By Dr. Anitte Shah Mannaparambil
Read the two adages ‘Health is wealth’ and ‘Prevention is better than cure’ together. Public health aims to improve population health by preventing disease and responding to health emergencies and disasters. The field is so versatile and impactful that almost all professionals can choose to do a public health specialization.
If you are a clinician stuck in your 1500 sqft office and tired of the monotony of your job, a teacher frustrated with teaching the same subjects over and over, or an engineer who has lost interest in coding all day, public health is for you. The question is how?
Unlike traditional healthcare professionals, who deal with one-on-one patient interactions, public health works at the grassroots level. Apart from that, public health initiatives are long-term in nature.
Healthcare professionals choosing to be public health practitioners open their doors to very exciting careers. The options range from health camp organizers to epidemiologists, health promoters, and wellness coordinators. Teachers who opt for a public health path can choose to specialize in health education, youth programs, and mental health.
Public health engineers work on everything from vehicle and factory health and safety to safe drinking water delivery and sanitation. Public health lawyers advocate for the elimination of health disparities and the provision of health care to all. The formulation of public health policies brings together economists and data scientists. As public health is research in action, there are many research opportunities.
A career in public health can be both challenging and exciting. One gets the satisfaction of bringing a long-term positive impact on the lives of a large number of people. Working with professionals from various fields will foster a sense of teamwork. Jobs in public health entail a lot of traveling and meeting people from various cultures.
There are numerous opportunities to work with NGOs and international organizations such as the WHO, UNDP, and MSF. Public health practitioners can find research and teaching positions at universities and colleges. Multinational corporations devote a significant part of their CSR budget to public health. There are also positions available for public health managers, consultants, and policymakers.
From vaccination programs to anti-tobacco campaigns to women and child health welfare, there is no dearth of opportunities for public health professionals in the government sector. One can choose to work with the local population, or at the national level, or go on to be a global health professional.
Opportunities for public health practitioners are abundant. While tropical countries and the global south focus on infectious disease outbreaks and their control, advanced nations place a greater emphasis on health research and innovative health delivery systems.
MPH, Ph.D., DrPH, MSPH, and MHA are just a few of the public health degrees available. The course material is diversified and stimulating. Specializations include epidemiology, data science, bioinformatics, global health, health promotion, and environmental health, among others.
From water pollution to food insecurity, there is no shortage of public health challenges. Since the field is so vast, one can continue to evolve and transition from one focus area to the next. If you begin your career as a health promotion officer,
you can advance to become a researcher or a public health registrar, a health diplomat, or even establish your campaign-specific start-up. Apart from the satisfaction of helping fellow human beings, the career is monetarily rewarding as well.
In the light of the COVID 19 pandemic, public health is garnering more attention. As our world is evolving we are bound to encounter more health challenges. To face them effectively, we need a strong public health force in place. Hence, if you are someone looking out for a career change, public health might be your thing.