Public health Care

Top 5 Public Health Careers To Get Into

Public health is a body of knowledge that focuses on ensuring safety and improving the conditions of communities. This science involves educating people on proper hygiene and researching and making policies to prevent diseases and injuries.

It has a relatively broad scope, which is why there are so many viable public health careers waiting for public health graduates. You can work in the legal field, help create policies, or implement regulations to ensure everyone’s safety.

Here are the top five public health professions to get into:

1. Public Health Attorney

A public health attorney aids the creation of policies and laws regarding public health standards. An example is the banning of smoking in public places, such as restaurants and bars, because secondhand smoke is detrimental to people’s physical well-being. Public health attorneys also come to the defense of patients and victims, while ensuring that there’s a balance between their client’s individual rights and the good of all citizens.

A career as a public health attorney is a challenging yet fulfilling one. You’ll also enjoy excellent compensation and benefits.

These are the skills that you’ll need to develop if you want to succeed in this profession:

  • Public Speaking – You must build up the confidence of talking in front of many people if you want to be a successful lawyer. You’ll be doing a lot of public speaking in court, so make sure to master this art.
  • Organizational Skills – There will also be lots of paperwork, so you should know how to organize information and reports. Collaboration is another must-have skill because you need to work with a team who will take care of the grunt work involved in legal cases and policymaking.
  • Discipline – Lawyers must practice what they preach. They must be the first people to implement and obey public health laws that have been approved. This way, they can encourage citizens to abide by the government’s rules and regulations for everyone’s safety.
  • Administrative Skills – Being detail-oriented is a must in this career. Reading the fine print is crucial, whether in handling cases or creating public health policies. Staying updated with current software apps can also help you succeed.
  • Analytical Thinking – The ability to solve problems quickly and effectively is an essential skill for attorneys. You’ll be facing complex problems each day. You must be able to break them down into manageable sections to make them easier to solve.

2. Director of Industrial Hygiene

A director of industrial hygiene, also known as an industrial hygienist, is responsible for assessing and controlling biological, chemical, and environmental hazards present in a public setting that may lead to injuries or diseases.  They work to reduce people’s exposure to extreme conditions, like too much noise or high heat, by implementing regulations and promoting workplace safety practices.

3. Health and Safety Engineer

This career path is relatively versatile. You can go into scientific and technical services, or work in the construction industry, or you can choose to work for the government. Health and safety engineers help manufacturers develop safe consumer products for the public and work environments.

If you apply for this role, you may be responsible for identifying hazards in the development of goods. You’ll also have to uphold compliance with health and safety regulations set by the government for the industry and review safety programs. You may be involved in investigating accidents as well.

4. Health and Wellness Manager

Becoming a health and wellness manager or a group personal trainer is one of the best career options for women. You’ll be tasked to personalize and implement policies and procedures to promote an individual or group’s overall well-being. For this, you must gather data and information to ensure the accuracy of your reports and programs. You can work in a clinic, community center, or a private company.

5. Environmental Scientist

If research has always been your forte, you can become an environmental scientist and provide accurate information that supports policies and legislation crafted by the government. Data collection and plan development are crucial responsibilities of individuals in this profession. You can work directly with the state or local government, or as a consultant.

Conclusion

A degree in public health can open several opportunities for you after graduation. You can become an attorney and environmental scientist to develop policies that ensure society’s well-being and safety. At an individual level, you can help people achieve their personal goals by becoming a health and wellness manager. You can also become a director of industrial hygiene or a health and safety engineer and work with manufacturers. Keep in mind the above discussion and choose the public health career that’ll suit you.

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