Personnel are needed in practically every area of specialization in public health. The U.S. Department of Human Services reported in its Eighth and Ninth Reports to the President and Congress on the Status of Health Personnel in the United States that there were shortages of public and community health personnel in a wide range of public health specialties. Recent events involving bio-terrorism, mad cow disease, West Nile fever, and the avian flu have increased the public’s need for a strong public-health system. In addition, growing public awareness in the areas of environmental toxins, infectious diseases such as AIDS, and socially based problems such as substance abuse and early pregnancy, increases the demand for professionals in public health. Because the Master of Public Health degree represents excellent entry-level training in management, administration, leadership, and quantitative and population-based methods, graduates are suited to fill a broad range of workforce needs in the health sector. The MD/MPH or DVM/MPH combination is also a strong asset for many career choices. The major career tracks and employment opportunities are:

Public Health Practice, Management, Administration, and Leadership: This field encompasses the largest number of public health and population medicine professionals. It includes: (1) community health and preventive medicine operations, management, administration and leadership, and in local, regional, state, national, and international public health programs and agencies; (2) population-based aspects of the delivery of health care, such as in managed care organizations; and (3) the practice of medicine, veterinary medicine, nursing, social work, and other clinical and para-clinical fields. This field is in great need of additional staffing in many areas of California and the nation.

Epidemiology, Biostatistics, and Informatics: This career track encompasses professionals trained in the systematic identification of health risks and their distribution and determinants in populations. This field links clinical medicine, population medicine, diagnostic laboratory medicine, biostatistics, and informatics. This is a rapidly changing field, marked by technological innovation in informatics and communications, and in diagnostic laboratory sciences. Part of the efficiency of managed-care organizations will derive from this field. This career track will have much future growth and considerable upward mobility for entering professionals.

Public Health Education, Social, and Behavioral Sciences, and Nutrition: This is a broad field of professionals trained to help people change to healthier lifestyles, to make more efficient use of health services, or to adopt self-care preventive practices in areas such as nutritional health, maternal and child health, physical fitness and anti-smoking programs. This area involves modern communications technology, motivational technology, and use of the media. With many open positions in California, it is also a field with much projected future expansion, especially in managed-care organizations.

Environmental and Occupational Health: Professionals in this area are trained in occupational medicine, toxicology, sanitary engineering, water and air quality, and environmental health sciences. These professionals are concerned with the identification and control of substances and hazards in the environment and in the workplace that may affect human and ecosystem health. There is a growing number of open positions in California with much future expansion expected.

Human and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases: Professionals trained in either of these areas will be prepared for positions in the infectious disease sections of Public Health Departments at the county, state or federal level. For these professionals, there would also be international opportunities available, especially in developing countries, including positions in international disease control programs.

Veterinary Public Health: Professionals trained in Veterinary Public Health will be attractive to infectious disease programs at local, state or federal agencies. In addition, these professionals will also be sought after for food safety and environment control programs. The opportunities to work domestically or in international programs will be numerous.

International Health: This area of emphasis prepares students from different disciplines to work in the international health arena. Opportunities for professionals trained in international health would include positions with organizations and agencies such as the World Health Organization, USAID and the US Peace Corps—as well as with non-governmental organizations in many developing countries.