What is a Public Health Analyst?

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A public health analyst is an integral figure in facilitating a better state of health for entire communities. Public health analysts are public health professionals that critically analyze the policies and programs affecting the state of public health in populated communities. They also invest a substantial amount of time into spreading awareness about important health knowledge. The public health analyst can hold seminars and educate attendees about the latest and most critical developments in public healthcare and community health.

These public health professionals work to create solutions to health challenges that affect public health around the world and can include a wide range of issues. The public health analyst can play an important role in addressing these issues.

In addition to working to solve health problems, a public health analyst may also work to coordinate and launch health programs. They may also expand operating health programs to improve their effectiveness in promoting public health.

Public Health Analyst: Education

To begin on the path to becoming a public health analyst, planning for education and getting work experience to get you there is critical. Both education and work experience will pave the way to gain the skills and knowledge needed to earn the advantage needed in getting a desired position.

Earning a bachelor’s degree in a related field such as public health and health management are common. To be eligible for many positions, the minimum standard is the possession of a master’s degree in public health or any other related study areas. Should a prospective public health analyst have gotten their degree in a subject apart from public health, they may still qualify with a couple of years of professional experience working in public health programs.

Public Health Analyst: Certification

The Certified Health Data Analyst (CHDA) is the designation recognizing expertise in health data analysis. This certification validates the certification holder’s knowledge and ability to acquire, manage, analyze, and interpret health data. In turn, this data is turned into timely information to inform the public health analyst’s reporting to drive future decisions in public health programming.

To be eligible to sit for the CHDA certification, candidates must hold a Registered Health Information Technician (RHIT) or Registered Health Information Administrator (RHIA) credential, or hold a bachelor’s degree or higher from an accredited university. While not required, candidates are recommended to have a minimum of three years of healthcare data experience, including experience in data acquisition, analysis, management, interpretation and reporting, and in data governance. Those searching public health analyst jobs may find some require certification and other education.

Qualifying Traits of a Public Health Analyst

In addition to academic requirements and hours of professional experience in health programs, public health analysts have a diverse set of skills. Public health analyst prospects will be consistently invested in emerging studies and new developments regarding public health. Public health analyst roles are best-occupied by those who have a real passion for healthcare and overall community betterment.

The public health analyst will need to demonstrate or provide testimony to their proficiency with data interpretation. Not only must the analyst be proficient at interpreting data representations, but also at developing actionable responses to them. An understanding of public health policies, programs, and how to develop, implement and evaluate programs are skills a public health analyst is expected to have.

Public health analysts will need to be skilled in understanding how to collect and examine important data and provide interpretation and insights based on this analysis. Naturally, in order to carry out their responsibilities in the modern world, public health analysts will be computer literate and comfortable in using the employer’s software applications provided for the job.

A public health analyst must possess the right level of interpersonal skills and communication skills to smoothly collaborate with their team and clearly share the gravity of their findings. These public health professionals must be effective communicators to state findings and recommendations to not only their team but also to public health and governmental officials and the general public. Public health analysts will also need strong people skills to hold effective advocacy presentations, invite questions and compel audience engagement.

Tasks of a Public Health Analyst

As soon as a public health analyst begins a new project, their primary focus will be to thoroughly examine a policy or program to develop an accurate interpretation of its environmental impact. Depending on the area, public health analysts may have anywhere from one to several dozen programs and policies to examine and provide feedback on.

After carrying out their full analysis, public health analysts will need to create a prudent strategy for satisfying the areas of greatest need that they’ve identified. In addition to examining policies to assess for significant areas of need, public health analysts must also propose an efficient way to measurably determine the success of any strategies that they propose as solutions.

Once their analysis and corrective measure strategies have been established, public health analysts will need to coordinate with community leaders and policy makers. Ideally, the public health analyst can clearly communicate the value of their strategies with key community influencers who are receptive to the cause and inspire decisive action. Excellent communication skills, both verbal and written, are required of a public health analyst.

Public Health Analyst Jobs Outlook

The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that medical and health services managers can expect to see a robust job outlook of 32% between 2020-2030, with positions such as health information managers listed among the titles in this category. With a median salary of $101,340, people in this field can expect healthy growth and opportunity. Another related field listed by BLS.gov is occupational health and safety specialists, with a median salary of around $74,870 and a 7% growth rate expected between 2020 and 2030.

The field of health and public health is growing because of an aging population and jobs vacated through retirement or other reasons. Public health analyst jobs are part of this trend in health care.

Does the field of public health still make a difference in the world today?

Public health initiatives over the last century have added 25 years to the life expectancy of people in the United States. Public health’s greatest health improvements in the last 100 years include: workplace safety, infectious disease control, food safety, mother-baby health, decline in death from heart disease and stroke, motor vehicle safety, immunizations, family planning, fluoridated drinking water, and the health hazards of tobacco use and more. Public health programs can be expected to continue to be an important field into the 21st century and beyond. Public health analyst jobs can expect to make a difference in public health through data and health analysis.

Professional organization for Public Health Analysts

With their vision to “create the healthiest nation in one generation,” The American Public Health Association is the champion of health for all people and all communities. APHA works to strengthen the public health profession and speaks out for public health issues and evidence based policies. APHA influences federal policy and, with close to 150 years of perspective, brings together members from all areas of public health. APHA’s mission is to improve the health of the public and achieve equity in health status. Their values represent the beliefs of their members from all disciplines of public health (including public health analysts) and over 40 countries.

MPH Staff, Updated May 2022