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"Council on Education for Public Health (CEPH) is an independent agency recognized by the US Department of Education to accredit schools of public health and certain public health programs offered in settings other than schools of public health. These schools and programs prepare students for entry into careers in public health. The primary professional degree is the Master of Public Health (MPH) but other masters and doctoral degrees are offered as well." (http://www.ceph.org/i4a/pages/index.cfm?pageid=3274)
I can tell you from personal experience that this is true. I know for a fact that federal public health agencies will not even accept a student for internship opportunities, much less for jobs, if the school or program is not accredited by CEPH. Therefore, it is absolutely essential, that is, if you are interested in working for the public sector, that you obtain a degree from a CEPH-accredited school or program.
Second, there is now CPH (Certified in Public Health), a new credential for which you can take an exam for (http://www.publichealthexam.org/). You cannot sit for this exam without graduating from a CEPH-accredited school or program. State and local levels of public health may not be as stringent in their requirements for graduation from a CEPH-accredited program, but the best bet would be to play it safe and earn a degree from a CEPH-accredited program to enhance your employment opportunities not only in the public sector, but in other sectors where a degree in Public Health is valued for the skills such a degree offers. If you want to learn more about public health competencies, check my Public Health Practice Page
Internship opportunities are usually available through an academic program in which you would obtain college credit. You can probably do an internship once you are in a graduate program. The only other option I can think of, if you just want to get exposure, is to look for volunteer opportunities at local hospitals or community programs or health department. (Betty)
Right now health departments have money to implement an H1N1 programs so I would hop on that topic and offer your skills there. Also, monies are still there for P. H. Emergency Preparation so a resume geared there might help. Social networking is a new arena for many of us to learn to use so you might do well with skills connected to a public health agenda there. I would like to see effort in addressing health through smoke cessation and diet and inactivity. I think we need to see innovative new ways to reach the hard to reach and therefore some new methods or pilot/demonstration sites and programs could be more likely to get funded. You need to be a self-starter and ready to write a grant or two to help you gain the funds. Perhaps going both to the school grant writer and the Health Department person usually the director, and suggesting you would like to join them in writing some grants that could fund your position and whether they would support your work. What projects do they consider more ikely? I picture short videos possiby YouTube, one on one counseling and maybe setting up mentoring between students and health heroes/mentors/ ambassadors. In health, Eric Triffin
I would say that healthcare reform is the hottest topic. Turn on the TV, Internet, radio or even the talk on the street, everyone is concerned about healthcare resources and dollars. From those that are unisured, underinsured or struggling to afford the insurance premiums they have. Also it's not only the affordabilty of health insurance, but it's the coverage that's a struggle. I have worked in various healthcare settings including hospitals, private office, community and manage care. Although different entities, the feedback from healthcare consumers were the same. Why won't my coverage reimburse for wellness or holisitc care? This is an area of healthcare that has to be addressed. Although providers may still be divided, studies show that healthcare consumers are seeking complementary and wellness treatments. Even if an insurance offers coverage for holistic therapies for chiropractic, accupuncture or massage, it is usually with specific restrictions of meeting the "medically necessary" criteria and/or limited sessions. I have seen many people fight for such coverage to actually be "covered". Therefore, in my opinion, healthcare reform is the hot topic. The rise in chronic conditions accounts for almost 75% of every healthcare dollar. Many of these conditions can be prevented. So health education, wellness programs and working to improve public health infrastructures in my opinion are the areas one should focus. The aim will be to help mobilize positive change in healthcare reform to ensure that we facilitate a healthy lifestyle. That we look at caring for individuals and communities in a holistic manner. At least this is my perspective ;-)! (Jeannine Capria)
H1N1 (Danielle Orcutt)
I vote for H1N1 flu and other viruses - getting people immunized, etc. (Nancy Thursby)
I am excited to hear about connectomics, a field exploring how humans connect. I also believe that obesity needs to be approached in some ways like tobacco. An addiction to salt, sugar and fat that is consciously perpetrated through marketing to children especially but in ways that are known to cause severe health problems. Our collective weght gain has been unparalelled in history for impacting such large numbers in such a big and fundamental way. (Eric Triffin)
