Public Health Administration and Career Opportunities

What is a Public Health Administrator?

Public Health Administrators are people who work in public and private healthcare organizations and oversee the non-clinical business operations. These individuals are in charge of the management and administration side of healthcare organizations in hospitals, physician practices, non-profit facilities, and other healthcare organizations. They often-times oversee the health departments in other organizations too, some of which are overseen by county and/or federal government agencies. Public Health Administrators maintain a high level of quality health standards, assist in establishing and operating treatment programs, manage the finances of an organization, and offer oversight to other leadership departments in the organization. These individuals have exceptional leadership skills and work independently to protect the quality of public healthcare in their organization and community. 

What are the daily responsibilities of a Public Health Administrator?

• Assess community health issues
• Develop community programs that assist in improving public health
• Educate the public and governing bodies regarding community health issues
• Ensure government regulation compliance within public health
• Create organization budgets regarding public health and healthcare
• Secure funds through grants and fundraising
• Daily tracking and trending reporting related to public health and health crisis

Public Health Administrators have an obligation to both the organization which they work for and the public that they serve. To be an effective Public Health Administrator, you must make sure that both the organization and public health needs remain separate but are equally important and balanced among one another. You cannot have a positive impact on public health without also focusing on the business and operation needs of the organization and vice versa.

What type of careers and salaries are found in the field of Public Health Administration?

Many organizations hire public health administrators within the range of advocacy groups, consulting firms, non-profit organizations, universities, health-based grant projects, regulatory agencies, as well as state, local, and federal government agencies.

Within these public health establishments, you could expect to gain employment in:

• County, State, and Federal Government Agencies
• Education
• Health Information Technology
• Health Center Administration
• Public Health Engineering
• Public Health Policy Advisory
• Public Health Journalism

While national salary statistics for public health administrators are not currently available, according to www.careerhealthjobs.com, an Assistant Public Health Officer can expect an annual salary range of $129,521 - $194,929, an Assistant Director of Clinical Services can expect an annual salary range of $75,000 - $85,000, and a Health Program Manager can expect an annual salary of approximately $53,292. Salaries are based upon geographical region and can vary from one location to another.

The U.S. Bureau of Labor and Statistics (BLS) compiled a summary regarding Health Education Specialists and Community Health Workers in different positions and salaries which averaged a 2020 annual median pay of $48,140, an average of 127,100 jobs filled in the public health sector in 2019, and an approximate job outlook of 13% which is much faster than the national average. You can find a list of Medical and Health Services Manager positions, job summaries, salaries and more at https://www.bls.gov/ooh/community-and-social-service/health-educators.htm. 

What type of courses are included in a Master’s Degree in Public Health Administration?

Depending on your University of choice, MPHA courses can include:

• Global Health
• Community Health
• Health Policy and Management
• Biostatistics
• Epidemiology
• Environmental Health Sciences
• Health Services Administration
• Social and Behavioral Sciences
• Public Health Law and Ethics
• Public Health Administration

What are the benefits of obtaining a Master’s Degree in Public Health Administration?

• Expanded public health knowledge and skills
• Increased career opportunities
• Program flexibility
• The opportunity to greatly impact your community

With the global pandemic of COVID-19 spreading rapidly within our communities and throughout the world, we have begun to see a significant public health impact to which the need for public health professionals is becoming more prevalent. With a MPHA, having the chance to learn and understand healthcare crises and the way that they impact our society is crucial in healthcare maintenance; i.e. knowledge is power! We have a crisis on our hands with this global pandemic, so much so that more and more public health administration positions are being created at a rapid pace and is making now the time to jump head first into the public health administration field. With a MPHA, you have the flexibility to pursue a degree in public health administration with the ability to work within the broad aspect of public health and the career fields outlined above. Would you like to become a Public Health Advisor and have a positive impact on your local community health through advisory oversight? How about becoming a Public Health Administrator, working in either private or government organizations, and assisting in community public health to overcome health crises such as the COVID-19 pandemic? The opportunities are limitless with this degree program.

Concordia University of Nebraska offers many different educational options and opportunities that have been grounded by Christian faith. They have professionals on staff to help you in your decision and to ensure that you are satisfied with the program of your choosing. As a student with CUNE, you will benefit from a comprehensive program which prepares you for leadership positions in any educational and career path of your choosing. With a Master’s Degree in Public Health Administration, the opportunities are readily available and the time to focus on your career is now!

In order to gather more information regarding the two different MPHA degree programs offered at Concordia University of Nebraska, degree programs including a MPHA in Community Health Education or a MPHA in Health Policy and Administration, click here.