Why work in public health?
Find out about developing public health knowledge and skills, the rewards of a public health career, and the settings you could work.
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Skills and knowledge needed to work in public health
If you decide to work in public health, you'll be developing knowledge on subjects such as:
- differing health needs
- what influences our health and wellbeing
- how to prevent ill-health and promote health
And you will be developing skills in areas such as:
- analysing and interpreting information on people and health
- reviewing literature on what works to make a difference
- effective communication, joint working and leadership
These are just a few examples of the kinds of knowledge and skills you might gain. A more detailed framework exists of all the knowledge and skills [2] (or competencies) in public health.
If you can make change happen and believe passionately about improving and protecting people's health and wellbeing, then public health is the career for you.
The rewards of a public health career
Here's what some people working in public health roles say about what they do:
- “working as a director of public health [3] to bring government departments and organisations together has been really rewarding”
- "it was great to know that our work in environmental health [4] on controlling a food poisoning outbreak protected other people from further harm"
- “my proudest accomplishment as a health trainer [5] is the development of a client-centred service that is making men’s health matter”
Working in public health also means that you can get to work at local, regional, national and international levels: