r/publichealthcareers

Public health to Medical Lab Scientists

I have a bachelor’s in Public Health and have been working many years in public health but ultimately the pay is not great and an MPH seems to be not worth it. I was interested in nursing when I was younger but working in multiple hospitals in different departments, interacting with patients and seeing how admin works has left me very discouraged from nursing. I love lab work and might have to take some pre-reqs for MLS.

Have any of you made that career pivot? How was it?

Hey everyone,
I’m 34, I live in NYC, and I am at a massive career crossroads. I have an MPH and have spent the last 5 years working directly with clients/patients in HIV/STI/Hep C prevention. I genuinely love patient care both the physical and emotional/behavioral sides of healthcare, but I am incredibly demotivated by how poorly public health pays.
I’ve been stuck in the exact same pay bracket for three years now. I recently had to take a second job just to supplement my income and stay afloat, but I am exhausted. I want one job that allows me to make what I actually deserve, have a real work-life balance, and finally move toward having my own place (renting or buying here feels impossible right now).
A friend of mine got her PMP, but even as a seasoned professional with way more public health experience than me, she is struggling heavily to find employment. I absolutely do not want to go back to school or get a certification that won’t pay off in the long haul.
I want a clinical/billable license to leverage my income, and I'm torn between two paths to supplement my MPH (open to other paths if you have any suggestions):
1. Nursing (LPN/LVN or ASN)
The Appeal: I know NYC hospital nursing pay is strong and it would immediately fix my income problem.
The Hesitation: I'm 34 and working two jobs; I don't know how I could realistically find the time or flexibility to balance work and school.
My question for RN/MPHs: Was it easier to get your foot in the door at hospitals/clinics compared to traditional new grads because of your public health background? What does your day-to-day look like?
2. Social Work (MSW)
The Appeal: I love the mental health and emotional side of care. I know you can do micro/clinical work or therapy, not just macro. The schooling also seems way more flexible to complete while working.
The Hesitation: I worry the starting pay for an LMSW in NYC won’t actually solve my financial stress, and that I'll be stuck waiting years to get an LCSW before seeing real money.
My question for MSW/MPHs: What roles do you hold, and has the dual degree actually given you leverage for higher-paying positions or hospital roles out of the gate?

In essence, I’m tired of the two-job grind. If you’ve transitioned from pure public health into either of these fields in NYC or a similar high-cost-of-living area, I would love your raw, honest insight on the day-to-day, the pay, and whether it was worth the investment.

Thanks in advance.

I’m looking for some strategic career advice from those who have navigated the transition from clinical operations to senior healthcare leadership.

**Background:**
I have a BSc and an MSc in a specialized clinical science (lab-based, non-nursing/non-MD). I have worked in clinical environments for several years and have been in a Lab Director-level role for the past year. I hold a PMP certification and am currently looking to pivot from a highly specialized clinical niche into general healthcare operations, with the eventual goal of reaching VP and COO-level roles.

**My Dilemma:**
I am planning to fund my education out-of-pocket and want to ensure the highest ROI for my C-suite ambitions. I am currently debating between an **Executive MHA (e.g., Telfer/UOttawa)** and an **MPH**.

1. **MHA vs. MPH:** Given my goal to scale into general operations and C-suite roles, is the MHA effectively the 'gold standard' for breaking the 'clinical director' ceiling?
2. **MBA vs. MHA:** I’ve heard mixed things about MBAs for those already in healthcare. Would an MBA be redundant given my clinical background, or is it a necessary differentiator for VP/COO roles?
3. **Career Transition:** I am concerned that my current specialized clinical title is 'locking' me into a niche. Does an MHA successfully act as a bridge for someone looking to move into broader health system management or theprivate/pharma sector?

Any insight on how a clinical leader can best position themselves for a 'horizontal' move into general ops would be greatly appreciated."

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Hey everyone,

I’m looking for some realistic advice on how to get my foot in the door as an Epic Analyst. I recently graduated (May 2026) with my MS in Computer Science and Engineering.

During my time in grad school, I worked as an Analyst Researcher processing large epidemiological datasets. That experience really solidified my interest in healthcare IT, and I know I want to build a career in this space—specifically working with Epic systems. I've been actively on the job hunt for Data Analyst or Epic Analyst roles, but I’m running into the classic "experience paradox."

