If you are considering a career in public health, but do not want to work for a health agency or another nonprofit organization, check out public health careers in the private sector or the corporate world. Believe it or not, major corporations such as pharmaceuticals companies, private foundations attached to corporations, health care insurance companies and other medical sciences companies have opportunity for exciting public health careers and routinely hire public health professionals for a variety of reasons. Here are some suggestions on how you can utilize a bachelor’s or master’s in public health in the private corporate arena. Private companies, organizations, hospitals and private healthcare facilities account for many public health jobs in a broad range of areas including jobs for a public health social worker running social service programs and providing support services. Check out these jobs to see if one may be a fit for your career in this exciting field.
Where are these Top Private Sector MPH Jobs?
Pharmaceuticals Company
Many major pharmaceuticals corporations such as Johnson and Johnson and Pfizer hire public health practitioners to provide public health services or for a variety of other reasons. Many of these companies are constantly looking for individuals such as bio-statisticians, epidemiologists, community outreach specialists, health educators and government relations specialists. Bio-statisticians and epidemiologists are used by these companies to perform clinical trials, track the emergence of new infections diseases, collect demographic data on various populations and also engage in asset mapping to determine where new drug markets can be created. Community outreach specialists, health education and promotion specialists are individuals who are highly familiar with various cultures and ethnic groups and can help design effective outreach campaigns to educate ethnic consumers about various drugs and treatments. Government relations specialists will also work to forge new relationships with local, state and federal healthcare government agencies to help companies track new funding opportunities for clinical trials, public health services, contracts and other lucrative business relationships. Many of these workers have earned a master’s in public health or a master’s degree in a related area of study.
Private Corporate Foundations
Many large health care companies often have private foundations that will hire public health workers to create community based health service programming to help improve health outcomes for entire communities and neighborhoods and to help eliminate or lessen health disparities. These health programs could include improving community health through childhood obesity prevention programs, programs for elderly patients, after-school fitness programming, food programs to improve access, community mental health issues programs, and other types of human services. They will work to identify local, nonprofit organizations and community groups that are engaging in meaningful community health work and will help them secure funding from major corporations. Public health workers who work for foundations also maintain relationships with other large donors to help spark and sustain a variety of community based health service initiatives. People working for private corporate foundations may increase their job opportunities by earning a master’s in public health.
Healthcare Insurance Companies
Healthcare insurance companies are also another great route for individuals with a background in public health. There are many jobs available in these corporations such as public health nurse, health education and promotion, outreach, health coaching, worksite wellness management, public health project manager, etc. There is a huge demand for public health professionals in health care insurance companies as there is an increasingly huge emphasis on preventive health care. Often these workers have a master’s in public health in addition to working as a public health nurse.
Doctor’s Offices and Other Medical Companies
Other large medical offices such as private doctors and private, for-profit hospitals hire public health employees to do a variety of things such as work in communications, government relations, community outreach and advocacy. Many of these careers overlap with what you will find in other similar places.
Do not make the assumption in thinking that a public health degree will only limit you to working for a public health agency. Many private corporations and organizations hire public health workers for a variety of roles that may require a master’s in public health.
What are some of the job titles for these private sector MPH jobs?
Public Health Educator
A public health educator works to develop programs with the intent of educating the public on prevention and control of diseases that can affect the community. As a public health and community health worker, interesting health educator work may be found private companies or schools. These public health educator jobs may require a master’s in public health. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS.gov), health education specialist can be employed in a variety of setting that can include private hospitals and nonprofit organizations. This job has a robust job outlook, with a 12 percent projected growth anticipated from 2021 to 2031, which is much faster than the average for all occupations.
Hospital Administrator
Hospital administration in a private hospital is a position that carries with it a lot of responsibility. An administrator in a private hospital oversees the behind the scenes work of a hospital, and handles financial duties as well as patient concerns and care. The salary for these health professionals in the private sector varies depending on hospital size and location, and the administrator’s education and experience.
Environmental Specialist
Environmental Specialists work to protect environmental health and human health. These workers in the private sector work to ensure compliance with all environmental and public health regulations. Environmental Specialists may plan and put into action emergency response plans for an environmental health hazard. Environmental Specialists may work to protect environmental health while working in offices or laboratories, and often spend time in the field to gather data and monitor conditions. The median pay in this field was $76,530 per year as of May 2021, with average job growth.
