Four US universities promoting public health equity

Vaccine trials. Physical distancing. Mask mandates. 

These are all part of the research and decision-making process that public health experts are constantly involved in as the pandemic stretches on. They have shown us just how necessary medical advancement is for communal wellbeing and addressing inequities in healthcare accessibility. Public health has resurfaced as an in-demand field, connecting the dots between data-driven empirical research, policies, and awareness. 

Public health schools in the US have been active in leading research to continually understand and mitigate health risks associated with COVID-19. With cutting-edge facilities and the best minds in healthcare, there is nowhere better to learn about how cultural, social, and environmental factors affect global health.

If you’re eager to directly improve the lives of others in your community, here are four top US public health schools to consider: 

The Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health

Source: JHU Bloomberg School of Public Health

If you want to be an expert on prolonging life, preventing and controlling disease, as well as promoting physical and mental health, and deploying important health services, where better to learn than the number one public health school in the world? At the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, you’re not just trained for the field; you’re meant to lead it, too. Learn from experts who save lives millions at a time, including Nobel Prize winners and advisors to the Biden administration.

The Bloomberg School of Public Health is known for its unrivalled breadth and depth of programmes that are hands-on and flexible. Choose from more than 90 degree programmes and 40 certificate qualifications in areas such as epidemiology, mental health, and health policy management.

Whether you prefer full-time or part-time study, online or on-campus courses, the Bloomberg School of Public Health offers flexibility for everyone to advance their careers in public health. Its four-to-one student to faculty ratio and small class sizes ensures full participation in a highly interactive environment.

The Master of Public Health (MPH) boasts a rigorous curriculum that is current, interdisciplinary, and evidence-based to nurture students into career-ready public health practitioners who can adapt to emerging challenges in the field. Students will have the chance to collaborate with experts engaged in international research and gain valuable knowledge from their peers, as well.

The learning doesn’t end there: students will become part of the largest MPH alumni network in the world. With over 80 research centres and institutes available for internships and hands-on experiences, students can get a head start in producing ground-breaking work to improve health in their communities.

UC Berkeley School of Public Health

Source: UC Berkeley School of Public Health

UC Berkeley needs no introduction for its academic and research excellence. Named the number one public university worldwide by US News and World Report, its School of Public Health is directly involved in community-engaged initiatives that address inequities in healthcare access. 

2021 brought even more success to Berkeley Public Health, including trailblazing work in COVID-19 response, faculty honours, and the establishment of the school-wide Changemakers Initiative that helps students translate theory into practice. The school is well-known for its Online Master of Public Health (Online MPH), a flexible 27-month programme that empowers working professionals in an effective digital environment. 

The Online MPH gives remote students the same perks of on-campus learning, including access to tools, resources, and faculty in real-time. Students can move forward with their career while simultaneously learning from the world’s foremost experts in global health. 

The school’s innovative approach to public health allows students to take a more focused approach to arrive at inventive solutions. Five concentrations are offered under the programme: Interdisciplinary concentration, Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Health Policy and Management, Public Health Nutrition, and Graduate Certificate in Health and Management. As a result, graduates come out accomplished to create sustainable, long-term changes that transform patients’ wellbeing. 

University of Minnesota: School of Public Health 

Source: University of Minnesota, School of Public Health

Established in 1944, the School of Public Health at the University of Minnesota is listed among the top 10 schools of public health in the country. Looking at its list of innovations and achievements related to health-related legislations, it’s little wonder that the school’s research has far-reaching impacts, such as conducting the first Ebola vaccine trial in West Africa and the largest global HIV/AIDS treatment study.

With four academic divisions offering 19 graduate degrees, there are multiple pathways that will prepare you for a successful career in healthcare. The two-year Master of Public Health (MPH) helps graduates transition into rewarding roles related to population health and community awareness, with keen knowledge on environmental health, epidemiology, maternal and child health, public health nutrition, public health data science, and more.

For those who are keen to take on leadership roles, the top-ranked Master of Healthcare Administration (MHA) equips students to become effective by emphasising deep institutional knowledge in healthcare delivery, financing, population health management, business literacy, problem-solving, as well as professional development.

The School of Public Health sparks doctorate success too. Four Master of Science (MS) degrees are offered: Biostatistics; Clinical Research; Environmental Health; Health Services Research, Policy and Administration. All lead towards successful careers in research and academia 

Emory University: Rollins School of Public Health

Source: Emory University

Located in Atlanta, Emory University is home to Emory Healthcare, which is the most extensive healthcare system in the state of Georgia. The healthcare system is made up of 11 hospitals, the Emory clinic, and also forms the Emory Healthcare Network — the largest clinically integrated network in Georgia, with more than 2,800 physicians focusing in 70 specialisations. 

That’s not all. Emory’s location at the “public health capital of the world” and its proximity with many state and regional health agencies, such as the US Centres for Disease Control and Prevention, make it the ideal study location for aspiring professionals in the sector. 

At Emory’s Rollins School of Public Health, students can embark on a two-year journey in the Master of Public Health programme, specialising in areas such as Behavioural, Social, and Health Education Sciences; Global Environmental Health; and Health Policy. Students with a particularly solid background in Mathematics or  Science can opt for the Master of Science in Public Health.

“As a school, we strive to foster an environment where innovation, discovery, and differences are embraced and celebrated,” says James W. Curran, Dean of, Rollins School of Public Health. “Core to this vision is a commitment toward diversity, equity, and inclusion, which extends not only to race, religion, sexual orientation, or gender, but also to a diversity of thought and opinion.” 

*Some of the institutions featured in this article are commercial partners of Study International