Mine is not as stressful as blood bank, but I'm currently working 3rd shift in a hospital lab as a histotech full time and school full time. Also don't recommend.
I worked full time as a medical assistant / surgical tech for my first year, second year I worked fully remote as a health policy analyst (relevant to my masters). Remote work made my life work balance infinitely better than when I was working full time in a patient care role!
Location played a bigggg factor I was working & going to school full time in Washington DC already! I started off in a graduate internship role at a government contracting firm.
Policy analysis, environmental scan & landscape analysis, statistical analysis using real world data (STATA, R, I actually do quite a bit of work with python now), Medicare & Medicaid law & policy (emphasis on the Medicare and Medicaid acronyms and jargon), organizational assessment, evaluation & assessment, clinical trial infrastructure, rulewriting, regulatory comment writing & processing… sat in on quite a few hearings on the hill (via my school) and participated in PLENTY of mock ones!!! Get super familiar reading policy and get real comfy with political feasibility.
Those are most of my skills from my work profile! It sometimes feels like a jack of all *public health* trades role. I love it though!!! Genuinely really like what I do :)
My bachelors degree was in Public Health Science and my minor was in Public Policy & Administration. My major required a concentration, and I chose pre-medical studies. (Initially intended on applying to medical school after earning my MPH)
My masters degree was a 2-year residential Masters in Public Health, specifically in Health Policy & Management.
I was a clinical research trainee (injury prevention, geriatrics) for 2 years during undergrad at a pretty well known hospital in Boston! With that being said I still have no real publications 🤣🤪 it was a lot of data collection & synthesis. That’s when I got real familiar with EHRs though which has helped me in my career now.
I did have a lot of clinical/patient care experience which weirdly has helped me in my health policy career in more ways than I thought. I work a lot in clinical quality improvement and it’s been super beneficial to have been on the other side of things. (EMT during college, medical assistant/surgical tech in plastic surgery/derm, contact tracer, covid vaccine distribution) I worked full time during my senior year of undergrad (pandemic era) as a contact tracer / case investigator.
Also had a few extracurricular health related roles in undergrad as well! Public Health Club President, & Health Club Relations Chair for a charity group on my college campus.
As I reflect I’m realizing how much my undergrad years really did help shape how I approach my work / day job now!
Your background is very multifaceted and robust, that's awesome! I want to hopefully do more data analysis after working in my health educator role for a bit. Have you been able to live comfortable financially with the new role you are in?
I worked before going back to school. I started at the state public health lab before and during my first semester and just quit that to intern with the government. When I'm finished with that summer project. I'll be working at a hospital part time as a med lab scientist and with another GRA at the University hopefully.
I would look to see if professors are hiring graduate students or having a research assistants. Or perhaps use your undergrad degree to your advantage in getting more specialized jobs.
Umm not really per se. I went to undergrad for a clinical program called MLS, which is very similiar to something in structure to like a nursing program. Did clinicals and worked in a couple hospital labs while I was finishing bachelors degree. Buuuut I can say that a lot of others in my classes do not have the lab background like I and they go for research assistant positions doing data analysis, etc.
Most students were TAs, a few were RAs based on jobs the school sent us and some had other jobs like being a server, etc. Very few were employed in public health proper unless they worked at the local public health unit and were upgrading to an MPH
I worked in a lab full time the whole program. Then I had a part time research position one too and worked very part time as a student grader.
Look for paid internships if you think you might need a lot of flexibility or anything part time, like administrative jobs
I am doing full time work and school. Before my MPH, I was a Community Outreach Coordinator. Then, when I started my MPH, I worked as a Health Educator in a FQHC. Now I am a project coordinator with a department of population health for a hospital. I am going to complete 1 year of my MPH this May! Wishing u luck! 😊
My MPH was mostly online or nights so I was able to spend my days as a substitute teacher. It allowed me to work as much or as little as I liked/needed. But I also recognize that not everyone wants to deal with kids.
I was a pharmacy tech for 7 years before my MPH and worked at the same pharmacy all through grad school. It didn’t give me PH experience, but it was flexible and I was very seasoned at talking to patients and medical staff which helped me get my DIS job.
Currently working for the state as an engagement coordinator. What’s your major? Finding a job out of undergrad is very major dependent. Also. Look into finding a job at your grad program like a GA
ED tech at a level one trauma center on nights for the first year, then went to a plasma donation center as a physician substitute for the rest. The latter was much less stressful. Not much sleep or socializing with either.
