Non-research ways to use a public health degree...

[whiteelephant]

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I am currently an mph student at an Ivy league university. While I enjoy the conceptual framework and goals of public health, it is not a career that I can see myself pursuing in the long run. I see my degree as providing me with tools to help me in a more fitting healthcare career.

At the moment, I will graduate in a semester and I am still trying to solidify my long term career goals. In the meantime, I want to find a way to put my mph to work. Previously, I had believed that I would be a research assistant in some area of children's mental health. But I've found research to be less rewarding than clinical work. My interests currently is in something related to pediatrics/(developmental behavioral in particular).

As public health is a vast field, I find it easy to get lost in possibilities. But each subfield is in itself a specialty. And I am looking for transitional jobs as opposed to per se earning another specialty. For example, I thought that I might use my mph degree in some instructor capacity. But health education in itself requires a great deal of specialty.

What kinds of other work asides from being a research assistant or doing administration might I seek with an mph that might be more clinically oriented?

Thanks.

EG

 

[Nibor6000]

Diabetes education and management?
Nutrition programs?
HIV management?
Infant/child mental health?
Asthma education?

Any of these programs could have a clinical component, depending on your level of involvement.

Biggest problem is that without a "clinical" degree (MD, RN, RD, PA, NP, RT, etc.), clinical positions are hard to come by. Once you have that qualification, you'll have a lot more job opportunities.

Take a look at what kinds of programs your local health department offers. That might give you an idea of the types and scope of work that is available.

I hope that helps.

 

[erikalindsay]

Yes, it will be hard to find a clinical position without a clinical degree. There are 1 year nursing programs that might be of interest to you. Many schools offer nursing degrees as dual degrees with an MPH. I don't have personal experience with this myself, but there were girls in my program who were going to go that route.

In addition to research and clinical work, large areas for public health work are in local, state, and federal agencies (departments of health and human services). Positions are often titled with "health program rep," "program planner," or "program administrator," among others.

 

[treeshadow]

Pfizer offers some really good book resources regarding what you can use your MPH degree for. Just order them online and check out the different voices presented.