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Careers


The College offers career services for undergraduate and graduate students through our Office of Public Health Practice and Partnerships 

Our Public Health Ambassadors, Bill Franks, Matt Stefanak, Bob Howard are available to meet with students on an appointment basis to provide career counseling. Bill and Matt are retired local health commissioners with decades of experience and numerous professional contacts in Ohio and nationally. Bob is a former hospital executive who was responsible for strategic planning and other organization-wide indicatives at Akron Children's Hospital. They are dedicated to helping students prepare themselves for a career in public health and health care offering:

  • Resume review and guidance
  • Job interview advice
  • Referrals for internships, applied practice experiences (APE), job shadowing, and job openings

Please with one of our Public Health Ambassadors and get to know them here!

The Ambassadors offer virtual career sessions each semester. To see the list of upcoming sessions, visit our Events webpage


Archived Career Session Videos

Spring 2024 Sessions

Ambassadors Career Session - Meet a College of Public Health Professor

January 31, 2024, 5-6 pm 

Jennifer King, PhD, College of Public Health Assistant Professor, discusses her career path in public health and opportunities for students with an interest in community-based research. 

 

Internship and Job Opportunities in Community Health Centers

February 14, 2024, 5-6 pm

Vicki Marie, MEd, Provider Relations Manager at Northeast Ohio Neighborhood Health Services in Cleveland, discusses practical learning and job opportunities for health professions students in community health centers.  

 

Internship Opportunities in Columbus and Washington, DC

February 28, 2024, 5 -6 pm

Wendy Patton, Director of the ºÚÁÏÍø Columbus Program in State Issues, discusses internship opportunities in Ohio state government agencies in Columbus and other learning opportunities in Washington DC.  

 

Careers Opportunities in Biostatistics

March 20, 2024

Lianbo Yu, PhD, Research Assistant Professor at the Ohio State University College of Public Health, discusses his educational and career path in biostatistical research and career opportunities for graduate students in biostatistics and epidemiology.

 

Meet the Public Health Ambassadors

April 3, 2024

ºÚÁÏÍø College of Public Health Ambassadors William Franks, MPH, Robert Howard, MA and Matthew Stefanak, MPH, CPH, discuss their careers in public health and health care and offer advice for students beginning their careers in the public health profession.

 

 

Careers in Clinical Research

April 17, 2024, 5-6 pm

Laurie Ann Moennich, PhD, MPH, Research Program Manager at the Cleveland Clinic and ºÚÁÏÍø College of Public Health BSPH alumna, discusses her career path since graduation and opportunities for public health students in clinical research.  

 

Careers in Healthcare Consulting

April 24, 2024

Valerie Barckhoff, MBA, Principal in healthcare consulting practice at Windham Brannon, discusses her work in providing strategic, regulatory, and operational consulting services to healthcare organizations.

Fall 2023 Sessions

Careers in Long-term Care

September 13, 2023, 5-6 pm 

ºÚÁÏÍø faculty members and long-term care administrators Donna Alexander and Laurel Tomi discuss career opportunities for public health students in the long-term care field. 

 

Careers in Public Health for Communications Professionals

September 27, 2023, 5-6 pm

Kevin Brennan, Communications Officer at the Cuyahoga County Board of Health and College of Public Health alum discusses his career and opportunities for communications professionals in public health. 

 

Careers in Environmental Health

October 9, 2023, 12 - 1 pm

A panel of environmental health professionals will discuss the challenges and rewards of working in the environmental health field and answer students’ questions about how to prepare for jobs as Registered Environmental Health Specialists.

Panelists:

  • James Adams, REHS, MPH, Health Commissioner, Canton City Health Department
  • Dana Fischio, MPH, MBA, REHS, (CPH alum), Workforce Development and Accreditation Coordinator, New Philadelphia Health Department
  • Ryan Tekac, REHS, MPH, Health Commissioner, Mahoning County Public Health
  • Emily Speck, BSPH, REHS (CPH alum), Portage County Health District

 

Careers in Public Health Preparedness

October 11, 2023, 5-6 pm

Carlie Baughman, Training and Exercise Unit Supervisor at the Ohio Department of Health and College of Public Health alum (BSPH and MPH), discusses her experience working in this field and how her College of Public Health studies prepared her for her work. 