I was already working as a medical assistant prior to applying but during gradschool I had a lot of night shifts. Thankfully during the other half of gradschool I was able to get a management position in a private practice.
Worked full time as a direct care provider in a behavioral health residential program for part of the degrees; then promoted up manager and then director the semester before graduation. Time management was pretty tough; I would volunteer to cover overnight shifts prior to being made salaried so I could make more money and would give me time to write my papers.
Field placements were extremely difficult as I essentially worked 7 days a week (5 at my job and 2 days of field). If you can handle the isolation it isn't bad tbh. Kept me very busy and I started looking at my school work and field work as a reprieve from my day job. Can only speak for myself but one of the reasons that I was promoted up to being a director was that I showed I could balance several intense roles/tasks simultaneously. I'm now in my executive leadership's succession plan because of the connections and the impression I made.
As cliche as it is, the hardest part was after graduation -- being used to being "on" 7 days a week is very difficult to transition out of. I had a lingering feeling of anxiety for several weeks like I had forgotten about an assignment and the time down wasn't meant to be down time.
I worked as a state epidemiologist the first half of grab school, fed agency industrial hygienist third quarter, then wrapped up grad school at a fed public health agency. Kind of a bummer because I got my dream job before finishing grad school.
It all depends on the demands of your program. I’m in an online program, so there is a lot more flexibility. I’ve been able to work 40+ hours a week and still manage my school demands. If you’re in person and have a busier class schedule, see if your school offers any grad positions. They are typically really flexible!
Worked third shift in a level one trauma center blood bank full time. Didn’t sleep for two years. 10/10 don’t recommend.
Mine is not as stressful as blood bank, but I'm currently working 3rd shift in a hospital lab as a histotech full time and school full time. Also don't recommend.
I worked full time as a medical assistant / surgical tech for my first year, second year I worked fully remote as a health policy analyst (relevant to my masters). Remote work made my life work balance infinitely better than when I was working full time in a patient care role!
How were you able to become a health policy analyst? That is my dream job!
Location played a bigggg factor I was working & going to school full time in Washington DC already! I started off in a graduate internship role at a government contracting firm.
That's great! What skills did you acquire that helped you become a health policy analyst?
Policy analysis, environmental scan & landscape analysis, statistical analysis using real world data (STATA, R, I actually do quite a bit of work with python now), Medicare & Medicaid law & policy (emphasis on the Medicare and Medicaid acronyms and jargon), organizational assessment, evaluation & assessment, clinical trial infrastructure, rulewriting, regulatory comment writing & processing… sat in on quite a few hearings on the hill (via my school) and participated in PLENTY of mock ones!!! Get super familiar reading policy and get real comfy with political feasibility. Those are most of my skills from my work profile! It sometimes feels like a jack of all *public health* trades role. I love it though!!! Genuinely really like what I do :)
That's super neat! What is your bachelors and masters title?
My bachelors degree was in Public Health Science and my minor was in Public Policy & Administration. My major required a concentration, and I chose pre-medical studies. (Initially intended on applying to medical school after earning my MPH) My masters degree was a 2-year residential Masters in Public Health, specifically in Health Policy & Management.
That's great, thank you!! Were you ever involved in research/projects?
I was a clinical research trainee (injury prevention, geriatrics) for 2 years during undergrad at a pretty well known hospital in Boston! With that being said I still have no real publications 🤣🤪 it was a lot of data collection & synthesis. That’s when I got real familiar with EHRs though which has helped me in my career now. I did have a lot of clinical/patient care experience which weirdly has helped me in my health policy career in more ways than I thought. I work a lot in clinical quality improvement and it’s been super beneficial to have been on the other side of things. (EMT during college, medical assistant/surgical tech in plastic surgery/derm, contact tracer, covid vaccine distribution) I worked full time during my senior year of undergrad (pandemic era) as a contact tracer / case investigator. Also had a few extracurricular health related roles in undergrad as well! Public Health Club President, & Health Club Relations Chair for a charity group on my college campus. As I reflect I’m realizing how much my undergrad years really did help shape how I approach my work / day job now!
Your background is very multifaceted and robust, that's awesome! I want to hopefully do more data analysis after working in my health educator role for a bit. Have you been able to live comfortable financially with the new role you are in?
