The World Health Statistics 2024: Monitoring Health for the SDGs (Sustainable Development Goals) highlights a grim truth: in just two years, the COVID-19 pandemic erased over a decade of global health progress. By 2021, life expectancy had fallen to 71.4 years, and healthy life expectancy (HALE) to 61.9 years.
The US was hit especially hard, with life expectancy dropping by three years and HALE by 2.5 years between 2019 and 2021. Heart disease remains a major concern, with the American Heart Association reporting that 127.9 million Americans over 20 years old have cardiovascular disease, including coronary heart disease, heart failure, stroke, or hypertension in 2024.
These numbers send a clear message: we need more healthcare professionals and problem-solvers to help make the world a healthier place. If you want to be part of the solution, here are three US universities with top health science programmes to help you get started.
Advanced education and research training by the University of Tennessee Health Science Center’s College of Graduate Health Sciences give you the skills you need to succeed in academia, industry, and government. Source: University of Tennessee Health Science Center
Health science education at the University of Tennessee Health Science Center’s (UTHSC) College of Graduate Health Sciences (CGHS) cannot be beat. Home to Tennessee’s only public, statewide academic health science system, CGHS offers various degrees across six colleges: Dentistry, Graduate Health Sciences, Health Professions, Medicine, Nursing, and Pharmacy.
If you want to know how drugs affect living organisms, the Pharmacology (MS) builds expertise in medical pharmacology, biochemistry, and drug therapy. For a policy-focused path, Health Outcomes and Policy Research covers medication use, healthcare disparities, and system-wide policies, with Health Policy/Health Services, Pharmacoeconomics, and Health Informatics and Information Management concentrations.
The Master of Science in Epidemiology equips students and professionals with independent research and grant acquisition skills, offering tracks in Clinical Investigation, Biostatistics, and Data Science. “I highly recommend the degree to anyone looking to investigate real-world health challenges with the support of dedicated faculty,” says Saskya Byerly, a UTHSC faculty member and former student. Previously a trauma surgeon and critical care intensivist, the programme solidified her ability to “take a clinical question, design a study, collect data, and analyse and interpret it effectively.”
If you’re a busy professional looking to advance your career, CGHS offers affordable certificates. The online Certificate in Clinical Investigation offers specialisations in Health Disparities or Health Behaviour Intervention, while the hybrid Healthcare Quality Improvement Certificate trains professionals to optimise patient care and streamline healthcare services.
These programmes are delivered across UTHSC’s four campuses and are supported by 100 Postdoctoral Scholars and 507 faculty members dedicated to student success. “All (our) efforts have the goal of providing our trainees with useful skills to launch their careers with an excellent and satisfying start,” says Dean Donald B. Thomason.
Their efforts have made UTHSC a Carnegie R1 Institution (a designation for institutions with very high research activity), and with US$132 million in federal research funding, students get to work on projects at institutions like St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital and LeBonheur Children’s Hospital. Upon graduating, they follow in the footsteps of the 100% of alumni who secure employment once completing their studies. Learn more about the flexible programmes, expert faculty, and real-world opportunities that await at CGHS.
With a network of scientists, educators and clinical partners, Texas A&M Health prepares you to meet evolving healthcare needs. Source: Texas A&M University
Founded in 1862, Texas A&M University has been a driving force in education, innovation, and service, with the Texas A&M University Health Science Center (Texas A&M Health) at the forefront. It is the most comprehensive health science centre in Texas, providing interprofessional training across its five schools and colleges.
The College of Dentistry is the largest oral healthcare provider in North Texas, offering specialised training in ten dental fields. Meanwhile, the College of Medicine combines medical education with community-driven care, preparing future physicians and scientists to tackle today’s most pressing healthcare challenges.
The College of Nursing offers degrees, certificates, and continuing education programmes that integrate learning with real-world experience, thanks to strategic partnerships and collaborations. Then there’s the Irma Lerma Rangel College of Pharmacy, which delivers a fully accredited pharmacy programme that trains pharmacists to serve communities across South Texas, the US, and beyond.
Last but not least, the School of Public Health — the largest in Texas and ranked fifth in the nation — offers degree programmes in Environmental and Occupational Health, Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Health Behaviour, and Health Policy and Management, as well as a Bachelor of Science in Public Health.
Complementing these extensive offerings is research excellence. The university’s 29 research centres and institutes focus on key areas of health science, driving discoveries that shape the future of healthcare. Or if you want to participate in projects that make a difference, you can join four initiatives, for example Healthy South Texas.
At the Bouvé Center for Drug Discovery, scientists and students explore cells, genes, and molecular processes to develop new treatments for cancer, addiction, and more. Source: Northeastern University
Great healthcare starts with understanding people. That’s exactly what Northeastern University’s Bouvé College of Health Sciences students learn to do. By combining knowledge with hands-on experience, you’ll graduate ready to make a real difference from day one.
At the heart of Bouvé’s mission are its four schools: the School of Clinical and Rehabilitation Sciences, the School of Community Health and Behavioural Sciences, the School of Nursing, and the School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences. They offer various academic degrees for all levels, from undergraduate and graduate to clinical doctorates and PhD programmes.
As part of an R1 institution, Bouvé allows students to get involved in research projects early. You’ll work closely with expert faculty in 12 state-of-the-art research centres, engaging in hands-on research to address pressing healthcare issues.
But your education isn’t limited to the classroom; professional development programmes are available to help you grow in every direction. Bouvé College Professional Development and Continuing Education prepares you to lead in clinical, community, and administrative roles. Meanwhile, PreMed and PreHealth Advising supports anyone aiming for medicine, dentistry, and veterinary science careers.
And when it’s time to apply what you’ve learned, the opportunities are endless. Whether through co-op placements, research, service learning, or global experiences at top hospitals and healthcare settings, you’ll gain hands-on, paid experiences that prepare you for your next step.
*Some of the institutions featured in this article are commercial partners of Study International
Enquire to study in the UK 
