Public Health
Public Health / Career Information

Career Information

Healthcare jobs in general are projected to add more than 2 million jobs to the economy over the next seven years, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Due to the interdisciplinary nature of a Willamette education, our public health graduates will be well prepared to serve as advocates and leaders among the next generation of public health practitioners. Here’s a look at some careers related to public health, according to publichealth.org:

Additional Nonprofit Organizations

  • Grant Writer
  • Development Director
  • Program Officer
  • Volunteer Coordinator
  • Director of a Professional Association

Chronic Disease and Cancer

  • Health Educator
  • Health Promotion Program Coordinator
  • Medical Epidemiologist/Chronic Disease
  • Public Health Dentist
  • Tobacco Quitline Advisor
  • Behavioral Scientist
  • Study Coordinator

Disaster Preparedness and Response

  • Emergency Preparedness Specialist
  • Environmental Health Emergency Response Specialist
  • Disaster Preparedness Researcher
  • Bioterrorism Researcher

Education

  • Health Teacher
  • Continuing Education Coordinator
  • Professor, School of Public Health
  • Dean, School of Public Health

Environmental Health and Water Safety

  • Toxicologist
  • Poisoning Prevention Coordinator
  • Environmental Engineer
  • Hazardous Waste Inspector
  • Hydrologist
  • Environmental Health Nurse
  • Community Activist
  • Health Physicist

Evaluation, Safety, and Quality

  • Program Evaluator
  • Quality Improvement Specialist
  • Outcomes Researcher
  • Informatics Specialist
  • Patient Safety Specialist
  • Health Facility Surveyor

Food Safety and Nutrition

  • Nutrition Consultant
  • Food Service Sanitarian
  • Food Inspector/Department of Agriculture
  • Consumer Safety Officer/FDA
  • Food Scientist

Global Health

  • Physician/Global Health
  • Technical Advisor/Logistics
  • Procurement Manager
  • International Programs Manager
  • NGO Founder/Director
  • Entomologist

Health Communication

  • Journalist
  • Communications Director
  • Social Marketer
  • Medical Writer

Health Disparities, Vulnerable Groups, and At-Risk Populations

  • Director, Officer of Minority Health
  • Patient Navigator
  • Correctional Medicine Physician
  • Disease Prevention Activist
  • President and CEO, Area Agency on Aging

Infectious Disease

  • Epidemiologist
  • Medical Officer
  • Public Health Nurse
  • Public Health Veterinarian
  • Public Health Advisor
  • Vaccine Researcher
  • Disease Ecologist
  • Infection Preventionist

Maternal and Child Health

  • Deputy Director/Family Health Services
  • Home Visit Nurse
  • Community Health Worker
  • WIC Nutritionist

Occupational Health and Safety

  • Occupational Medicine Physician
  • Employee Health Nurse
  • Industrial Hygienist
  • Corporate Medical Director

Off the Beaten Path

  • Dance Instructor
  • Urban Planner
  • Hospital Administrator
  • Chef
  • Worksite Wellness Manager
  • Medical Expert/Media

Pharmaceuticals and Drug Safety

  • Pharmacist
  • Medical Officer/Drug Evaluation and Safety
  • Biostatistician
  • Director, State Board of Pharmacy
  • Regulatory Affairs Specialist

Public Health Administration and Leadership

  • Health Commissioner
  • Public Health Laboratory Director
  • Medical Director
  • Federal Agency Director
  • Surgeon General of the United States

Public Health Law, Regulations, and Policies

  • Advocacy Director
  • Policy Analyst
  • Health Legislative Assistant
  • Health Economist
  • Public Health Lawyer
  • Consumer Advocate
  • Public Health Lobbyist

Public Mental Health

  • Mental Health Researcher
  • Public Health Social Worker
  • Coordinator, Behavioral Health Program
  • Homeless Services Educator

Public Safety

  • Injury Prevention Specialist
  • Director of Emergency Medical Services
  • Specialist in Poison Information
  • Forensic Pathologist

For career and vocational discernment contact Claire Hoffman.

For additional information on careers in Public Health, see the American Public Health Association: https://apha.org/what-is-public-health