Not necessarily hot, hot, but I would have to say that the regulation of dietary and herbal supplements should be re-examined. When health care providers are suggesting to their patients to take dietary supplements like fish oils and calcium supplements, health consumers should be assured that what they are taking meet a standard criteria and that they are getting what they paid for. Currently, there is no guarantee whatsoever that the ingredients listed on the label is indeed what is in the supplement. Supplements are very expensive, and if they are suppose to serve a medicinal purpose, then they should be regulated by the FDA to ensure the quality and purity of these products, not to mention require labeling that discloses the possibility of interactions with food, over the counter and prescription drugs. (Betty)
Despite the economy there are always jobs in public health. If you have a particular area that is of more interest to you go there. Are you interested in setting/impacting policy on a regional, state or national level? interested in research? program development? regulation? prevention of infectious or chronic diseases? Issues concerning children, older adults, etc. Figure out what interests you. Many baby boomers are beginning to retire and will continue to, jobs will open up. Sometmes jobs in pubic health are very bureaucratic- i.e., state health depts-they also have a lot to say about setting policy and implementng programs and media campaigns. So good luck and it might depend more on what various jobs o a day to day basis-is the work interesting/meaningful. Good luck! (Barbara Pickett)
I would tell this person I have had a pretty good career as a public school teacher. I have had good health insurance and have a good retirement program. Since the enhancement act, I have had a pretty good salary as well - I think much better than at the college level. I have always felt my job was pretty secure when I was teaching health. If you have children, you can count on being off when they are off. And now in my system, they have wonderful child care facilities for staff, right in the schools - one for babies to age 2, and another in another building, for 3 to 5 year olds. It is expensive, I think, but probably no more than other private daycare, and you could have your child right in the same building with you, or at least very near by.
However, there are very few teachers who are teaching only health. Most are also required to teach physical education. In some communities, it is the home economics teacher (or whatever they are called now) who also teaches health. If he or she chooses this option, s/he should be certified in some other subject area besides health. Biology is another good companion certification, which, in Connecticut anyway, is required for graduation, so there are usually positions in biology (the health certification would be a plus) but there is also a lot of competition - biology/general science certification is easier than chemistry or physics certification. (Nancy Thursby)
In this tough economy, an educational certificate from a reputable educational institution may be a good career move. This is especially true if these certificates offer college credits that will be accepted in a graduate degree program, should you decide to continue with your education. Having a graduate degree in Public Health is a real career booster since graduate-level education is required for many Public Health settings.
It's not too narrow a focus for employers who are interested in hiring people with the specific skill sets they are looking for. My suggestion is to contact the college offering this certificate and ask them who is employing people with this certificate. Also, talking to some people who have gone through the certificate program to see what they have done with the certificate may also be useful. (Betty)
Hi,
In the current situation getting position with a BS (PH) is a bit difficult. Employers are looking for more PH informatics people, since huge reformation of health systems. I think if you could be able to study any computer/health informatics course (gain skill how to develop databases or systems etc) would provide a comfortable job. Don't waste your time for searching JOBS.
Good luck
Dr.Duvvuri
I AM NOT REALLY IN THAT PART OF OUR FIELD BUT WANT TO ENCOURAGE YOU NONETHELESS. First, you are doing a smart thing by asking, and do that at every job interview along with a request for other leads and contacts. Then, just generically, and I think I hear that from you already, express the love you have for the field and the opportunities it provides for meaningful work. You know you want to love what you do by doing what you love, and as the Beatles said : "The love you give is the love you get!" Best of luck! P. S. I sometimes picture myself as a Public Health Superhero but when I go in the phone booth to change into my superhero outfit I just come out the same but with a mirror to show people their own super-ness! We each have a light to shine and showing people that spark in themselves is indeed a high calling, and one that health educators and others play at quite often. (Eric Triffin, MPH)
My solution has been to go in a new career direction: I am now working as a HS science teacher with a special ed certification (obtained via field-based studies here in New Hampshire).
