Even with the amazing advances in modern medicine over the last few hundred years, careers in public health will continue to be in-demand for the foreseeable future. Let’s look at a few reasons with this guide The Slient News why, even with a healthier and more hygiene-conscious population, we need experts to study how public health issues should be managed.
Epidemics
Throughout human history, epidemics of virulent diseases have ravaged our populations. Hundreds of outbreaks have devastated humanity from the smallpox that harried Roman citizens 7,000 years ago to the yellow fever epidemic that surged and resurged through the American settlements in the 1700s. The list is long, particularly between the well-recorded 1400s until the 1960s. Though we have had our scares — the Ebola virus, smallpox in India, the SARS coronavirus — except for HIV/AIDS, humans have avoided wide-sweeping epidemics in recent decades. HIV/AIDS, the flu and cholera remain three of the most persistent and deadly epidemics modern medicine must face. Though much attention goes to the doctors who treat patients inflicted by these diseases, the researchers who seek a cure and the organizations that offer palliative care, not so much attention is directed at the hard-working and much-needed public health workers who work to prevent and end epidemics. To find out more on how to be a part of this exciting, necessary work, click here and read on.
Preventative Medicine
One of the reasons developed nations no longer fear epidemics of childhood diseases such as polio, measles and other disfiguring or fatal illnesses is because outreach of preventative medicine programs have been successful. Childhood vaccinations as well as the 100 years of education about nutrition, hygiene and basic first aid have contributed to this. The public health strategies have lessened the occurrences of bacterial and viral infections in the United States, and have saved lives. Public health workers provide an important service to the community in designing and implementing outreach programs that provide access to preventative care and education about self-care.
Geriatrics
Public health workers specializing in serving geriatric patients are likely to discover growth in their field over the next decades. As the population of developed nations ages, and as people enjoy longer life spans, increased focus will be given to long-term strategies for elderly patients. Public health specialists can find promising careers working with local and regional hospitals, clinics and community outreach programs, assisting with logistics, strategic planning and implementation of policies.
Developing Nations
Though the United States and other developed nations enjoy a high standard of infrastructure and public health, there remain many places around the world today that do not. Experts specializing in the public health field can play important roles in assisting government programs or non-governmental organizations with public education, outreach, professional development and other essential tasks. Building up a well-designed infrastructure that takes care of public health needs for the residents of developing nations will make these populations better able to help themselves in times of epidemic, natural disaster or political unrest.
Fiscal Management
People outside of medicine often talk about health in terms of their personal bodies only. But public health specialists need to look beyond the health of the individual and assist communities, hospitals, families and schools in looking at the financial side of health. From working with insurance companies on personal liability claims to training building inspectors how to evaluate a structure for Bumber health concerns, public health specialists have much to do in helping governments, corporations and even family units decide how they will manage their money to cover concerns that may later impact their health or the health of their residents or workers.
In the upcoming years, there will be more ways professionals specializing in public health issues can use their education and experience to positively impact the community around them or even the lives of people who live far away. The demand for this important set of careers is growing.
