Public Health

What is Community Health Education	Related Career Titles
Related Major Skills	Job & Internship Search Links
Career Planning Links	Professional Association Links
Additional Resources	Health & Applied Human Sciences

What is Public Health?

Public health promotes and protects the health of people and the communities where they live, learn, work and play.

While a doctor treats people who are sick, those of us working in public health try to prevent people from getting sick or injured in the first place. We also promote wellness by encouraging healthy behaviors.

From conducting scientific research to educating about health, people in the field of public health work to assure the conditions in which people can be healthy. That can mean vaccinating children and adults to prevent the spread of disease. Or educating people about the risks of alcohol and tobacco. Public health sets safety standards to protect workers and develops school nutrition programs to ensure kids have access to healthy food.

Public health works to track disease outbreaks, prevent injuries and shed light on why some of us are more likely to suffer from poor health than others. The many facets of public health include speaking out for laws that promote smoke-free indoor air and seatbelts, spreading the word about ways to stay healthy and giving science-based solutions to problems.

Public health saves money, improves our quality of life, helps children thrive and reduces human suffering.

Related Career Titles

AIDS Educator
Alcohol Educator/Counselor
Athletic Trainer
Cancer Information Specialist
Cardiac Rehab Specialist
Case Manager
Community Health Educator
Community Outreach Coordinator
Community Organizer
Community Services Director
Corporate Fundraiser
Corporate Fitness Coordinator
Cultural Competency Trainer
Diet Counselor
Director of Volunteers
Disability Evaluator
Domestic Violence Educator
Drug Counselor
Drug Rehabilitation Specialist
Elder Nutrition Coordinator
Elder Services Director
Eligibility Specialist
Employee Assistance Program Director
Environmental Advocate
Environmental Educator
Epidemiology Assistant
Events Coordinator
Family Life Educator
Family Planning Counselor
Family Services Specialist
Fire Prevention Specialist
Fitness Counselor
Fundraiser
Grant Writer
Grassroots Organizer
Head Start Health Specialist
Health Advocate
Health and Safety Specialist
Health and Wellness Coordinator
Health Education Director
Health Counselor
Health Education Coordinator
Health Education Specialist
Health Educator
Health Information Specialist
Health Journalist

Health Marketing Coordinator
Health Promotion Programmer
Health Resource Specialist
Health Workshop Instructor
Healthy Start Coordinator
High School Teacher, Health
Health Media Consultant
International Health Worker
Lactation Consultant
Media Specialist
Medical Supply Sales Rep
Occupational Health and Safety Director
Patient Education Coordinator
Patient Educator
Pharmaceutical Sales Rep
Prevention Program Director
Program Evaluator
Program/Events Coordinator
Program Resource Coordinator
Program Specialist
Protective Services Worker
Public Information Specialist
Public Health Inspector
Rape Prevention Educator
Recruitment and Training Director
Rehabilitation Counselor
Safety Educator
Senior Services Coordinator
Sex Educator
Social Services Coordinator
Support Services Supervisor
Teen Outreach Coordinator
Teen Parent Educator
Tobacco Educator
Volunteer Services Coordinator
Well Baby Educator
Wellness Coordinator
Wellness Consultant
Women's Health Director
Women's Shelter Director
Worksite Safety Educator
Youth Educator
Youth and Family Counselor
Youth Outreach Coordinator
Youth Program Specialist

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Related Major Skills

Ability to teach / train	Explaining ideas clearly
Writing and presenting	Decision making
Organization	Planning
Dealing with parents or guardians	Lesson planning
Summarizing ideas	Detailed oriented
Flexibility	Team player
Creativity	Computer skills