Interested in global health, afraid of marketability

[bluishblackbird]

Hello all,

I'm interested in getting an MPH in global health, but am wary because of the following reasons:
1. I heard that Global Health MPHs are not marketable because they apparently don't teach enough hard skills (and also, there is an oversupply of them)
2. I've also heard that as developing countries get more "on their feet," they will have less demand for American MPHs and instead want their own MPH grads to run health programs
3. I want to travel and see the developing world while I'm young, but I know that eventually I want to come back to live in America. I'm worried that jobs in global health (which are often overseas) will hinder things like finding a spouse, settling down, etc.

Could you guys comment on these concerns and tell me if you think they are valid/invalid?

And one other thing I'd appreciate comments on: As an alternative, I am thinking about Epidemiology, as I've heard it is a more marketable degree. Although I have a very good stats background, the only hard science I've taken is an Intro Biology for non-majors, and I hated it. Do you think this is a sign Epi is not a good fit for me?

Thanks everyone!!

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[mphseeker]

I completely understand where you're coming from. Your concerns are not unwarranted.

I intially was also interested in global health, but chose epidemiology for many of the resaons you list above, especially marketability. I would say you definitely want to go with epidemiology unless you already have substantial experience in global health, such as Peace Corps. I will also say, though, that some people are lucky and do get pretty good jobs with no prior background in global health, but that is rare. I'm not aware of a surpluss of degree holders in Global Health, but the curricula in this area, at least those that I have seen, lack very many hard skills that you would be able to sell. Overall, biostatistics is in the highest demand and you will definitely have a job, but epidemiology is a happy medium in my opinion.

It is also true, as you say, that developing countries are looking more to staff public health professionals from within their own countries. I have gotten the impression that this will be a growing trend as many foreign aid groups and governemnts focus on self sustainability, which is what we would want to work towards in global public health anyway, and as budget cuts and a struggling global economy make it increasingly difficult for even wealthy countries to support these programs.

As for finding a spouse, being that schools of public health and public health programs are rougky 80% female, it is hard for a girl to even find a boyfriend in this field anyway! So, regardless of traveling, that is going to be a challenge, unless, of course, you are a male.

In regard to your concern over epi not being a good fit if you were not into biology, epidemiology is a lot different from biology. I would say that while the majority of those in my program were biology or life science majors of some sort, but many non-bio majors are even more successful (in terms of purely grades) in the program than us bio majors. There is a lot of medical literature that you have to read and understand, so that may be a concern for you, but many non-biology people enjoy epidemiology.

Sorry this is so long. I just wanted to hit all your points; hope I did. Hope this was helpful as well!

 

[thereal19]

Your concerns are very interesting as they were some of the exact same concerns many of my classmates and I shared during our program (just graduated with an MPH in global health). I think in order to make yourself marketable with a GH concentration domestically is to acquire those extra skills in Epi and Biostats so you have them to fall back on in case you don't find yourself on the ground in a foreign country.

I'm not sure how many programs like this exist out there, but maybe you could get a dual concentration. My school (USF) has a dual Epi/ Global Health concentration so it's like the best of both worlds for your situation. Also, many of the people in my program got Epi certificates to compliment their global health coursework since we were required to have a focus area outside of global health. Or, you could just take the easier way out and do an Epi concentration and focus in international health and do overseas internships to gain experience that way. Just know that I have seen some overseas jobs that require an international health concentration so you have to decide which one would be better for you personally.

 

[Stories]

1.) I think there's a bit of misconception in this concern. I think generally, people have difficulty finding jobs overseas that provide wages that could support an American lifestyle. Most jobs overseas will not pay American-style wages, and so maintaining a life in America along with the job overseas would be difficult. Many jobs overseas may also be unpaid (at least in the traditional global health perspective).

2.) Don't know much about that, but it makes sense.

3.) I think that's a valid, but if you know you want to live in America long-term, I would honestly ask why bother with going abroad to begin your career when the same skills may not necessarily translate over. Just something to think about.