But now, with Obama's new focus, perhaps she could work with a community clinic or other health care organization and get some experience before continuing with her degree. (Barry Kaplan)
State health departments are hiring most people at entry level positions. Often a Careers Trainee (CT) position for which one merely needs a Bachelor's degree. (Barbara Pickett)
Falls and medications' interactions with each other and foods are both important topics but relatively typical. Exercise and balance are also important. However, I think that creating linkages so that elderly spend quality time with friends would be a very intriguing challenge. Perhaps a project to encourage and facilitate healthy eating clubs of or more people who could get together monthly and share a healthy pot-luck supper...alternating whose apartment to go to, and which part of the meal each prepares. Some kind of synopsis or feedback from them about their success stories would be great too. Perhaps you could combine it with you attending some of these to do oral histories of especially meaningful anecdotes from their lives and combine the stories and recipes into a booklet of "Healthy Recipes for Living Long and Prospering from Friendships"? Oral histories gathering stories on a variety of topics could be continued from this with "Finding Love in Your Life," "Tips and Ideas on Adding Life to Your Years from Those Who Have Done it!" "Most Memorable Memories from the Past and Fondest Hopes for the Future" That's my quick offering! Yours in health, Eric Triffin, MPH
You can always volunteer at a number of nonprofit agencies that provide services to s enior citizens, just so you have an idea of the types of services that are currently available to them. Many social services provide for the basic needs of this population, (e.g., Meals on Wheels), and many religious organizations have developed ministries that specifically address the spiritual and physical needs of senior citizens.
If you are in the field of health education/health promotion, you can work with agencies and health departments to develop programs that educate senior citizens about many of the health issues that (and all of us, eventually, if we live that long) they face, many on a daily basis.
There are many residential communities that are developed specifically for this population that may offer wellness programs that can use a good health educator. For sure, as the baby boomers reach the age of retirement, the need will be great for self-care, given that Medicare is not going to last forever without some changes. For more information about senior health, check my Web page, http://www.bettycjung.net/Seniorhealth . Betty
Unfortunately, the market right now is awful for everyone. Attending public health meetings, or any professional meetings in your area of interest is a good way to network. I've heard that APHA is the best conference to go to for networking and for posting your resume.
You can post your resume on employer Web sites, if they are recruiting online. You can post your resume on a number of general job sites like Monster.com, Careerbuilder.com. You can subscribe to my Public Health Jobs E-list for free, which includes jobs in a variety of setting, at http://www.bettycjung.net. Most of the jobs included have links that you can click on for more information and/or applying online. You can also use the Jobs search engine on my Web site for available jobs, which is available on all the jobs-related Webpages. Start at: http://www.bettycjung.net/Jobindex.htm (Betty)
I suggest that you contact professional law associations for guidance regarding intellectual property issues and health law, and who is handling such issues today, and what kind of educational preparation is needed to practice in that area.
I believe intellectual property issues, especially with published materials, have received more coverage because of the availability of materials on the Internet. The ease in accessibility has also raised red flags as to how intellectual property can be protected online. The whole issue of plagiarism has become a major issue on many college campuses today because it is so easy to cut and paste from the Internet and students have not developed an academic appreciation for "giving credit where credit is due." Intellectual property issues really revolve around theft of intangible ideas made tangible through published materials, which can be words, or even tunes.
Finally, if you are interested in any area of law, even if it overlaps with the field of Public Health, most likely it would be best to get a law degree. Nevertheless, an MPH degree would provide you with the background needed to appreciate why a law is important in addressing Public Health issues, and may be useful in helping you develop good health policy. (Betty)
My employer actually provided me with tuition reimbursement! Online courses are a great way for students who have difficulty traveling to the University Campus. So many colleges are now offering distance learning opportunities. However I do not recommend this for undergraduates, as well as I do not recommend it for individuals that do not have excellent time management skills and self discipline. You have to be very regimented to ensure you are reading your lectures and preparing your assigments. Because there are no exams (at least in my courses), there are a lot of research papers that have to be written and daily assignments that require you to do a lot of research and writing.
You have to be very careful of the schools you choose to attend. You want to research the school to ensure that the programs are accredited, look at the faculty qualifications and if possible, speak with some former students. You want to make sure that the program of study involves the typical courses of all other universities. For example I had to make sure that not only was the University accredited, but the nursing program I was to complete was also an accredited nursing program. The program had to meet all the same qualifications as any university or college offering a MSN program.
I also went as far as asked some college administrators what they knew about the University of Phoneix. The reason I choose the school, first of all was because I was unable to travel to school, plus I wanted an education that focused my Nursing studies in Integrative Health. You also have to ensure you have resources available to you to do certain projects. For example, the University that I attended had both campus and online classes. However since I could not travel to the campus I had to set up my projects with qualified mentors that had to be approved by the University. So knowing what the requirements/expectations are, are vital to avoiding any problems if the intended program requires a practicum/onsite project.
