Overview

In the wake of recent man-made and natural disasters, the US is placing a high priority on building up the nation's public health workforce.  Since 2002, Federal funding has increased for public health preparedness, including scholarship and loan repayment programs, workforce development grants, and funding for bioterrorism preparedness.  What does this mean for you?  It means that with a degree in public health, you’ll be in high demand – and on a career path filled with advancement opportunities.

Managing the database at a school clinic, developing budgets for a health department, creating polices for health insurance companies, directing hospital services... these are just some of the careers you might pursue with a public health degree in health services administration.

The field of health services administration combines politics, business, and science in managing the human and fiscal resources needed to deliver effective public health services. If you go into this profession, you might work in administration or resource development, in the public or private sectors. You might specialize in planning, organization, policy formation and analysis, finance, economics or marketing.

The Association of University Programs in Health Administration (AUPHA) offers:

7 Reasons to Pursue a Career in Healthcare Management

For more information, see AUPHA website.

To learn more, watch the video profile of "Medical and Health Services Managers."

You can download, save and print a PDF of this career profile:

Health Services Administration 14 May 2008 [pdf, 180 KB]

Working Conditions

In today's managed care environment, the demand is high for public health professionals who specialize in health services administration.  Health service administrators play a leadership role in regional, state, national, and international agencies and organizations.