 

[MolBio]

Hello all,
1. I heard that Global Health MPHs are not marketable because they apparently don't teach enough hard skills (and also, there is an oversupply of them)

As long as you can demonstrate the application of hard skills though your courses (such as electives) and/or publications and/or work experience, you should be fine.

Haven't heard about this oversupply issue. My gut sense is that there is a slight oversupply of public health grads across every sub-field, relative to the current job market, but that is true of virtually every field of work, just due to the struggling economy generally.

2. I've also heard that as developing countries get more "on their feet," they will have less demand for American MPHs and instead want their own MPH grads to run health programs

Yes, that is the eventual goal...but you won't be working for foreign ministries of health, you'll be working for organizations or agencies whos jobs will ultimately depend on the levels of funding and foreign aid for international development and health. It's not that the jobs are going away, it's that they are changing into technical assistance, training, capacity building, sustainability, monitoring/evaluation type jobs. And honestly I think as one country "gets on its feet", another stumbles. Afghanistan and South Sudan will need a lot of help in the foreseeable future, for example. And some countries like DRC seem like they sadly may never get on their feet in our lifetime...

And one other thing I'd appreciate comments on: As an alternative, I am thinking about Epidemiology, as I've heard it is a more marketable degree.

Yes, I think as long as you can demonstrate the resilience to live and work in resource limited settings, you can work in global health with an MPH in epi. I think it is more important that you are actually interested in epi and want to do that for your career. Otherwise, it wouldn't make sense to me.

 

[tarheel1025]

You took the words right out of my mouth! I'm applying this fall and have the most interest in global health, but I have the same concerns you do.

Does anyone have any thoughts in doing a health behavior/education concentration and trying to get jobs in global health? I was thinking those programs would provide a stronger skill set (how to develop/implement/monitor programs), and also give you a skill set that would be applicable to jobs that are not international. Thoughts?

 

[thereal19]

You took the words right out of my mouth! I'm applying this fall and have the most interest in global health, but I have the same concerns you do.

Does anyone have any thoughts in doing a health behavior/education concentration and trying to get jobs in global health? I was thinking those programs would provide a stronger skill set (how to develop/implement/monitor programs), and also give you a skill set that would be applicable to jobs that are not international. Thoughts?

That is how I plan to use the concentration. After Epi, I'd say that health education is probably the next most important skill set to have in terms of global health.

 

[VCUram]

As long as you can demonstrate the application of hard skills though your courses (such as electives) and/or publications and/or work experience, you should be fine.

What would be classified as hard skills versus soft skills?

 

[MolBio]

What would be classified as hard skills versus soft skills?

In my interpretation of the term, hard skills are whichever technical and methodological skills and experiences that you would need to do that specific job you are applying for. Soft skills I think of as fuzzier things like strong written and oral communication skills, ability to work with others or with minimal supervision, efficient time management skills, cross-cultural sensitivity, etc., which everyone should ideally strive toward in any job.

 

[Lemon Meringue]

I think that some schools use their global health programs as an advertising point, and also to make the school look well rounded. Top programs provide somewhat more rigorous training than the mediocre programs, and they draw in higher caliber candidates who have other skills/degrees anyway. So for these programs, doing global health makes sense, if you're going to a program which is sort of middle of the road in global health, you might not get out of it as much as you want if you concentrate in global health.

It makes more sense for some applicants to do straight Epi or health education, and then to get some real global health experience in another country.

Despite what somebody said on this thread, doing public health work in a foreign country is an invaluable experience, and is applicable to everything being done in the United States as infectious diseases circulate much quicker around the world these days, and as it gives you a baseline idea of how public health can do good in resource poor areas. With the sagging economy, and decreasing state budgets, doing effective public health programs on a shoe string will be important. Look at diabetes, more kids are being diagnosed with it, as well as developing pre-diabetes, this doesn't mean that public health budgets will necessarily increase lockstep with this increase, it means that current programs need to figure out how to do more with less. Also, a global experience gives you a cultural reference point, and helps you understand issues facing the United States, so in other words, its good for your personal knowledge base to do this.