If there are specific questions you wish me to answer, please let me know. But I have to be honest, I had a fabulous education. (Jeannine Capria)
Congratulations on thinking about pursuing a Public Health career! It's a wonderful career path (and, of course, I am being biased). Naturally, it is important to obtain an education that will prepare you to be proficient in public health practice. However, this is easier said that done simply because Public Health is so broad.
There is a place in Public Health for different levels of educational preparation, from baccalaureate to doctoral. The current requirement is a master's level of educational preparation, preferably, a Master of Public Health degree from an accredited institution of higher learning.
Your question about online institutions have set me on a quest to find out more about online education just so I can give you an informed opinion about this matter. So, the following summarizes what I have found.
To meet the current needs of potential students, many educational institutions have begun to offer some of their courses online for busy people. Some of these courses can lead to a certificate in a particular area of expertise. In some cases, completion of online courses may be accepted for credit towards a degree from the institution granting online courses. There are also institutions granting degrees that are administered entirely online, with a requirement to attend online classes for a short period of time annually on a physical campus.
On a more pragmatic basis, it would be important to think about how your college degree will be viewed by potential employers, because, after all, you do want to find a job after you have earned your degree.
I contacted three state personnel departments and the US government for their view on accepting an online degree for educational requirements for a civil service job. I heard back from two state personnel departments. Here are their responses:
From Connecticut Department of Administrative Services: "we will recognize college credits/degrees from any institutions of higher learning that are accredited by an accrediting body recognized by our State Department of Higher Education. It is recommended that you check with the State Department of Higher Education first to determine if an on-line program is accredited before signing up if you intend to use that education to qualify for entrance to any civil service exams which we may offer." "...you may want to inquire as to whether or not the university accepts transfer credits from a particular on-line program. They follow the same guidelines as we do when it comes to recognizing credits from an outside institution of higher education."
From NY State Public Health Information Office. They check to see if an online educational institution is "listed as an accredited institution of higher learning," adn whether the accrediting agency is recognized by the U.S. Department of Education and the Council on Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA).
Conducting a literature review on employment trends, I found a good article about online vs. brick and mortar universities discussed in detail in How Do Employers View Online Degrees? Though concerns exist, acceptance is on the rise in an emerging industry .
To get a better idea of what online education is, check out:
Online Education FAQs .
And, here is a quiz to take How To Know If Your Online College Is A Credible One?
Another good article that offers caveats is Credibility of Online Education
Conducting a literature review on hiring trends, I found that an online graduate degree is more acceptable than an online undergraduate degree. Then again,"Only 20% of employers have hired a job applicant with an online degree." (http://www.vault.com/nr/newsmain.jsp?nr_page=3&ch_id=420&article_id=28540309&cat_id=3291). In some fields, like
library science, 60% of employers view an online degree as second class (http://www.libraryjournal.com/article/CA6269436.html).
Finally, if you want to read about where online education is heading, check out E-Learning—A Financial and Strategic Perspective .
In general, a buyer beware attitude is probably the best approach to considering online/distance learning/e-learning education even though there are more of these educational opportunities available these days because of the Internet. Taking online courses from accredited brick and mortar universities to fulfill some of the degree requirements are probably okay, as long as these institutions accept the credits from these online courses towards the degrees they confer.
Finally, my opinion on this? Program accreditation should be a prime requirement for judging the credibility of any educational program. However, if you plan on being an academic and would like to eventually teach in a brick and mortar university, then you should get your education at such insitutions. Lastly, if you are not a risk taker, brick and mortar education is a safe bet, all around, when it comes to both advanced educational and professional opportunities. Incredibly, state universities supported by public monies most likely meet the stringent requirements of the U.S. Department of Education, and are safe bets to meet the scrutiny of picky employers. (Betty)
You can check the Grants Resources Page on this Web site for possible sources of grant funding. The global economy, unfortunately, is not very good and many grant sources have dried up as a result of belt-tightening. Probably, the course to take is networking with professionals in your area of expertise who may know of unpublicized sources of funding.
