Public health focuses on keeping groups of people healthy through child wellness programs, disease prevention efforts, education, disaster relief, clean water, access to healthcare and more. The field is broad and the challenges are complex, but solving them gives a sense of satisfaction unparalleled by most other jobs.

For example, an environmental health specialist monitors water quality at a beach to ensure it is safe for swimmers. A community health worker conducts home visits in a low-income neighborhood and connects families with local clinics and social services to ensure they receive necessary medical care and support. And a public health emergency response coordinator works with communities to develop plans to limit the spread of diseases like COVID-19 and Ebola.

A career in public health can feel like a constant mission to protect people from harm, whether it’s from infectious diseases, unsafe food or drink, or the lack of affordable healthcare and insurance. Those who work in the field have a unique opportunity to address all of these issues simultaneously, and their work can impact everyone from individuals to entire nations.

A degree in public health can lead to a variety of career paths, including in non-profit organizations, healthcare systems and government agencies. The degree is also a good fit for deeply intellectual students who enjoy processing large amounts of data and working to solve complicated problems. In this career, every new awareness campaign, scientific finding or policy change has the potential to positively affect millions of lives around the world.