Tthe core educational experience of somebody wanting to do public health work globally, IMO, is to get a firm education in public health, and then to do a related global health experience. If you have a global health degree and you don't go abroad, you're sort of just a watered down general public health degree holder.

 

[Lemon Meringue]

What would be classified as hard skills versus soft skills?

Hard skills are quantifiable in terms of achievement, such as taking a Biostatistics courses and passing. Soft skills aren't measured by traditional examinations, and are something that can easily be gained with on the job experience, such as how to teach, or are taught in a less rigorous classroom environment which involves a lot of discussion, and less learning of factual information.

In some respects, global health is not a specific skill set you get taught, but rather a paradigm of public health application. Global health gives you the big picture by looking at specific examples and discussing them ad nauseum. With Epi you have a skill set that can be applied irregardless of your understanding of the big picture.

 

[Lemon Meringue]

And honestly I think as one country "gets on its feet", another stumbles. Afghanistan and South Sudan will need a lot of help in the foreseeable future, for example. And some countries like DRC seem like they sadly may never get on their feet in our lifetime...

With the DRC...the only place to go is up! In fact, DRC might right itself more quickly as Afghanistan has huge ideological issues which will fuel the conflict for the long term, IMO. When the US rolls out of Afghanistan, the loonies are going to come out of hiding. But you're right, it'll take decades.

 

[2013MPH2013]

To comment on your questions:
The emerging future for global health is NCDs so chronic disease epi is very relevant for low and mid income countries. Either way, it is important to have a solid Epi/stats/data management background but those are the core courses in any accredited program. However, it would be wise to take a few more as electives.

Yes, hopefully the in-country capacity for producing effective public health specialists continues to increase. While it would be wonderful to work us out of job, sadly, I don't think it will happen any time soon.

International work experience is usually a necessity if you want to compete for global health jobs in the US. Also, you should also try to set up your internship to be abroad or you will have a hard time getting into an organization overseas unless you have other international work experience.

Good luck!

 

[Lemon Meringue]

The emerging future for global health is NCDs so chronic disease epi is very relevant for low and mid income countries.

The mainstream media has played up the notion that in the future what are developing countries now will be mostly dealing with chronic diseases similar to those afflicting the United States.

The informed viewpoint is much more complex than these sensational headlines would suggest. Consider this:

Antibiotic resistance for both bacterial and viral diseases is increasing! Diseases that were once considered easily cured, such as TB, even gonorrhea have ominously started developing resistant strains. This is a future public health catastrophe in the making in addition to the very real problems some countries face.

HIV/AIDS, which has faded from the media spotlight, will kill more people in the next thirty years than it has in total so far. Yes, medications are helping some, but you've resistance issues as well as a myriad of complex social and cultural issues in countries most affected.

Smoking is becoming a major problem in developing countries such as China where millions will die from lung cancer over the coming decades in far higher numbers than ever before.

None of the big infectious disease killers, polio excluded, has been even moderately beaten into submission, to say nothing about eradicated.

Point being, if you want to do infectious disease related public health work, I am 100% sure that there will be increasing opportunities in the future. Perhaps percentage wise the need for public health programs in developing countries combating stuff like diabetes and heart disease will increase, but I don't think anybody has a good grasp on how bad a number of very bad infectious diseases will get on the world stage, meaning both types of programs will need to be ramped up.

 

[124bbb]

Point being, if you want to do infectious disease related public health work, I am 100% sure that there will be increasing opportunities in the future. Perhaps percentage wise the need for public health programs in developing countries combating stuff like diabetes and heart disease will increase, but I don't think anybody has a good grasp on how bad a number of very bad infectious diseases will get on the world stage, meaning both types of programs will need to be ramped up.

👍👍👍 You made many excellent points! Thank you for sharing your perspective.