It seems like almost every Epic Analyst position requires you to already be Epic certified, but from my understanding, you can't get certified unless a hospital system or consulting firm hires and sponsors you.

For those of you who have successfully navigated this or have broken into Health IT from a traditional tech background:

• What job titles should I be searching for? Should I be looking for "Associate Application Analyst," "Epic Support," "Business Analyst," or something else entirely?
• Where is the best place to look? Are there specific job boards I should monitor, or certain managed service providers/consulting firms that are known to hire and sponsor entry-level candidates?
• Should I target a stepping-stone role? Given my CS degree and background in processing epidemiological models, are there specific non-certified IT or data roles within a hospital system that I should target first to get internal access to Epic and eventual sponsorship?

Any advice, reality checks, or pointing me in the right direction would be incredibly appreciated! Thanks in advance.

I am a MPH grad with a concentration in community health promotion. Most of my career has been in lower paying non-profit work such as mental health/housing case management. I love working with people and am very passionate about the work itself, but there seems to be little room for growth and higher salaries. I am considering going back to school for nursing and have found an accelerated masters program aimed at those with non-nursing BAs (I have a BA in psych).

Has anyone made this switch before and glad they did? I’m nervous about going back to school and taking out loans again but would love to find a purpose-driven job with more growth opportunities.

Would appreciate any advice/feedback!

I did my undergrad in public health and applied to a lot of jobs with no luck. My dream was to go into epidemiology but really, I would have been okay with any PH job for my first full-time job.

I’m currently working as a medical assistant and thinking about applying to an MPH/MBA program. I was wondering what people’s thoughts on job opportunities would be if I did that? I know an MBA would open up a lot paths for me but what else could I do to still pursue epidemiology? I considered nursing but I don’t think I’m cut out for it.

Edit: I do have a couple of public health data analysis internships under my belt from undergrad, if that makes any difference.

Hi everyone,

I have an MS in Psychology and now doing MS in Global Urban Health from Germany. My master's thesis focuses on mental healthcare accessibility for migrants in Germany, using qualitative research to explore barriers, social inequality, and ways to improve access.

I'm confident about my research interests—they lie at the intersection of migration, mental health, healthcare accessibility, and social inequality. However, I'm struggling to decide which discipline would be the best fit for a PhD: Anthropology, Social Work, Psychology, or Public Health.

My priority is to choose a field that aligns with my research interests while also providing strong long-term career opportunities in academia, research, policy, NGOs, or international organizations.

For those familiar with these fields:

• Which PhD would you recommend for someone with my research interests, and why?
• Which discipline offers the greatest flexibility and career opportunities after graduation?
• Is there another field I should also be considering?

I'd really appreciate your advice. Thanks!

I’m about to be a freshman in college majoring in public health, and I’m also on an pre med track attempting to be a doctor but if that doesn’t work I may want something else as an alternative with this major. Is it worth it to be a public health major or should I major in something else because I’ve heard it’s hard to get a job with this major. And if you think j should major in something else, what should I major in?

Edited: I might switch back to biology(physiology) focus

Hi everyone, I’m looking for recommendations for a decent public health position, preferably remote, but I’m also open to part-time in-person opportunities in the Sacramento, CA area.

I graduated with my bachelor’s degree in Public Health (Healthcare Administration concentration) in December 2023. For the past two years, I’ve been working in a paid internship at a major hospital in Sacramento. Even with internal hiring opportunities, it’s been really difficult to secure a permanent position. I’ve had my resume reviewed a few times and personally I think it’s very nicely put together and highlights my strengths.

I’ll be honest, I haven’t been able to dedicate months of nonstop job searching because I’m also in nursing school, which takes up a lot of my time. That said, I’ve still submitted around 100 applications through Indeed, LinkedIn, and internal job postings, and I haven’t received a single interview.

Does anyone have recommendations for companies that are hiring, job boards that have worked well for you, or any advice on getting into a permanent public health role? I’d really appreciate any suggestions. Thank you!

So with the new law it feels impossible to practise as a doctor in the UK. I had done my MBBS From Uzbekistan and Ukraine(Had transferred). I am a transgender person. I wanted to know if I should do any course like Mch or any other masters course(may be Masters in Microbiology or Public Health) in order to live a stable peaceful life in the UK/Any other safe country for LGBTQ individuals. Has any doctor done this before ? Would it be a good idea? Do you have any suggestions for me ?

