Public health is the science of protecting, promoting, and improving the health of our communities. It plays an ever-important role in our country and the world, ensuring that people across borders are kept safe. Working in a public health role means making a difference in others’ lives—locally, nationally, and globally. It means taking action and facilitating change. It means preventing disease, promoting healthy choices, and prolonging the public’s lifespan.

That’s the role of public health at a high level, but there is so much more than what meets the eye. Because public health is a multidisciplinary field—marrying medicine, epidemiology, environmental health, mental health, social welfare, and more into one—it plays a major part in our lives. And, as you can imagine, public health workers often wear many hats.

Below we explore more about the role of public health, as well as the professionals and agencies who are the driving force behind this vital field.

What is the role of public health today?

Public health plays a vital role in promoting and protecting the health of individuals, organizations, communities, countries, and populations. Its scope, and its impact, are widespread. As such, public health plays more than one role—it serves many functions of equal importance. These include:

Disease Prevention:

Especially in the wake of COVID-19, one of the key roles of public health professionals is to prevent and reduce disease. Public health workers can be found developing vaccination campaigns, tracing disease spread and contacts, as well as implementing programs to increase the public’s awareness of a disease and its prevention. In recent years, public health workers have also trained and marshaled to contain outbreaks of infectious diseases. All the while, they have worked to address ongoing challenges like antibiotic resistance, which threatens to undermine treatment for common infections.

Health Promotion:

Another key role of public health is to promote general well-being, which means promoting healthier lifestyles in communities. This is particularly important as our nation faces the rise of chronic conditions like obesity, heart disease, and diabetes. Many public health initiatives today focus on encouraging healthy eating, physical activity, and reducing substance use. For example, efforts to curb vaping among teens have gained traction, as we’ve gained more research around its side effects.

Health Education and Advocacy:

Public health professionals are experts in their field. They have studied the healthcare system in our country, conducted research on public health threats, and become familiar with strategies to mitigate risks in our communities. Because of their breadth of knowledge, public health professionals often play the role of educator, teaching the public about preventative health measures and any arising concerns. These professionals might develop education campaigns surrounding certain topics. Mental health, substance abuse, immunizations, and environmental health are some current initiatives top-of-mind.

Research and Data Collection:

A key role of public health professionals is to conduct research to understand health issues and solutions, and inform decision-making regarding health programs and policies. For example, ongoing research into “long COVID” is crucial for understanding the long-term effects of the virus and developing appropriate interventions. Public health data collection also drives responses to environmental health risks, like the impact of pollution on respiratory illnesses or the spread of illnesses due to climate change.

Facilitating Access to Health Services:

In addition to teaching the public about proper healthcare, public health also plays a crucial role in ensuring people can access the healthcare they need. Public health workers help expand access to various healthcare services, particularly in rural or lower-income areas, and work to ensure more equitable healthcare systems. For example, these workers may spend time reducing healthcare costs, increasing the availability of primary care, and ensuring populations can access specialized services like prenatal and mental health care.

Increasing Health Equity:

Touched on above, part of expanding access to healthcare services means that public health professionals must be aware of—and ready to act against—stark health inequities. For example, marginalized populations that suffer disproportionately from disease, hospitalization, and death are a key focus in the discussion of improving public health. Public health workers aim to address disparities in health access by focusing on the social determinants of health such as income, education, housing, and access to healthcare.

You can make a difference in the health of others. Start today by pursuing a public health degree at Goodwin.

Monitoring and Responding to Health Emergencies:

Public health agencies and professionals (particularly those specializing in epidemiology) are constantly monitoring health outbreaks, natural disasters, and other emergencies or threats. And, after a global pandemic, we know how important this timely monitoring—and subsequent action—can be. Public health professionals help respond to issues threatening the public as they arise, whether that’s developing vaccination programs to fight a new illness, or ensuring the public has what they need in the aftermath of natural disasters like wildfires.

Policy Development:

Policy development is one of the core functions of public health. Public health professionals help shape policies that protect community health, like regulations around food safety, air quality, and workplace safety. (Think, mask mandates and social distancing guidelines during the COVID-19 pandemic). Policies and interventions like these are essential for safeguarding the health of populations, and a key component of the public health role.

Examples of important public health roles

By addressing current public health challenges, such as infectious diseases, chronic conditions, and health inequities, public health professionals work together to reduce outbreaks, improve quality of life, and enhance the public’s resilience to future crises. Unlike healthcare providers, who make a difference in the lives of individual patients, public health professionals have the power to influence entire communities, organizations, and beyond.

So, what types of roles are most impactful in public health? Here are a few examples of public health roles that our graduates have secured and loved:

• Biostatistician
• Child development specialist
• Community health nurse
• Community health worker
• Disaster preparedness coordinator
• Environmental health officer
• Epidemiologist
• Health promotion specialist
• Non-profit director
• Public health educator
• Public health director
• Public health researcher

Check out our ultimate list of public health career possibilities here!

If you are searching for a meaningful and impactful career, you may consider a role in public health. Public health has become essential to our population, ensuring that our safety and health are protected through ongoing assessment, assurance, and change.

Let us take you there. Goodwin University is a leading public health school in Connecticut, with bachelor’s and master’s degree programs in public health. We can help you prepare for, and secure, a successful role within the public health field. Learn more by contacting us online.