Does anyone work in Public Health?

[Porridge]

I''m having lots of fun lately exploring my career options. I graduated from physiotherapy nearly two months ago. I have been thinking about a masters in Public Health for quite a while, and now that graduation is out of the way I have more time to examine my options. I really enjoy healthcare, but I think I would be better suited to behind the scenes work rather than primary care. I love working on projects, with numbers, statistics, analysing data etc... The more I look at the career options in Public Health, the more excited I get.

Do any of my fellow PSers work in this area? I know it''s a broad one, but I''d love to hear about it!

 

[iheartscience]

I JUST posted a thread about MPHs and when it took me back to the main Hangout page I saw your question!

I'm currently a research assistant and I interview participants, do data analysis and work on random projects related to the study I'm on. I was a psychology major and was an undergrad research assistant for several of my professors. I like my position but it's a bit entry-level for me. I graduated last year at age 27 and already had a different career before I switched to this. Based on my experience I'd be better suited to a research coordinator position, but hey-all in due time. I really enjoy research and love statistics and data analysis...interviewing people is interesting but I prefer working with data.

As you'll see in my thread, I'm thinking about getting an MPH while I work here. It would probably take me about 2 years if I did it part time, 1 year if I did it full time. Feel free to chime in on my thread!

 

[miraclesrule]

If I could start a new career all over again, I would be an epidemiologist...for sure. I''ve always been fascinated by the field, and am convinced that there aren''t enough practicing OBJECTIVE individuals in the Public Health field. So I would be thrilled if you pursued a Public Health career path. Lord knows we need it.

 

[zhuzhu]

Hi Miracle,

May I ask you why you think "there aren''t enough practicing OBJECTIVE individuals in the Public Health field"? The basis of any scientific research is objectivity and hypothesis testing. Without them the research would not even be valid. Or maybe I read what you wrote incorrectly?

 

[sweetpea&babycorn]

hi PSers! i am new here so I was perusing the site, and found the Hangout area

i currently work in public health, and it''s great! when i was in college, i never thought about the option of public health (i was a biology major) but the opportunity came at the right time after i graduated and looked into master''s program and i got my MPH just last year. i work under a fellowship now, but it allows me to work closely with a lot of other practitioners at a hospital. the focus of my fellowship is patient safety, and i''m doing a lot of joint commission requirement work, and also pursuing my own project on medication reconciliation.

it''s a really exciting field because there''s a lot you can do in public health. it''s also what has saved the world from diseases like the plague i''m primarily interest in healthcare research and policy, but like others have talked about there is epidemiology, environmental health, social work, quality improvement, the list really goes on.

right now im debating between medical school or a phd in public health. im not a huge statistics person, so a phd might be more difficult for me, but an MD is a crazy degree to go after we''ll have to see!

porridge, i definitely think if you''re into all that you''ve listed, a career in public health would be a great place for you

 

[Porridge]

Thanks Miraclesrule! Hopefully I'll be back in years to come with happy tales of objective, hardworking people bettering the world as best they can

Sweetpea&babycorn Great to hear you like it! So far everyone who has replied on this and thing's thread has had only positive things to say about an MPH, which is great. It sounds like such a fascinating field with limitless options. I don't know yet which area I want to pursue, luckily the programme I'm looking at starts off very general.

I have always considered an MD too, but the very fact that I've only considered it and have not been driven to pursue it makes me think it's not for me. From my research so far, I would be better suited to PH! I definitely preferred the projects and research sections of my physio degree to the clinical placements (sacrilege! would never admit it to my classmates!) But I'm young yet