What is Public Health and Why it Matters
By Nazsa Baker , PhD , MA , Assistant Professor of Public Health
In the words of C . Everett Koop , “ Health care matters to all of us some of the time ; Public Health matters to all of us all of the time .” While clinicians in the medical field treat individuals one at a time , public health researchers , practitioners , and educators prevent disease and injury at both the community and population level .
With a degree in public health , students in both the undergraduate and graduate programs can work with for-profit organizations , non-profit organizations , academic institutions , and government agencies . For-profit organizations are often interested in public health graduates that have skillsets in statistics , technology , and communication . Students with public health degrees can obtain careers including biostatistician , lobbyist , community health worker , policymaker , infectious disease specialist , data manager , emergency preparedness specialist , environmental advocate , and health educator to name a few .
Bachelor of Science ( BS ) and minor in Public Health and an online
Masters in Public Health ( MPH ) with a concentration in health equity . As a public health major at GMercyU , students participate in real-world research projects on a variety of topics . Recent projects include Black male firearm violence survivors at a level one trauma center in New Jersey and the needs of residents during COVID-19 in Camden , New Jersey . The program also prepares undergraduate students to sit for the Certified Health Education Specialist ( CHES ) credential exam before entering the workforce . Traditional undergraduate public health majors who are eligible have the option to complete their BS in public health and MPH degree in as few as five years through our 4 + 1 MPH option . An
early entry option to the MPH is also available to other GMercyU majors .
GMercyU graduates can take advantage of the 10 % alumni tuition discount for graduate programs . Learn more about GMercyU ’ s
Master of Public Health program .
TODAY 11