Public health has never been just a job – it’s a promise.

A promise to care.

A promise to notice who’s being left out.

A promise to act before the harm multiplies.

But somewhere along the way, that promise got buried—under bureaucracy, burnout, and budget cuts.

It’s time to remember who we are, what we stand for, and who we stand with.

It’s time to reconnect with our “why”—to care, to connect, and to show up.

Especially for those who’ve been left behind and left unvoiced.

Public Health is About People

First and foremost public health is about people.

Our field must reground itself in human connection. In justice. In empathy.

Public health is only as strong as its commitment to those most harmed.

No matter your title, role or background, public health is a collective promise to care for the whole community.

We know that marginalized communities—Black, Indigenous, LGBTQ+, immigrant, low-income—have too often been an afterthought. That must change.

We don’t all need to do everything—but we all need to do something.

🌀 Reflect: When was the last time you really felt connected to your "why"?
✅ Action step: Reach out and schedule a 30-minute conversation with someone who inspires you to keep showing up for this work.

Schools Must Step Up

Public health institutions must go beyond education.

Public health schools can’t just teach—they must invest in people and resources.

Too many students are left to fend for themselves.

Outdated career services. Limited professional development opportunities. Underused alumni networks. Stale resources.

Don’t let students leave your program unprepared and unsupported.

Use your networks. Build systems of mentorships. Create visibility into public health career.

🔍 Reflect: Are we measuring success by enrollment—or by how deeply we support our students?
✅ Action Step: Host at least one quarterly alumni-student mentorship event or networking series. Make it count.

[Related: Are Public Health Degrees Still Worth It? Answer, yes.]

Professional in Transition

This shift is not a failure.

Whether you’ve been laid off, are pivoting, pausing, or burned out—you are not broken.

You are not behind. You are not alone.

We’re in volatile times. Instability, fear, and rejection are common—but they don’t define you.

You are allowed to evolve. You are allowed to grow and change your career. Reinvention is part of the journey.

The job market is challenging and the job market is tough. But you are not alone or powerless. You are still valuable and needed.

Continue to take time for yourself. Commit to networking, informational interviews, getting community support, and reimagining what your “public health career” looks like.

🌀 Reflect: What kind of problems do you feel called to help solve in the world right now? 
✅ Action Step: Keep refining your story. Tailor your resume and cover letter to reflect the why behind your journey—not just the titles.

And remember: Chase your purpose, not perfection.

To Recent Graduates

Your path might not be clear, but your presence is needed.

The gap between graduation and employment is real (and painful). And yes, it’s hard.

It’s normal to feel overwhelmed, uncertain, or underemployed. But don’t mistake a tough start for a failed journey.

You matter. Your voice matters. Your vision for change still matters.

While this may feel like the hardest moment of your life, it’s also the seedbed for the resilience, insight, and community-building that will define your future.

Continue to grow in your passions outside of public health. Build skills and experiences you can speak to for job applications.

Take time to go home and figure things out (if you’re privileged enough to be able to do so). This too shall pass. We are here for you.

You are needed. Right now.

🌀 Reflect: What gives you hope when your path feels uncertain? 
✅ Action Step: Reach out to someone whose career you admire. Ask for a 15-minute chat. Reconnect with someone you once collaborated with. Build momentum in connection.

Keep learning. Stay curious. And give yourself the grace to figure things out.

To Current and Future Students

Change is inevitable. Be ready, not perfect.

The world is shifting—and so is public health.

Careers today don’t look like they did five years ago, and that’s okay.

The opportunities to use your public health lens and skillset are endless. The opportunities for impact are vast—policy, data, storytelling, organizing, systems change.

Anchor yourself in your why, and explore the how.

Be adaptable. Be interdisciplinary. Be bold enough to ask questions no one’s asking.

🌀 Reflect: What are two skills you want to develop that no one’s teaching you in school? 
✅ Action Step: Follow public health professionals online. Use tools like LinkedIn and podcasts (like ​Public Health Careers​) to explore possibilities and connect the dots.

You don’t need to have it all figured out. Just take the next right step.

Closing: A Collective Promise, Reclaimed

We need each other more than ever.

We can only build the future we deserve together.

We can’t wait for systems to change without our voices.

We are the system. We are the change.

Public health isn’t just a career. It’s a movement.

And every movement needs people who care. People who show up. People who choose courage and justice over comfort.

Empathy. Connection. Collective action. That’s the future.

Let’s build that public health—together.

Because you are needed. Right now.

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