Over the past two years, we’ve grown increasingly aware of just how vital it is to take care of our health. Furthermore, instead of focusing solely on physical wellbeing, we now realize the importance of focusing on holistic wellbeing. So, it doesn’t come as a surprise that this increased focus on health has led to a boom in the healthcare industry. Healthcare professionals are in high demand all across the board and can prepare to take their careers to unprecedented heights. A career in public health is thus one of the best options to consider in the current scenario. Public health is an incredibly vast field, and there is a wide range of careers to choose from. Public health careers allow you to assess health holistically instead of focusing on just one variable. So if you’re interested in learning what options you can pursue in public health, keep reading below!

Epidemiology

One of the most prolific careers to pursue in public health is epidemiology. Although healthcare careers overall have seen increased popularity, epidemiology has been even more popular in comparison. Known as the study that deals with the incidence, spread, and control of infectious diseases, epidemiology is more relevant now than ever before.

With a degree in public health, you can prepare yourself for a career as an epidemiologist as it covers a wide range of areas, allowing you to understand how diseases spread and infect. Epidemiologists are vital to understanding how a virus functions and can identify vulnerable communities, develop protection protocols and more. Furthermore, you can easily complete your master’s in public health program in a flexible program online that is tailor-made to fit your schedule without ever sacrificing quality. With an mph online program, you can start working as an epidemiologist in no time and work towards developing a deeper understanding of COVID-19 and other infectious diseases.

Dieticians and nutritionists

Focusing on a healthy diet is vital if you want to ensure your overall wellbeing. We are what we eat, and if you’re primarily consuming a greasy, sugary, processed diet, you’re going to see the drawbacks in all aspects of your life. If you’re passionate about maintaining a healthy lifestyle and sticking to your health-related goals and want to help others do the same, following a career as a dietician or nutritionist can be the best pick.

There are several fad diets on the internet, but these bring more harm to people than good. These diets are marketed as a one-size-fits-all package. For example, they might advertise a juice cleanse for a few weeks, or suggest that cutting out all carbs or eating only fat can help you reach your diet goals. However, these diets can’t fit everyone’s unique nutritional needs. Nutritionists and dieticians can help people develop nutritional programs tailored to help them reach their fitness and health-related goals. So, getting a public health degree can help you analyze your client’s health, requirements, and other factors to develop an effective diet plan.

Public health educator

Healthcare careers aren’t limited to just working in the doctor’s office and handling clients who come to you. Instead, some healthcare careers are about going out to meet the clients yourself and helping them shape their environments for the better. Public health educators play a vital role in keeping communities healthy and in promoting preventative healthcare.

Without the work of public health educators, hospitals and clinics would have an incredibly hard time in the ongoing pandemic, and healthcare facilities would be highly overburdened. Public health educators head straight to the most vulnerable communities and teach them how to safeguard themselves against any outbreaks. Whether it’s social distancing measures, hygiene-related guidelines or diet protocols, health educators help the masses take all the best steps to safeguard their health. In addition, public health educators and their preventative guidelines have been instrumental in controlling the spread of other infectious diseases such as AIDS, hepatitis, the common cold, and more.

Homeless Services Educator

Homelessness is a very real issue that afflicts all cities across the globe. Even in the most developed, well-off regions, you can find an abundance of homeless individuals who can fall prey to numerous issues. Unfortunately, these people often have inadequate access to healthcare facilities and very little knowledge of how they can protect themselves. A homeless services educator is thus vital to safeguarding this incredibly vulnerable community and promoting better health for them.

A public health degree can help you understand the most pressing challenges this community faces and the best ways to counter them. Alongside teaching you biological models, a public health degree can help you communicate effectively with homeless youth and teach them to take better care of themselves. As a homeless educator, you can work with private firms or a governmental organization, thus ensuring that you have a variety of employment opportunities.

Conclusion

Working in public health is an easy way to secure your future while making a lasting impact on the people you work with. With the vast range of opportunities in front of you, you can excel immensely and work in an incredibly stimulating environment. Overall, a public health degree is a holistic option that allows you to understand the socio-cultural factors that influence health and helps you ensure wellbeing for all.