CPH Blog: 5 global, interprofessional health workforce careers on the rise

The types of professionals required to keep communities mentally and physically healthy and safe are constantly evolving, and so are the degree programs to train them. Most careers emerging in public health and health care — including some new and exciting ones — require interprofessional skills and experience. In this blog, we’re delving into five emerging and vital roles in the global, interprofessional health workforce:

VR Medical Programmer  

Virtual reality (VR) is not just a simulation device used for fun. VR is also a medical device that can greatly improve patient health and well-being. In recent years, VR has been used in trials as a tool to treat soldiers with post-traumatic stress disorder, help those with substance use disorders recover faster, and even as a stress relief aid for children.

Virtual reality is finding its place in the health care world as an educational and training tool for medical providers that bridges the gap between textbooks and real-life patient interaction — and this is only the beginning. There’s a ton of new research that indicates VR can be used in future neuroscience research, especially in areas such as rehabilitation for patients after a brain injury or to slow memory loss and delay the onset of Alzheimer’s.

As the VR industry expands, it’s likely that related career opportunities will increase alongside it. For those with a health or medical background and/or skills in producing specialist virtual reality platforms, the future of VR may open a world of intriguing medical positions, such as VR medical programmer. 

Roles such as this require education and training in fields such as health administration and policy, health informatics, or nursing.

Learn more about our VR Simulation Lab at the College of Public Health at George Mason University!
 

Disaster Recovery Manager 

Although it’s a tough reality to face, natural and manmade disasters are on the rise. When they do occur, a team of first responders are on the scene as soon as possible to help those affected. However, a disaster’s aftermath may last days, weeks, months, and, in some cases, even years. Disaster recovery managers work with crisis relief teams to provide assistance before disasters happen and help victims to recover after they occur.

Pre-disaster responsibilities may include: serving as primary point of contact for disaster recovery preparedness, coordinating development disaster recovery plans, and promoting principles and practices that further resiliency and sustainability in development and strategic planning initiatives.

Post-disaster responsibilities may include: coordinating the activities of local recovery-dedicated organizations and initiatives, participating in damage and impact assessments with other recovery partners, communicating recovery priorities to state and federal governments as well as other recovery stakeholders, and so much more.

Roles such as this require education and training in fields such as health administration and policy, social work, and public health.

Lifestyle Data or Health Coach 

From smart jewelry and clothing to fitness and sleep trackers, the number of connected wearable devices is only expected to increase. These devices allow users to take their health into their own hands, providing individual health data that the average person couldn’t easily  access before. However, people often do not understand what their personalized data really means for their health. Here’s where a lifestyle data strategist comes in.

From food scanners to meditation headbands and ECG monitors, lifestyle data strategists guide individuals in navigating the data their devices are constantly collecting and help optimize the information they receive from these devices. They work with individuals to explain what it all means and create personalized lifestyle, diet, and workout routines for their patients based on their health metrics.

Roles such as this require education and training in fields such as health administration and policy, health informatics, nursing, nutrition, and public health.

Public Health Nurse 

Interested in an interprofessional career that combines nursing and public or community health? Consider public health nursing! Public health nursing, or community health nursing, is a specialty nursing area focused on promoting and protecting the health of populations. Jobs in this field provide long-term and satisfying careers to nurses who want to make an impact on the community level, rather than on one patient at a time.

Public health nurses play a valuable role instituting policies and strategies for preventative care and to protect the public from infectious diseases. Their work is critical in slowing the spread of disease in long-term care facilities and other congregate settings, schools, and the community. They serve as educators, testers, vaccinators, and investigators.

Public health nurses interpret and articulate the health and illness experiences of diverse and often vulnerable residents to health planners and policymakers, as well as assist members of the community in talking about their problems and aspirations. Evidence and data drive the practice of public health nurses, who translate knowledge from the health and social sciences to individuals and population groups through direct care, programs, and advocacy. 

Roles such as this require education and training in fields such as nursing and public health.
 

Community Health Worker

Community health workers (CHWs) are lay members of the community who work either for pay or as volunteers in association with the local health care system in both urban and rural environments. CHWs usually share ethnicity, language, socioeconomic status, and life experiences with the community members they serve. They offer interpretation and translation services, provide culturally appropriate health education and information, help people get the care they need, give informal counseling and guidance on health behaviors, advocate for individual and community health needs, and provide some direct services such as first aid and blood pressure screening.

Since CHWs typically reside in the community they serve, they have the unique ability to bring information where it is needed most. They can reach community residents where they live, eat, play, work, and worship. CHWs are frontline agents of change, helping to reduce health disparities in underserved communities. 

Roles such as this require education and training in fields such as social work and public health.

These are just five of many emerging and evolving health care related careers. The future of the health care workforce is interprofessional. Someone with a nursing degree can also work as a public health professional, social workers can pursue jobs in disaster recovery management, and health administration graduates can work with individuals as lifestyle data coaches. It’s all connected, and George Mason University’s College of Public Health programs prepare students for a variety of health care careers.

Interested in one of these careers? Reach out Raven McCormick (rgreen14@gmu.edu), College of Public Health Assistant Director of Career Advising, to learn more.