globe? Step forward the politician and the businessman. It is the interaction of political, economic, social, and cultural factors that largely determines the health policy of a nation. Public health needs to have people working in these areas who are eminently clued up on health and make sure they do it in the right direction. This implies that public health needs to infiltrate all these areas in policy and practice.

The Master of Public Health degree (MPH) has taken a battering lately from media bars, think tanks, and at least a few British-based academics. All have had a pop. With Global Health Masters becoming ever more popular, there is a sneaking suspicion that, at best, UK Public Health courses do not offer quite the right skill mix and, at worst, are failing fairly spectacularly. So, is it time to pack up and call it a day and ask the global south to run all of our country’s health policy evaluations? We need to think very carefully before giving up.

2. Benefits of Public Health Degrees

Variety and opportunity are two of the greatest benefits of public health work. It is common for public health professionals to work in both the public and private sectors. Your work can span from a local level onto a global level. Public health professionals can work internationally by health promoting with non-profit and international organizations. This type of work translates ad value into a lot of personal satisfaction in helping improve others’ lives.

Employment opportunities in public health are ample and growing. This is in part due to the initiatives to improve health at the local, national, and international levels. There is a strong demand to improve health education in general, as well as the education of public health professionals. This is manifested in the initiation of the Affordable Care Act and the goal by this administration to have it fully implemented by 2014. More healthcare is also migrating from clinical settings into communities. The US Department of Labor recently projected a growth in the need for Medical and Health Services Managers by 16% from 2008-2018. This is just one aspect of the projected growth in the health sector as a whole. Public health professionals at the level of a community health educator expect to see growth around 18%, which is much higher than the average occupation.

3. Different Specializations within Public Health

Public health itself is a very broad concept. The degree program has so much to offer in many different areas. Michigan State University has a great list and description of what students can expect when it comes to job opportunities. Epidemiology is the study of the distribution and determinants of disease in populations, the study of epidemics, and the application of this knowledge to control and prevent diseases in the population. Biostatistics is concerned with the development and application of statistical methods to the study of life and health, and problems in healthcare. Environmental health sciences seek to understand the scientific, human, and global dimensions of health problems related to environmental quality and change. Health education and behavioral science use systematic application of information and experience to encourage the adoption of health-promoting behaviors. Michigan State University also includes health management and policy, as well as occupational health and safety. With such an array of different focuses, public health can serve a purpose to all people as it has its hands involved in just about any issue concerning health. These concerns can range from anything from water or air quality to animal and human welfare. Public health is a massive part of disaster management and recovery. In 2003, there were devastating bushfires in Victoria which killed 173 people and left 414 injured. Although these fires happened nearly 10 years ago, the long-term effects that this tragedy has caused are still very predominant to those who lived through it, and to this day, people still continue to seek guidance and support. A role to improve control of one’s health is becoming increasingly prevalent in the community, and with conditions such as burns and long-term respiratory problems, public health is a big focus in aiding these victims and preventing similar events from recurring.

4. Career Opportunities with a Public Health Degree

With health being such a top priority for the world today, career opportunities with a public health degree are endless. This is a particularly good opportunity for those seeking a stable and secure career working for the greater good of humanity. According to U.S. News, many healthcare workers are being laid off or having salary cuts. But according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment opportunities for health educators and community health workers are expected to grow much faster than the average occupation. In addition, the overall employment of environmental scientists and specialists is projected to grow 15 percent over the next ten years, faster than the average for all occupations. Many governmental and non-profit organizations are also facing budget cuts. However, public health professionals will still be in high demand. This is because public health is concerned with the health of people and the communities where they live. It focuses on preventing problems before they happen or reoccur. By taking this preventive approach, there will be cost savings and a significant improvement to public health. This is why the demand is so high for public health professionals and why employment opportunities are on the rise.

One of the great features of the Public Health Degree is the fact that your career opportunities are endless, and they’re growing! There is a need for professionals with an MPH degree in many local, national and international governmental health agencies and non-profit organizations. Many find roles in the healthcare sector working at hospitals, community health centers, long-term care facilities and other patient care environments. Research is a growing field in the public health sector as well. There are possibilities in conducting research on a variety of public health issues and writing grants for government agencies, private foundations or businesses. A Public Health Degree also works well for social entrepreneurship. With an MPH you can utilize your innovative ideas to develop programs and policies that improve health in underserved communities in the US and abroad. With some work experience, MPH graduates can also find themselves in occupational health and safety, and epidemiology (the study of the causes and patterns of diseases). Epi has become one of the key components of public health because it focuses on why and how diseases happen. And finally, public health academics are always in demand to train the next generation of professionals!

5. Conclusion

It is therefore evident that the work of a public health practitioner plays a vital role as an agent for change involving a holistic approach to health and the well-being of others. Public health has been promoted from community involvement to US government assistance in health promotion. A career in this field provides great opportunities to influence the health and well-being of others. This is a very important issue facing the world today. With the great implementation of the Affordable Care Act, the opportunities for public health practitioners to have a positive influence in the healthcare system has never been greater.

This essay has reviewed the importance of public health and compared the work of a public health practitioner to the work of a clinical health practitioner. This essay has identified the restrictions that impair the quality and quantity of support provided to race-based clients and has proposed effective strategies to overcome these barriers. These strategies are based on the findings of a literature review and primary research studies.

Public health is one of the most important issues facing us today. By obtaining a degree in public health, students can play a significant role in the global community. Lots of colleges and universities have developed degree programs in public health. Students in these programs study the science and art of preventing disease, prolonging life, and promoting health through organized community efforts.