Hi guys! i’ve always wanted to become a doctor, but throughout the years I have realized how hard and competitive the path really is. I am a rising high school senior and i am planning on majoring in public health and minor in international relations.

What I like about Public health is all the doors that it opens. I can choose to follow the MD, PA or public health route. I feel that pairing it with international relations will help me a lot because i am passionate about helping underserved communities and working with the “diplomacy” aspect of the path. I’ve seen people online and articles talk about how you can get a job at international organizations like UNICEF, FDA, WHO, etc!

Please lmk if the combo is good and what colleges I should add to my research list! For now I have 7 in state (FL) and 2-3 out of state. I heard ASU is great for public health and they are making a Medical school so it’s a great path if I end up choosing the MD route.

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Hi everyone, I’m an International Medical Graduate (MBBS) with a Master’s in Healthcare Informatics looking for advice on breaking into Epic/Clinical Analyst roles. I am focusing strictly on academic medical centers and university health networks since they are cap-exempt and can bypass the H-1B lottery entirely. My background blends clinical workflow literacy with health data training, targeting technical analyst roles that don't require programming. If you are a healthcare professional working in an analyst role on an H-1B, I would love to connect. Please comment or DM me if you have any tips for getting a medical resume noticed by hospital recruiters or know of visa-friendly health systems!

Thank you in advance.

If you’ve taken a medical-related course (MOA, MLA, Dental Assistant, Unit Clerk, Pharmacy Assistant, Optician, Health Care Assistant, or any other healthcare program), I’d really appreciate if you could share:
What course did you take?
Which school did you attend?
How long was the program and how much did it cost?
Was it worth it?
How long did it take you to find a job after graduating?
What was your starting pay?
Do you enjoy your work now?
If you could do it again, would you choose the same program or something different?
A little about me: I have a healthcare and clinical research background from outside Canada and have been getting interviews for MOA positions, but I haven’t been able to secure a job because I don’t have Canadian clinic experience. I’m considering going back to school but want to make an informed decision before investing time and money.

Hi, I am planning on doing an MPH in India from either of these places. I have a BSc Biochem background and am interested in health policy researcher roles in think-tanks anything related to evaluation and intervention, assessment of health systems, maybe jobs that involve fieldwork. I am still figuring out and keeping my mind open but I am pretty interested in public health and policy overall. Which of these is a better fit and provides more research breadth, better faculty, an environment with more people interested in similar areas?

I am slightly leaning towards Gandhinagar currently but am hearing multiple things.

Hi everyone! I’m looking for some guidance regarding eligibility for the CIC (Certification in Infection Prevention and Control) exam.

I’ve been working as an epidemiologist at a state Department of Health for about a year. My primary role focuses on fungal disease surveillance, not hospital-based fungal diseases. I also support zoonotic disease surveillance, analyze surveillance data, respond to rabies-related inquiries, and provide guidance on rabies post-exposure prophylaxis and vaccinations.

I have both a DVM and an MPH, and my work is entirely in public health rather than a healthcare facility.

Based on this experience, do you think I would meet the eligibility requirements to sit for the CIC exam?
Has anyone qualified through a similar public health or epidemiology background instead of a traditional infection prevention role?

I’d really appreciate any advice or experiences. Thanks!

Hi everyone!

I'm currently an MPH(Epi & Biostat) student (expected graduation: December 2026), and I've recently become very interested in pursuing a career as an Infection Preventionist.

One of the biggest barriers I'm running into is that many IP positions prefer or require RNs, and I'm having a hard time finding internships or entry-level opportunities that would allow me to gain relevant infection prevention experience as an MPH student.

I'd love to hear from any Infection Preventionists with an MPH (especially those without a nursing background). How did you break into the field? Were there specific internships, fellowships, or entry-level roles that helped you get your first IP position? Any advice on skills, certifications, or networking would be greatly appreciated.

I'm also currently working toward earning my Associate – Infection Prevention and Control (a-IPC) certification to strengthen my qualifications.

Thank you in advance for sharing your experiences!

and that pays well…. and has a good work life balance (ik that’s too much to ask)