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Explore the Life of a Public Health Specialist

By WTOP Staff

The current outbreak of Ebola virus has killed more than 3,000 people — mostly women and health care workers — in Sierra Leone, Guinea and Liberia. According to the World Health Organization, there are more than deaths are attributed to more than 6,500 cases in several countries in West Africa.

Ebola prevention and treatment are under the purview of public health. Public health officials conduct investigations by going to the outbreak’s epicenter and tracing each contact of infected individuals. This, however, is only part of the job.

Public health officers are the unsung heroes of public safety. Foremost, they are health advocates for the people, championing clean air and water, safe playgrounds and chronic disease prevention, among many other things.

Public health officers work at the city, county, state, federal or international level to determine and communicate the incidence and prevalence of diseases to guide lawmakers as they make funding decisions based on the health needs of the community.

[Find out how to choose the right major for medical school.]

Notable public health champions include C. Everett Koop, who oversaw the change in American attitudes about smoking. Now we have smoke-free environments — and smoking rates, along with concomitant tobacco-related illnesses such as cardiovascular disease, have declined.

Public health officers were at the forefront of the AIDS epidemic, identifying the human immunosuppression virus and preventive techniques to reduce the spread of HIV.

Since the beginning of 2014, two American communities — Toledo, Ohio and Charleston, West Virginia — for a time were without safe drinking water. Drinking water safety comes under the auspices of public health and exemplifies the importance of public health.

No two days are alike for public health officers as they wear many hats including that of investigator, communicator, writer and epidemiologist. Presenting complicated scientific information in a way that is understandable by nonclinicians, advocating for sound health practices and critically examining data to ensure results are interpreted and classified correctly are important parts of their duties.

[Consider a dual degree as a medical student.]

A career in public health requires flexibility, great communication skills and a natural curiosity. Traveling to a new place — inside or outside of a home country — brings you into contact with new cultures, so it’s important to be flexible to all of the excitement and quirks of people, places and organizations.

Inquisitiveness is necessary as public health is the direct application of science in the field. This requires a desire to affect communities’ populations, view a familiar problem in different circumstances and apply knowledge and prior experiences to a new situation — all in service to improve communities’ health.

Current and prospective medical students interested in becoming public health officers may receive training via a residency in preventive medicine, which typically is a two-year program and includes a Master of Public Health degree.

A fellowship in the Epidemic Intelligence Service can also be completed at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, which also trains physicians in outbreak investigations and epidemiology techniques. Physicians entering the service have residency training in other specialties.

[Understand how to select premed course work as an undergraduate.]

Premed public health experiences include time in the Peace Corps, serving as a national or international health educator or a study abroad experience with a health emphasis. Check for volunteer experiences at your local or state health department to have direct interaction.

Medical students interested in making the world healthier should consider practicing public health.

More from U.S. News

Get to Know a Day in the Life of a Hospitalist

How Volunteer Work Can Offer Lessons to Prospective Medical Students

Live a Day in the Life of a Nocturnist

Explore the Life of a Public Health Specialist originally appeared on usnews.com

Don’t Settle for Student Loans to Pay for Online Education

By WTOP Staff
Online college programs are becoming a more popular choice for prospective students, with one study finding that more than 6 million students enrolled in at least one online course in fall 2015. The popularity of these courses can be attributed in part to their flexibility with working adults' schedules, students' ability to progress more quickly through online programs and, oftentimes, cheaper tuition. [See 10 low-cost online bachelor's programs for out-of-state students.]Online degrees can be beneficial to many college students, but some studies have shown online learners complete their programs at lower rates than students at traditional brick-and-mortar campuses. Individuals with student loans but no degree comprise two-thirds of defaulted borrowers. Though these numbers are not encouraging, just like for traditional programs, there are ways to reduce how much you'll need to borrow for an online program to ensure you won't become one of these statistics. Don't just settle on borrowing student loans to cover the whole cost of your program and living expenses. Instead, start thinking about how to cut costs and cover your balance in different ways, such as the following. -- Grants and scholarships: Even though you are taking an online course, you can still apply and receive grants and scholarships. But your first step should be to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, commonly referred to as the FAFSA, which will allow you to receive a Pell Grant if your expected family contribution is low enough. The EFC criteria and award amounts are adjusted annually, but the 2017-2018 academic year awards range from $606 to $5,920, which could significantly lower the amount you borrow annually. Your next step is to apply for scholarships. You can start by checking online scholarship search engines, such as the Salt Scholarship Search, College Board's BigFuture and Peterson's. But don't forget to take advantage of local organizations and your school's financial aid office. Both may offer scholarships that you can't find with a national scholarship search. [Review these 10 sites to kick off your scholarship search.]For instance, organizations like the Elks Club, Knights of Columbus or the Rotary Club typically offer scholarships annually to local students. Just because you're going to school online doesn't mean you're ineligible. Visit your local library for scholarship listings, and ask around town. You might be surprised how many local organizations offer scholarships. While these scholarships typically aren't large, every little bit counts. Each dollar you receive in a scholarship is a dollar you don't have to borrow and pay interest on. -- Work-study: Another option for online students may be work-study awards. Not all students enrolled in online programs are eligible, but students at some schools -- including, for example, SUNY Empire State College and Liberty University -- are. Work-study awards are not given upfront like scholarships and grants. In most cases, they are an offer to earn up to the awarded amount if you secure an eligible work-study job. While there is a misconception that all work-study jobs must be on campus, students can work for off-campus, nonprofit or public employers as long as the work is in the public's interest. You may be able to work for a for-profit employer if the job is relevant to your course of study. No matter who the outside employer is, it will need to have an established agreement with your college for you to receive work-study funds. Remember, to be eligible for federal financial aid, you must be enrolled and pursuing a degree or certificate. If you're not working toward a credential, Pell Grants and work-study won't be option, but you may still be able to take advantage of private scholarships -- just be sure to read the eligibility criteria carefully. [Explore what to know about financial aid in online programs.]-- Pay as you go: One of the great benefits to enrolling online is the flexible schedule, which can allow you to complete your college coursework around your responsibilities. But prospective students often overlook using their part- or full-time job earnings as an option for paying for college. Almost 80 percent of college students in 2015 worked at least part time while attending classes, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. By budgeting and thinking strategically about your college costs, you can likely reduce your dependence on student loans by paying a portion out of pocket. Many -- but not all -- online programs are less expensive than traditional programs and often have shorter payment periods. Six, eight or 10 weeks are common course durations. Because of the frequency of payments in an online setting, you may be well-placed to pay as you go and possibly avoid borrowing altogether. Attending college online and avoiding student loans may be challenging, but if you are willing to put in the effort, you can limit the amount you need to borrow. More from U.S. News Q&A: Understanding Student Loan Discharge Eligibility Student Loan Refinancing Isn't Right for All Borrowers
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