As anyone who has ever set foot on a college or university knows, they are worlds of their own. And just as a military base is a microcosm of the society as a whole, so are colleges and universities with their own government, police force, and much more. Not the least of these is a public health system that works to keep the citizens of this city healthy.
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When it comes to those who want to get a job in public health at a college or university, there are usually several capacities where those who work with public health are employed. This article will serve as a primer to those most common posts.
Off to See the Doctor?
At many small colleges across the country there are clinics and doctors and dentists who contract with the institutions to take care of the health needs of their students. This care is normally administered in the care giver’s office with insurance paying for whatever treatments are appropriate.
At most larger colleges and universities, students who have health issues are normally taken to an on campus facility where a staff of doctors and nurses attend to their care. To go into some of these “health centers” and one would probably have trouble telling them from any large medical center, with its capabilities.
A third option for the largest and best equipped colleges and universities is an on-campus medical center. The main purpose of these facilities, of course, is to teach medical students their skills, but under the watchful eyes of licensed physicians these institutions provide high level medical care to not only students but the community as a whole.
In addition to all of the levels of care provided by these institutions, many have other public health responsibilities and initiatives for the physicians and other professionals where they attend to the health needs of the students and local community.
Teaching
Next, and perhaps the most obvious for those who want to work on the grounds of a college or university in some capacity of public health is as an instructor of the subject. In this capacity those with a wide variety of backgrounds in the subject would be qualified to teach. These would include public health nurses, epidemiologists, and many others. Of course, these positions would call for those who fill them to have completed a master’s degree and perhaps even a doctorate degree in the subject prior to placement, but these positions are available.
Protection
Besides those who teach the subject and those who perform medical tasks related to public health activities, there are also those who work on college and university campuses to ensure that public health directives of the state and local government are carried out on campuses to ensure the health and safety of students and faculty members on a daily basis.
Public health is such an all-encompassing subject and responsibility that there are numerous capacities that might require those with such backgrounds are kept on campus. It is also interesting to note that with the introduction of GIS technology, which allows those with these skills along with those of a public health person, the responsibilities will not only continue, but grow in the years to come.