Careers in Global Health

Global health is a vast field encompassing different disciplines and sectors that allow for diverse career pathways in Canada and internationally. 

Graduates of the Global Health program have launched careers in many different areas of health, as well as using the knowledge, understanding, and skills acquired in non-health settings. The Global Health degree can also serve as an excellent springboard for entry into professional programs, such as medicine, nursing, public health, law, and other graduate degrees.

Potential employers include health agencies, hospitals, clinics, universities, government agencies, research institutions, private and non-profit sectors, as well as non-governmental organizations (NGOs) locally and globally.

Specific examples of how Global Health graduates may contribute to global health and health systems regionally, nationally, and globally include:

• Optimizing public health care by monitoring trends in the burden of disease and health determinants, and by providing information to support evidence-based decision making.
• Applying public health knowledge and skills to promote health promotion programming and awareness around a range of communicable and non-communicable diseases.
• Enhancing disease prevention and control programs by collecting, analyzing, interpreting, and disseminating information related to various diseases and conditions.
• Integrating principles of equity, social justice, and collaboration into health program implementation and evaluation processes as well as priority outcomes.
• Identifying behavioral interventions that are tailored to contextual social norms, circumstances, and resources of communities.
• Supporting equitable policy making and guideline development by assessing and addressing social and structural barriers to health and wellbeing.
• Identifying strategies for non-profit, community-based health agencies to maximize use of existing resources.
• Aligning health program planning and interventions with global mandates, such as the Sustainable Development Goals.

Devising approaches to work across cultures and geographic boundaries by meaningfully engaging with communities and key stakeholders, in particular those who are marginalized.

Career Options

The Global Health degree’s multi-sectoral (e.g., healthcare, public health, social determinants of health, and planetary health), multi-disciplinary (e.g., sciences, social sciences, and humanities), and multi-jurisdictional (e.g., Canada and around the world) focus provides a strong and comprehensive foundation for many different career pathways. Some graduates can enter the workforce directly after graduation, while others require further graduate study, training, or certification.

Options include:

• Physician
• Nurse
• Public Health Practitioner/Inspector
• Allied Health Professional (e.g., Dentist, Pharmacist, Physician’s Assistant, Respiratory Therapist, Occupational Therapist, Audiologist, Laboratory or Radiation Technologist, Speech Language Pathologist, Social Worker)
• Health Lawyer
• Health Policy Analyst/Strategist
• Health Researcher/Coordinator
• Knowledge Mobilization Specialist
• Health Program Director/Manager
• Health and Safety Specialist
• Emergency Management Analyst/Coordinator/Specialist
• Health Communications or Education Specialist
• Health Systems Planner/Manager
• Health Administration Specialist
• Health Information Specialist
• Health Workforce Planning Specialist
• International Development or Humanitarian Worker
• Non-Governmental Organization (NGO) Worker
• Community Development/Outreach Worker
• Community Health Manager
• Systems Integration Specialist
• Health Advocate