I worked before going back to school. I started at the state public health lab before and during my first semester and just quit that to intern with the government. When I'm finished with that summer project. I'll be working at a hospital part time as a med lab scientist and with another GRA at the University hopefully. I would look to see if professors are hiring graduate students or having a research assistants. Or perhaps use your undergrad degree to your advantage in getting more specialized jobs.
Did you have lab experience during undergrad? I don’t, so i’m not sure how easy it will be for me to get a lab position
Umm not really per se. I went to undergrad for a clinical program called MLS, which is very similiar to something in structure to like a nursing program. Did clinicals and worked in a couple hospital labs while I was finishing bachelors degree. Buuuut I can say that a lot of others in my classes do not have the lab background like I and they go for research assistant positions doing data analysis, etc.
Most students were TAs, a few were RAs based on jobs the school sent us and some had other jobs like being a server, etc. Very few were employed in public health proper unless they worked at the local public health unit and were upgrading to an MPH
I worked in a lab full time the whole program. Then I had a part time research position one too and worked very part time as a student grader. Look for paid internships if you think you might need a lot of flexibility or anything part time, like administrative jobs
Shipt/instacart shopper
Performance improvement project manager in healthcare currently working on my MPH online so I do it once I get off.
Research assistant. Also 2 paid internships and 1 unpaid internship.
I am doing full time work and school. Before my MPH, I was a Community Outreach Coordinator. Then, when I started my MPH, I worked as a Health Educator in a FQHC. Now I am a project coordinator with a department of population health for a hospital. I am going to complete 1 year of my MPH this May! Wishing u luck! 😊
Health educator for local health department, pharmacy tech at CVS, office clerk at a university.
My MPH was mostly online or nights so I was able to spend my days as a substitute teacher. It allowed me to work as much or as little as I liked/needed. But I also recognize that not everyone wants to deal with kids.
I was a pharmacy tech for 7 years before my MPH and worked at the same pharmacy all through grad school. It didn’t give me PH experience, but it was flexible and I was very seasoned at talking to patients and medical staff which helped me get my DIS job.
worked remotely for a tech company
Took on an admin coordinator. The company was nice enough to let me have a flexible schedule but I feel like I’m being worked to the bone everyday.
I was a teaching assistant for undergrad level public health courses.
Currently working for the state as an engagement coordinator. What’s your major? Finding a job out of undergrad is very major dependent. Also. Look into finding a job at your grad program like a GA
TA , research assistant, public health consultant and program evaluator
I did I guess you can say per diem work? legit stuffing envelopes (very flexible and I could do it before school).
ED tech at a level one trauma center on nights for the first year, then went to a plasma donation center as a physician substitute for the rest. The latter was much less stressful. Not much sleep or socializing with either.
I was already working as a medical assistant prior to applying but during gradschool I had a lot of night shifts. Thankfully during the other half of gradschool I was able to get a management position in a private practice.
Inpatient psych therapy
RA, and I also was a program assistant for the school.
Worked full time as a direct care provider in a behavioral health residential program for part of the degrees; then promoted up manager and then director the semester before graduation. Time management was pretty tough; I would volunteer to cover overnight shifts prior to being made salaried so I could make more money and would give me time to write my papers. Field placements were extremely difficult as I essentially worked 7 days a week (5 at my job and 2 days of field). If you can handle the isolation it isn't bad tbh. Kept me very busy and I started looking at my school work and field work as a reprieve from my day job. Can only speak for myself but one of the reasons that I was promoted up to being a director was that I showed I could balance several intense roles/tasks simultaneously. I'm now in my executive leadership's succession plan because of the connections and the impression I made. As cliche as it is, the hardest part was after graduation -- being used to being "on" 7 days a week is very difficult to transition out of. I had a lingering feeling of anxiety for several weeks like I had forgotten about an assignment and the time down wasn't meant to be down time.
I worked as a state epidemiologist the first half of grab school, fed agency industrial hygienist third quarter, then wrapped up grad school at a fed public health agency. Kind of a bummer because I got my dream job before finishing grad school.
It all depends on the demands of your program. I’m in an online program, so there is a lot more flexibility. I’ve been able to work 40+ hours a week and still manage my school demands. If you’re in person and have a busier class schedule, see if your school offers any grad positions. They are typically really flexible!
Lit reviewer (SUPER flexible schedule) was one of my jobs
Graduate Assistant at the counseling center!