The Summit Ahead

10 Major Public Health Organizations Field Professionals Should Know About

Written by Shelly Quance | 5/23/19 2:23 PM

As a future leader in the field of public health, it’s crucial that you familiarize yourself with the major public health organizations that are impacting the public health landscape. The more familiar you are with these organizations, the more informed you’ll be of the current and emerging public health trends.

That said, let's dive into 10 of the major public health organizations so that you can increase your understanding of current public health trends and research before, during, and while you pursue a graduate degree in public health.

Major Public Health Organizations:

Here are 10 well-known and well-respected public health organizations, according to the Advocates for Public Health Education:

  1. World Health Organization (WHO): WHO directs and coordinates health activities within the system of the United Nations.
  2. National Institutes of Health (NIH): NIH is the nation’s top medical research organization, and it makes many important discoveries that boost health and save people’s lives.
  3. US Public Health Service Commissioned Corps: Provides needed health care services underserved and needy populations within the United States.
  4. Council of State and Territorial Epidemiologists (CSTE): Organization of member states/territories that represent public health epidemiologists.
  5. National Environmental Health Association (NEHA): A national professional society of environmental health practitioners. Started originally in the state of California.
  6. American Public Health Organization (APHO): The oldest and most diverse public health professionals organization in the world.
  7. Association of Public Health Laboratories (APHL): This dynamic organization works to boost the strength of laboratories that work in the interest of the public health both in the US and around the world.
  8. The Public Health Foundation (PHF): Dedicated to creating communities of good health through the use of training, research and technical support.
  9. Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR): This agency is part of the US Department of Health and Human services, and takes public health actions as needed.
  10. Pan American Health Organization (PAHO): A health agency that has over a century of experience is boosting the health and living conditions of the countries in the Americas.

Spend some time making yourself familiar with these (and other!) public health organizations. Doing so will only expand your knowledge base and prepare you for meaningful conversations with other public health professionals. 

Working in Public Health is Versatile:

Public health is a versatile career field, and for this reason, public health professionals are able to take positions in a variety of work environments including:

  • Traditional Public Health Organizations
  • Traditional Service-Focused Organizations
  • Federal Health Agencies
  • State Health Agencies
  • Local Health Agencies
  • Consulting Firms
  • Consumer Advocacy Organizations
  • Hospitals
  • Research Corporations
  • Private Businesses

Because the field of public health has career opportunities suited to a variety of interests, skills, and environments, working in public health is a great option for professionals hoping to make a career change or for recent college graduates looking to change their field of study in order to pursue a mission-driven career that’s focused on transforming the lives of others.

Understanding WVU's School of Public Health:

The West Virginia University School of Public Health is fully accredited by the Council on Education for Public Health. The only accredited public health program in the state, WVU is home to undergraduate and graduate programs in various public health disciplines at the BS, MPH, MS and PhD levels.

WVU’s School of Public Health strives to prepare graduates to make individuals and communities happier, healthier, and safer by preparing new generations of health leaders. Within the School of Public Health, there are five departments that offer experienced-based graduate studies and opportunities to work with expert faculty and industry partners:

Are you ready to transform the field of public health?

It’s exciting that you’re seriously considering becoming a public health professional and starting by pursuing a graduate degree in Public Health at West Virginia University. We’re proud to offer experienced-based graduate studies and opportunities to work with expert faculty and industry partners. We invite you to visit our website for more information on how you can get your application started today!

 As an aspiring leader in the field of public health, it's important to choose the right graduate program for you. We invite you to explore our newest interactive resource — Impacting Social Change in the Field of Public Health!
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