If you are pursuing a doctoral degree, you can contact potential academic institutions to learn more about research projects they are involved in. Of course, if you are a saavy consumer of research reports, you may be want to follow up with institutions that are actively publishing their wonderful accomplishments to see if they are looking for additional researchers. (Betty)
Subscribe to my Public Health Jobs E-list for the most current internship opportunities available. Sign up on the Home Page
Contact the Danbury Health Department to discuss with them? See if there are any jobs listed on the DAS website in that area. (Barbara Pickett)
Some generic suggestions: look in the blue pages for city agencies like the Health Department but depending on your training and interests you may find possibilities in the Board of Ed., DEP, Inlands/wetlands, Social Services, Human Resources, Senior Centers, Parks and Recreation, etcetera. But then ask whether there is any directory of social service agencies in the area (often put together by a group like Youth and Family Services, or the Community Health Center). The idea also is to call each place, or even go to as many as possible for a direct contact and a reading for yourself of what that agency is like. It also would be an interesting introduction for you to get a pulse on the city's health assets...and ask everywhere you go for any leads or ideas for you to follow next.
People usually want to help you, especially if they feel bad that they have no jobs to offer you, they often feel better by trying to send you elsewhere! The other idea is to seek to develop the help and networking to fund your ideal job...then write the grants to make it happen...this would take being a self starter, and ability to promote yourself. Look for help from local grant writers for the City, the Health Department, Board of Education or local colleges/universities.., and any local employment websites...like asking Betty! Good luck helps, too! And I think showing up, making yourself known as you survey the possibilities...make up a stand out business card to leave everyone with a way to contact you if they think or hear of anything later. (Yours in health --- Eric Triffin, MPH)
Try these sites
http://careers.apha.org/search.cfm
http://www.epidemiologic.org/jobs/
http://www.naccho.org/careers/
http://www.astho.org/index.php?template=employment.php
http://chronicle.com/jobs/
(Sheree Boulet)
Here is a link for public health opportunities posted by Emory (Rollins School of Public Health) . (Jeannine Capria)
Check my Job Index Page for links to job search Webpages on this Web site. You can also sign up for the Public Health Jobs E-list that now goes out daily. I also just posted a new job search engine you can use to find what's available anywhere. You can find this on any of the job search pages, but I have made it available here as well. All you do is type in a job title in the "what" box, and a geographic location in the "where" box. Generally, a broader term works best, like program, data, epidemiologist, service, etc. For location, type in a state instead of a specific town or city. (Betty)
Has the person checked out USAjobs.gov . This is the federal hiring site and there are so awesome Public Health jobs listed there (especially in the field of Env. Health). Hope this helps! Take Care! (Brian Wnek, MPH, RS)
I'm not that familiar with the entire area, but in Neptune NJ there is a hosptial called Jersey Shore Medical Center that the student can check on their wellness/public health programs. Or I would talk to the volunteer department of the Medical Center to see if they would have any further information. Jersey Shore is part of the Meridian Health System that has one of the most comprehensive wellness programs in the area. Also in Freehold (which is about 25 minutes from Neptune), Centre State Hospital has a Health and Wellness Center that they probably would work with some interns. I hope this helps. Please let me know if there is anything else I may be able to provide for you. (Jeannine Capria)
I think your best bet, if you are interested in pharmaceuticals, is to contact one of the pharmaceutical companies, i.e. Wyeth, Glaxo Smith Kline, Merck, - and request that a representative in your area contact you. They have $ set aside for educational opportunities - I am confident that a representative in your area would be more than happy to meet with you during the times you requested. Hope this helps. (Linda Greengas)
I think he could Google pharmaceutical companies around him. He could talk to his local health director for some input: Health Officer: Stephen L. McKee, 3 Penelope Lane, Middletown, NJ 07748-2594 (Located adjacent to the Middletown Town Hall), Phone: 732-615-2095
Fax: 732-671-8697
He could speak to the pediatrician in charge of a local pediatric practice or the pediatric department of a hospital. I think when he's saying "meet" with this mentor for 3 hrs a week, he means intern with the mentor-I imagine there would be something he would be working on. He could also contact a local university/college. Hope this helps. (Barbara Pickett)
I would suggest he call either his pediatrician or perhaps even the local health department and see about coordinating plans and needs around pandemic flu planning, having something of a vested interest in him as their patient, student, resident , or future health care professional, maybe one or a combination of all would invest in this project of self and collective development. (Yours in health, Eric Triffin, MPH)
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