With the advent of COVID-19 and all its variants, there has never been a greater need for public health professionals. Over the past two years, public health officials have aided legislators in their decision-making processes, assisted doctors in designing treatment plans, and helped to manage vaccine roll-outs. Though public health workers have never been much in the spotlight, the pandemic has thrust them into the public eye. As such, there has been an increased interest in the public health degree path. Specifically, the master’s in Public Health (MPH) degree that can lead to advanced opportunities in the field. But what exactly can you do with a master’s degree in Public Health? The good news is, there are a wide variety of career paths you can pursue with an MPH degree. Here are just a few jobs a master’s in Public Health degree holder can qualify for after graduation.
1. Epidemiologist
Epidemiologists are public health professionals who study the patterns and causes of disease. Through their work, they strive to reduce negative health outcomes via community education and by helping public leaders write health policy. The minimum education requirements for epidemiologists is that they earn at least a master’s degree in Public Health or a related field.
Job Responsibilities
Epidemiologists direct and plan studies of public health problems, in order to discern methods to prevent or mitigate issues that may affect the greater good. They may collect and analyze information from surveys, interviews, or medical samples. Using the knowledge gleaned from these studies, epidemiologists may advise health practitioners on the development of treatment plans and policy makers on the formulation of laws pertaining to public health. They may also write grant proposals to fund research.
Career Outlook and Salary Potential
In light of recent events, including but not limited to a global pandemic, it’s no surprise that employment of epidemiologists is expected to grow 30% between now and 2030. This is much faster than the average for all occupations. The average annual wage for epidemiologists is $74,560, however the highest 10% of epidemiologists can earn more than $126,040 per year.
2. Health Services Manager
Medical and health services managers, also called healthcare executives, manage healthcare facilities, direct clinical departments, or oversee medical practices for physicians. They may also plan and coordinate health services.
Job Responsibilities
Health services managers are responsible for improving efficiency and quality in the provision of healthcare services. They recruit and supervise staff members for medical practices, manage finances of medical facilities, create work schedules, and monitor budgets and spending to make sure that departments in medical facilities are operating within their spending limits. They will also organize records of their facility’s services and represent the facility on governing boards. Examples of medical and health services managers include nursing home administrators, health information managers, and clinic managers.
Career Outlook and Salary Potential
The employment of medical and health services managers is expected to grow by 32% between 2020 and 2030. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, there will be 51,800 openings for medical and health services managers opening annually. This may be, in large part, due to the aging baby-boom population that will be requiring more medical care.
The median annual salary of health services managers is $104,280, with the highest 10% of earners making more than $195,630. Most medical managers work full time, with some working on evenings or weekends. Frequently, this role will require managers to be on call in case of emergency.
3. Biostatistician
Biostatisticians address healthcare problems by conducting research and using information gleaned from this research to design clinical trials and evaluate the effectiveness of new pharmaceuticals.
Job Responsibilities
A biostatistician designs, analyzes, and completes statistical studies that further medical knowledge. The exact data a biostatistician is asked to analyze will depend on the environment in which they work. For example, they may be asked to analyze the outcomes of medical procedures in order to determine their effectiveness. They may also analyze genetic data in comparison to disease rates. If they’re working in the pharmaceutical business, they may design clinical trials to evaluate new drugs. Government policy biostatisticians may study populations to determine the impact of environmental pollutants on their health.
Career Outlook and Salary Potential
As in many other public health related positions, the employment of mathematicians including biostatisticians is expected to grow by 33% over the next decade. This is largely to do with the increased use of statistical analysis to inform healthcare decisions. Additionally, healthcare facilities will increasingly use digitally stored data to make medical decisions. This data will have been calculated and analyzed by biostatisticians. The annual median income of biostatisticians can range between $84,440 and $94,740, depending on the branch of healthcare in which they choose to work.
Opportunities Begin with a Master’s in Public Health
If you’re interested in working in the public health arena, there are a number of careers you can pursue with a master’s in Public Health. MPH graduates can work in federal facilities, hospitals, nonprofit organizations, community agencies, or private foundations. Wherever they work, however, they make a difference in the health and welfare of their community.
If a career in public health interests you, learn more about University of Bridgeport’s master’s of Public Health degree, here!