Global and Public Health

Public health addresses health concerns of communities at risk for disease and injury. Career opportunities in global and public health are diverse, and include such fields as: health services administration, biostatistics, epidemiology, health education/behavioral science, environmental health, international health, maternal and child health, nutrition, and public health practice/program management.

Finding Internships

Keep in mind the importance of gaining regional and/or technical competence. Identify an organization whose mission you value and check their website for opportunities, or be proactive and contact them. Organizations that arrange international opportunities are also plentiful. They typically charge a fee and provide a range of services that might also include: placement with a host organization, orientation, housing, in-country support, housing assistance, and development training. Evaluate these organizations carefully to determine whether there’s a good match with the opportunity—as well as with the organization—and speak with several past participants about their experiences.

Finding Jobs

These are broad career fields, and oftentimes multidisciplinary, entry-level jobs can be found in many settings. Identify organizations whose mission you value and check their websites for entry-level opportunities. Learn more about the recruiting structure of the organizations to help you plan your approach. Consider a paid post-graduate internship or fellowship, if available. Identify your interest areas and seek opportunities that will help you get experience and build skills. Foreign language ability, interpersonal skills, and cross-cultural competence are increasingly important.

Graduate and Professional Programs

In general, the M.P.H., M.H.A., and Dr.P.H. degrees are oriented toward practice in public health settings, such as health departments, managed care organizations, community-based programs, hospitals, international agencies, state and federal agencies, etc. The M.S.P.H. and Ph.D. programs are oriented toward careers in academics and research. To find and select public health schools you should begin your search with the Association of Schools of Public Health, which lists accredited programs.

…But How Do I Make The Right Choice?

Published on April 7, 2023

It’s that time of year – you’re starting to hear back from volunteer sites, research opportunities, graduate schools, or internship/job applications. Now that you know what your possibilities are, how do you decide which one to pursue?

Making big decisions …

By Katie Fell
Katie Fell Assistant Director, Harvard College Still Deciding, Exploring, & Self-Assessment
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Dianelis Lopez, Molecular and Cellular Biology

Published on January 23, 2023

Where are you located now?
São Paulo, Brazil

What are you doing?
I will be engaging with the immigrant community in Brazil through and immersive travel cultural experience, and later on I will be conducting malaria research at the University …

By Mignone Center for Career Success
Mignone Center for Career Success
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N.Y. plan to involuntarily treat mentally ill homeless? Not entirely outrageous.

Published on December 12, 2022

Psychiatrist Katherine Koh praises attempt to try something new but says long-term success would require more resources, planning for hospitalization, housing, care

For years, American cities and towns have struggled with how to address those living on their streets who …

By Christina Pazzanese
Christina Pazzanese Harvard Staff Writer
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Dianelis Lopez, Molecular and Cellular Biology

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