If you’re interested in pursuing a career in the medical or healthcare industry, then chances are that you already know how many different options are available to you. Whether you will focus on surgery, administration, medicine, or public health will depend on your specific preferences, and what you hope to achieve in your professional future.
For example, for those people who have great empathy when they see other people in trouble, a career in public health could be the perfect choice, as job opportunities in this field provide a real opportunity to help others and make a difference. Though these careers are both mentally, and physically demanding, they’re also highly satisfying for those involved with them. On the other hand, if you prefer to focus on medicine, and discover how pharmaceuticals can work to cure a range of diseases and change the world of healthcare as we know it, then you might be better suited earning your master of medicine degree. This is a postgraduate degree awarded to medical students following a series of surgical and medical classes, who have completed a fellowship to register as a specialist.
Masters in Public Health
For those health experts with a keen focus on making a difference in the world around them, or even their local community, pursuing a master’s degree in public health (MPH) can be incredibly rewarding – particularly if you’re committed to improving the lives of people on a wide-scale basis. The MPH degree holder can obtain jobs anywhere from a local to a global scale. While local public health experts might focus on reducing the presence of certain diseases in a specific area, global public health experts focus on huge health concerns such as SARS, bird flu, malnutrition, SARS, and even global warming.
Subjects leading to MPH degrees are often taught with an international overview, and focus on the ways in which professionals in the health industry can become indispensable on a worldwide basis. Usually, this work overlaps various national borders, as researchers and public health leaders develop new methods to institute reforms, prevent disease, and promote well-being. Public health degrees also give students the chance to obtain in-depth knowledge of the varied and complex nature of public health issues that affect people today. This opens up a range of opportunities various public health careers focused on making a significant difference to people’s longevity and quality of life. If you are passionate for worldwide health, this is likely the right degree for you.
Finally, many public health degrees also focus on equipping students with analytical skills, while maintaining interdisciplinary focus. Subjects often overlap with other classes including economics, psychology, statistics, and international relations.
Career Options with an MPH Degree
Of course, part of what prompts you to pursue an MPH degree will be an insight into the kind of careers that you might be able to pursue after graduation. Some of the options available are obvious, whereas others focus on your level of specialty and experience. For instance:
- You could become part of a healthcare management team. This is one of the first options chosen by students who prefer to complete an MPH degree. A job in this area requires individuals to solve problems that are faced by the healthcare system, which means using all of your skills and knowledge to help health care organizations improve their operations.
- It’s also possible that you might seek out a career in the area of health policy. This will require you to solve problems within a hospital or government organization while keeping in mind the perspective of the institution in question. The main factor you will need to remember when performing your job is that you will need to analyze many multi-faceted issues which have an impact on various groups and committees.
- Finally, you may be tempted to look at the career options available to you in the area of global health. This is perfect for people who prefer to work abroad, as it means they can take up a career in a range of different areas. Just remember that specialization in global health during your master’s degree will make it easier for you to obtain the job that you want. This career requires a professional to work in similar conditions to those in any healthcare policy job. However, it extends to a global scale, which often means working with a much larger and more diverse population.
Masters Programs Specializing in Medicine
For those with a keen interest in the science of medicine and the healthcare industry, a masters degree in medicine offers options for advanced training in a range of different healthcare and medical disciplines. These educational programs often form part of a broader pathway for medical qualifications, which means that they can later lead to a PhD degree. On the other hand, these programs might provide further options for professional development to applicants with existing experience and qualifications.
The subjects that are taught in the realm of medicine are used to develop both practical expertise and theoretical knowledge in specific areas. For instance, you might choose to take a highly specialized medical degree, such as a master of surgery, or you could otherwise embark on a far broader academic project with a MREs in medicine. Some of these degrees are specifically designed for already qualified doctors and practitioners. However, others will be open to a broader range of post graduates who want to specialize in medical science.
Careers for People with a Masters in Medicine
The career options that are available to those with a masters degree in medicine will depend on their academic and professional background. For instance, if you already have medical qualifications, then further training on a postgraduate level will give you the option to specialize or consider moving into a new area of medical practice. On the other hand, a master in medicine degree might be part of your choice to move further into the medical profession, so long as you have the right training placements line up.
Many people with this qualification choose to work in hospital administration and management, while helping to expand and promote the work of medical initiatives and charities. If your interests are purely academic, then a program focused largely on research may help you to prepare for a career with a university department or a PhD.
At this time, about 67% of all people who have a masters in medicine are achieving full-time employment around six months after graduation, while another twenty percent go on to study further for PhD degrees and other qualifications. The remaining graduates are often involved in voluntary activities and part-time employment. Popular careers in this area include:
- Human health activities
- Education
- Scientific development and research
- Public administration, including security and defense, and governance
Specializations in Medicine Degrees
It may also be interesting to know that master’s degrees in medicine can also involved specializations depending on the interests of the student, with specialist courses available in speech pathology, epidemiology, audiology, immunology, and health administration. Many of these courses can also be taken online, which is particularly beneficial to students who want to continue their education around the demands of an existing job or other commitments.