 

Careers in the Health Insurance Industry

October 25, 2023, 5-6 pm

Rob Kollin, College of Public Health lecturer and former health insurance industry executive, will discuss his career in the industry and opportunities for public health students and graduates.

 

 

Careers in Health Policy Development

November 8, 2023, 5-6 pm

Lexi Chirakos, Internship Program Director at the Health Policy Institute of Ohio, discusses internship, practicum and career opportunities in the health policy analysis and development field.

 

 

Career Opportunities in Global Health

November 29, 2023, 12 - 1 pm

Heather Mikulski, PhD, Global Health Policy and Engagement Lead for Roche Diabetes Care and College of Public Health alumna discusses her career path and opportunities for public health graduates in global health.

 

Ambassadors Career Session - Meet a College of Public Health Professor

December 6, 2023, 5-6 pm

College of Public Health Associate Professor Abbey Eng discusses her career path in public health and opportunities for students with an interest in the application of quantitative methods in community health.

 

Leading Change and Innovation Within Health Insurance Event

Spring 2023 Sessions

Careers in Public Health Policy Research and Evaluation

February 1, 2023

John Corlett, President and CEO of the Center for Community Solutions in Cleveland discusses his Center's work and opportunities for students interested in careers in public health policy research and evaluation. 


Careers in Mental Health and Addiction Services

February 15, 2023

John Garrity, PhD, Executive Director of the Mental Health & Recovery Board of Portage County, discusses his career and career opportunities in community mental health and addiction services. 


Healthcare Services Practice and Research - a Career Pathway

March 1, 2023

College of Public Health Professor Jonathan VanGeest discusses his career path in healthcare services research and practice.


Internship Opportunities in Columbus and Washington DC

March 15, 2023

Wendy Patton, Director of the ºÚÁÏÍø Columbus Program in State Issues and Kate Jurak from the ºÚÁÏÍø Department of Political Science discuss internship opportunities in Columbus and Washington DC.


Careers in Maternal and Child Health

March 22, 2023

College of Public Health MPH alumna Dayvon Lytle, Home Visiting Program Consultant in the Bureau of Maternal and Infant Vitality at the Ohio Department of Health, discusses the experience of working in maternal and child health programs at the state health department.


The Role of Law in Public Health Practice

April 5, 2023

ºÚÁÏÍø College of Public Health Professor Thomas Brewer discusses his career path and opportunities to acquire additional education and training in public health laws and regulations.


Career Paths in Public Health Preparedness and Response

April 12, 2023

Tamara McBride, Chief of the Bureau of Health Preparedness at the Ohio Department of Health, discusses her career in public health emergency preparedness and career options in this field for public health graduates.

Fall 2022 Sessions

Public Health Careers in the Military

September 14, 2022

College of Public Health alumna Victoria Bylsma discusses public health career opportunities with the Air Force.


Career Opportunities at the Cleveland Clinic

October 12, 2022

Client Recruiter Kate Wisniewski discusses career opportunities with the Cleveland Clinic.


Careers in Hospital Administration

October 19, 2022

William Benoit, Chief Operating Officer, University Hospitals South Market, and College of Public Health Advisory Committee member discusses his career path to leadership in a health system.


Careers in Addiction Services

October 26, 2022

Chris Richardson, Chief Operating Officer of CHC Addiction Services in Akron and College of Public Health Advisory Committee member discusses his work and career opportunities for public health students and graduates in addiction services.


Peace Corps Service and Careers in Global Health

November 9, 2022

Returned Peace Corps volunteer and former Peace Corps Country Director in Mongolia and Thailand Gene Nixon discusses volunteer and employment opportunities with the Peace Corps.


Internship Opportunities in Columbus and Washington, DC

November 30, 2022

Wendy Patton, Director of the ºÚÁÏÍø Columbus Program in State Issues and Kate Jurak from the ºÚÁÏÍø Department of Political Science discuss internship opportunities in Columbus and Washington DC. 


Careers in State and Local Health Departments

December 7, 2022

Wally Burden, Senior Local Liaison at the Ohio Department of Health, discusses his career in state and local health departments and offer advice to students interested in governmental public health careers. 

