top of page

Introduction to Public Healthcare

Individuals who pursue a career in public health are those whose goals are to help enhance the public’s ability to live happy, safely, and healthy lives. This expands beyond just the hospital setting and to just everyday life. A few specific examples of what individuals with public health related jobs would do would be:

  • Help solve and monitor public outbreaks

  • Educating the public on health issues and teaching ways one can prevent the spread of a disease

  • Acting as liaisons between people and networks

  • Conducting research

  • Epidemiology

  • Environmental Science

In general, employment in the public health sector is focused on improving the daily lives of citizens through ways beyond the hospital. They are tasked with addressing issues in the community that would lead to risk of health problems or unfair treatment.


Source: “The Complete Public Health Job Description By Staff Writer.” The Complete Public Health Job Description, www.mphonline.org/public-health-job-description/.

These are a few subservices of the Public Health Industry:


Subfields in Public Healthcare

Health Services Administration

Individuals will be focused on administration, leadership, and management in the healthcare system (which could range from hospitals to public health departments). This is suited for individuals who are interested in exploring different fields within healthcare.


Biostatistics

This field emphasizes the importance of using statistical reasoning and methods to support a finding or a cause. The developments of certain statistical applications would be used to address problems in public healthcare.


Epidemiology

Individuals working in this sector would be studying the patterns of a large population to determine the cause and effects of certain diseases and/or other healthcare concerns. They would then use the information obtained to formulate policies or programs in place.


Health Education/Behavioral Science

Main goal: educate the public about health concerns and provide wellness information.


Environmental Health

The study of the environment. This sector studies how certain actions and/or policies can improve air quality, water quality, waste management, etc (anything that involves environment).


International Health

This is a broader case of public health where it focuses on healthcare problems across the world.


Maternal and Child Health

This focuses on the field of mothers, infants and children and how certain healthcare policies or issues are affecting them.


Nutrition

The promotion of public health by monitoring the nutritional value of food.


Public Health Practice/Program Management

Goal: Provide resources and assistance to prepare public health practitioners to have skills that allow them to pursue leadership positions.


"I've done many different things ranging from developing a surgery room in the mountains of Mexico to helping out foster homes in China."

-- Class of 2018, Student at Harvard Medical School


Commenti


Featured Employers

McMaster-Carr

Williams Companies

Industry Guides

Standard_lower_res_edited_edited_edited.

Career Guide

by The Crimson Brand Studio

A Harvard Crimson site

University Daily since 1873

bottom of page