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How did you start your public health career?

How did you start your public health career?

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Shelley’s Answer

There are many pathways into public health, as other responders have noted. I studied nutrition in undergrad and initially thought I would want to go to medical school. However, I realized I wanted to be on the prevention side making a broader public impact rather than focusing on individual patients. I attended a graduate program in public health and came out feeling like I knew a little bit more about a lot of different public health topics (e.g., global health, nutrition, health communications, health policy, epidemiology). Internships at local health departments, volunteering at community health clinics, and conversations with a variety of people in the field of public health helped me get into a public health-focused career with the federal government. You have a lot of options in the public health field and I hope you continue to look for ways to pursue it! We need more people who care about prevention and public health.
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Kazi’s Answer

Sounds like you are interested to learn about someone's journey into a public health career,
First thing is you need a strong educational foundation in health science, such as a bachelor's in public health, psychology, or nursing, a master's in something similar to public health, epidemiology, or health policy.
To gain experience, volunteering in community health work, AmeriCorps,
Internship in NGOs or the health department.
Get an entry-level job in health, like a health educator, outreach worker, or program assistant
The main thing is to stick to your goal, maintain the key education of your choice.

Hope this helps,
Best,
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Dr’s Answer

Hi Alexis!
Honestly, starting a public health career isn’t always as clear-cut as it seems on paper. A lot of us just stumble into it through life, maybe by seeing health issues in our own communities or realizing we care more about people than we first thought. Schools don’t really tell you how broad public health is, like, it’s not just doctors and policies, it’s also clean water, food safety, mental health, education, and even how cities are built.
I can tell you for some it started with volunteering and seeing what wasn’t working around them. they didn’t have a perfect plan, just curiosity and the guts to step into uncomfortable spaces. And one big thing people don’t talk about is that It takes time to find your lane. And that’s okay.

Hope this helped. Feel free to reach out if you got more questions. Wishing you all the best bud.
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Shea’s Answer

I have always had a strong interest in the body, and Eastern Medicine. Massage Therapy was just a step in the right direction. My career continued to blossom, and to help so many people.
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