Fall 2021 Sessions

Internship and Job Opportunities in Community Health Centers

October 6, 2021

Carrie Farquhar, Director of Workforce Development, Ohio Association of Community Health Centers, discusses internship and employment opportunities in community health centers.


Environmental Health Careers

November 3, 2021

Gene Phillips, Chief, Bureau of Environmental Health & Radiation Protection, Ohio Department of Health, discusses careers in environmental health at the state health department and credentialing requirements for Registered Environmental Health Specialists.


Internship and Job Opportunities in Local Health and Human Services Agencies

November 17, 2021

Mark Frisone, Executive Director of Family and Community Services discusses employment opportunities in human services programs.


Ohio Public Health Workforce Needs

December 1, 2021

Bobbi Krabill, Deputy Director of the Ohio Department of Health and  College of Public Health Advisory Committee member discusses Ohio’s public health workforce needs.

Spring 2021 Sessions

Careers in Social and Behavioral Health Research and Teaching

February 24, 2021 

Dr. Sheryl Chatfield, Associate Professor in the College of Public Health, discusses her interests in qualitative and health behavioral research and her career choices that brought her into academic public health. 


Career Opportunities in the Health Insurance Industry and Integrated Health Systems

March 10, 2021

Lisa Vojtush and Bryan Woit from Canton-based Aultcare discusses career opportunities in the health insurance industry and introduce two College of Public Health alumni who currently work for Aultcare. 


Reproductive Health Services Internship and Career Opportunities

March 24, 2021

Iris Harvey and Kayle Klesser discuss their work in promoting access to reproductive health services at Planned Parenthood of Greater Ohio. Ms. Klesser is a College of Public Health alumna.


Working in Urban Health and Human Services

April 7, 2021

Dr. Steven Paciorek, College of Public Health alumnus, discusses his work overseeing health and human services for the City of Brecksville.


Working in the Public Health Policy Development Field

April 28, 2021

Robert Hakes, Director of Government Relations for the Fitzgibbon Group, discusses his work in health policy development with this Columbus consulting firm.  Mr. Hakes is a College of Public Health MPH alumnus. 

Careers in Public Health

What kinds of careers Public Health are available in today’s job market?

The public health field has a wide range of career opportunities for students who want to make a difference in the lives of others. Professionals in are responsible for improving the health and well-being of communities and individuals. ºÚÁÏÍø Public Health students who are passionate about these issues can pursue a variety of different career paths that are both professionally and financially rewarding.

Learn more about the following careers in Public Health by clicking on the links below:

Globally there is a shortage of nearly 4.3 million health workers, and this is expected to increase by an additional 20 percent in the next two decades.¹ Because of this, there will be an increase in demand for graduates to fill these public health jobs.

According to the Association of Schools and Programs of Public Health:

More than 250,000 additional public health workers will be needed by 2020 to avert a public health crisis … Over the next 12 years, schools would have to train three times the current number of public health students to meet projected needs.²

This trend is also true for Ohio. The United Health Foundation projects that by the year 2020 the public health workforce shortages for the state of Ohio will be in excess of 10,000 workers.

Public Health Careers: Salary Expectations

According to , yearly compensation ranges from $31,500 to $161,400 for the following types of careers in Public Health:

  • Health services administrator
  • Environmental health specialist
  • Epidemiologist
  • Biostatistician
  • Internal health specialist
  • Health educator
  • Occupational health & safety specialist
  • Laboratory Technologist
  • Food safety specialist

Our faculty and staff are committed to preparing ºÚÁÏÍø Public Health students to meet the requirements for these and other public health careers. Our curriculum combines academic and theoretical training with practical, hands-on experiences in real worksite settings.

How do I determine which public health program is best for me? 

Schedule an advising appointment

To set up an appointment with our Academic Advising staff, call 330-672-6500 or e-mail us at publichealth@kent.edu


1World Health Organization. The World Health Report 2006: working together for health. World Health Organization; Geneva: 2006 (accessed November 17, 2009).

2Association of Schools of Public Health. Confronting the Public Health Workforce Crisis (accessed November 17, 2009).