Health care Consultant
Health care consultants work to provide public health consulting services to individuals, companies, or in court testimony. These public health workers may be employed in a private consulting company or be self employed. The yearly salary for healthcare consultants varies widely depending on the clientele they work with. Health care consultants typically have previous public health careers and have a master of public health.
Worksite Wellness Program Coordinator
Worksite Wellness Program Coordinators are employed by companies to develop programs for their own employees, or for an organization that coordinates programs for other companies. They work to plan policies, procedures and programs to promote public health in the workplace. Worksite Wellness Program Coordinators may also be responsible for managing other employees in their program. These workers learn many transferable skills through earning a master of public health degree.
Epidemiologist
Epidemiologists work to control disease outbreaks by tracking origins of outbreaks and preventing further spread. These public health workers understand diseases and how they spread and how to manage them. They also track and prevent injuries that affect health. Epidemiologist duties vary depending on their specific training and place of employment. These workers typically have a master of public health. With a median salary of $78,830 as of May 2021, a 26% growth rate in jobs is expected from 2021 to 2031.
Management Public Health Policy Advisor
Management Policy Advisors work to handle the financial aspects of public health policy in the private sector. These public health professionals may have earned a Masters in Public Health (MPH) degree, or even a Masters of Business Administration (MBA) to provide the foundation for this job.
Public Health Attorney
Public health attorneys in the private sector use their expertise and training in settling public health legal issues. Public Health Attorneys use their legal training as the means to solve public health issues, assist public health programs with legal requirements, advocate for valuable public health policies and healthcare, and social welfare reform and more. The median annual salary for an attorney of any kinds was $127,990 as of May 2021, with a projected growth in the field at 10% from 2021-2031. Specialization in public health, type of experience and location may improve income potential and open up other interesting work opportunities.
FAQs
Who should consider a degree in public health?
The exciting field of public health has job opportunities that are sure to suit a variety of skills and interests. Whether you are math oriented and interested in number crunching, have an interest in conducting public health research, or are people focused and want to work directly with people, public health workers often gain great satisfaction in knowing their work improves the health and lives of others.
Why pursue a public health career?
The growing and robust field of Public health has a wide and broad focus to protect populations and the environment through preventing disease and promoting health. Public health professionals work to investigate and solve complex and sometimes dangerous health issues that may include access to health care, infectious disease control, environmental hazards, addressing violence and substance abuse, or preventing injury. Public Health professionals come from varying educational backgrounds and may specialize in a wide array of fields, and most wish to advance their public health career and pursue a Master of Public Health (MPH) degree.
Can a graduate degree in public health really make a difference in the world today?
In the past 100 years, public health initiatives have added a whopping 25 years of life expectancy in the United States. The Center for Disease Control (CDC) informs us that public health’s greatest health achievements in the last century include things like workplace safety, infectious disease control, food safety, mother/baby health, decline in death from heart disease and stroke, motor vehicle safety, immunizations, family planning, fluoridated drinking water, and warnings of tobacco use. There are still public health issues to tackle, and this growing field needs well trained professionals to work on these issues.
Is public health a growing field, and how do I find out where the highest paying jobs are?
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects above average job growth for many public health jobs over the next decade. Jobs in public health include both private and public sectors. Jobs may include work in private organizations, government, education, managed care organizations, healthcare, corporations and non-profit organizations. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reports occupation statistics according to geographical area in the United States and income information according to location.
What is the professional organization for Public Health?
The American Public Health Association (APHA) is the professional organization for Public Health professionals. With their vision to “create the healthiest nation in one generation,” APHA champions the health of all people and all communities. APHA works and strives to strengthen the public health profession and speaks about important public health issues and evidence based policies. APHA influences federal and global public health policy and has close to 150 years of perspective, bringing together members from all areas of public health. APHA’s main mission is improving the health of the public and achieve equity in health status. APHA’s values represent the beliefs of their members from all disciplines of public health and over 40 countries. Check out APHA at https://www.apha.org/about-apha.
MPH staff, December 2022
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