Why Work in Public Health? Ten Reasons to Choose a Public Health Career

The field of public health is burgeoning with growth and opportunities. Work in public health is constantly evolving in response to the needs of populations around the world – because at its core public health deals with the issue of the health of people and their communities.

Public health workers work to improve the conditions and behaviors that affect health. Broadly speaking, they track, prevent and respond to disease outbreaks, promote healthy lifestyles, research disease and injury prevention, and work to limit health disparities.

Public Health is everywhere, and public health initiatives affect people every single day in virtually every part of the world. The reasons people choose to work in public health are as diverse as the people themselves.

Why work in public health? Here are 10 reasons, from UNE Online:

Job Opportunity –

The job market is on the rise and the demand for workers will continue to grow. The Association of Schools and Programs of Public Health (ASPPH) estimates that by the year 2020, the United States will be facing a shortfall of at least 250,000 public health workers.

Self Fulfillment –

There is great satisfaction in life knowing that you wake up every day working to improve your life and the lives of those around you.

Culture & Diversity –

The field of public health opens doors to diverse cultural experiences around the world that help you grow as a person and become exposed to a variety of challenges and opportunities.

Broad Application –

Public health expertise is valued in many settings including medical, dental, social work, governmental, and beyond. This will allow you to choose what area best fits your future goals. The opportunities are abundant when it comes to applying public health skills.

Interprofessional Collaboration –

UNE prepares students to collaborate across multiple health professions to promote teamwork. Students work towards the common goal of building a more patient-centered and population-oriented system to better serve the community.

Cutting Edge & Innovative Field –

Working in public health puts you at the forefront of the major technological advancements and breakthroughs that benefit the local, national, and global community. Being part of this innovative field and working hard towards a common goal and can be exciting while also having the benefit of helping further your career and adding personal meaning to your work.

Leadership Opportunities –

Due to the constant growth and demand for expansion, leadership opportunities are abundant within the field of public health. Experiences you gain while earning your MPH will expand your skills, prepare you for more responsibility, and build a solid foundation of knowledge.

Career Evolution –

People in virtually all of the health professions can benefit from advancing their knowledge and earning their MPH. Medicine helps individuals, but public health is actively involved with improving the health of entire populations.

Accessibility & Flexibility –

UNE’s Online Public Health program’s asynchronous nature is designed to allow people to live their lives. The majority of UNE Online students have full-time jobs and active family lives, and as such the flexibility of the program allows anyone from anywhere to pursue their career goals while maintaining their personal responsibilities.

Improving Communities –

Becoming a member of the public health community can be a very rewarding career path. The very essence of your work is involved in the effort to improve the lives of people all around the world. Healthy people in healthy communities lead to a better quality of life for everyone.

Ready to begin your public health career?

Right now is an exciting time to work in public health. It’s a thriving career path where you actually become part of the solution, working to overcome health obstacles on a local, national, or even global stage. The field of public health is where you want to be if you want to stay challenged, do meaningful work, and make a difference in the world.

If you are interested in more information about the Graduate Programs in Public Health please reach out to an Enrollment Counselor at 1(855) 325-0895 or via email at publichealth@une.edu.

Or, if you’re ready to apply, fill out your online application at online.une.edu/gateway-portal-page.

More Public Health program information: go.une.edu/public-health/mph