One of the main employers of public health professionals in the U.S. is the federal government. One of the most thrilling aspects of federal employment is that there are positions available in just about every public health field that you can imagine.
From biostatisticians and epidemiologists to nutritionists and global health professionals, there is a job for you in the federal government in public health. In this section you will learn more about some of the best agencies and organizations in the U.S. government to look for public health employment.
GPH Alumni in the Public Sector
What can you do with your degree in Public Health? One of the best ways to answer that question is to see what our graduates actually do. GPH Alumni have gone on to some extraordinary careers in the U.S. and all over the world. This section is designed for you to explore and learn about career options in the Public Sector.
☛ Please note: this list is not exhaustive and will be updated periodically.
Here is a sampling of some of our GPH Alumni job titles in the Public Sector:
- Affirmative Action Administrator, Governor's Office of Employee Relations, Anti Discrimination Investigations Division
- Behavioral Scientist, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
- Biosurveillance Operations Analyst, U.S. Department of Homeland Security
- Clinical Project Manager, National Institutes of Health (NIH)
- Contracts and Grants Specialist, National Forensic Science Technology Center
- Data Analyst Emergency Management, FEMA
- Deputy Branch Chief-Prevention, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
- Director of Wellness Policy Promotion, Office of School Wellness Programs, Office of School Wellness Programs, New York City Department of Education
- Disaster Operations Specialist, U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID)
- Ebola Policy Unit Deputy Lead, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
- Food Inspector, United States Department of Agriculture (USDA)
- Food Specialist, U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA)
- Foreign Service Officer, Division Chief in Office of Population & Reproductive Health, (USAID)
- Health And Wellness Coordinator, WorkWell NYC - Mayor's Office of Labor Relations
- Health Communication Specialist, Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education at CDC
- HIV/AIDS Implementation Science Specialist, U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID)
- Medical Epidemiologist, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
- Program Manager for Operations and Community Development, New York City Department of Education, Office of School Wellness Programs
- Program Manager of Physical Education Assessment, NYC Department of Education
- Public Health Advisor - Quarantine Station, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
- Public Health Analyst, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS)
- Public Health Researcher, Naval Health Research Center (NHRC)
- Research Data Associate, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
- Senior Director, Office of Applied Analytics, Evaluation, Planning, and Program Design, NYC Department of Youth & Community Development
- Senior TB Multilateral Advisor, Office of Infectious Diseases Specialist, U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID)
- Special Assistant to the Deputy Mayor for Health and Human Services, Office of the Mayor of New York City, Health and Human Services
- Strategic Information Advisor, Office of the Global AIDS Coordinator, State Department (MSAG)
- Technical Information Specialist, National Library of Medicine (NLM)
- US Health Departments
- Brooklyn Food Justice Coordinator, New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene
- California Epidemiologic Investigative Services Fellow, California Department of Public Health
- Capacity Building Program Manager, New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene
- Case Management Assistant Coordinator-Homeless Services, Boston Public Health Commission
- Chief of the Division of Infectious Diseases, Illinois Department of Public Health
- City Research Scientist - Injury Surveillance and Prevention Program, New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene
- Data Analyst, New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene
- Data and Outreach Manager, New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene
- Dietetic Internship Coordinator, New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene
- Disease Investigator, New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services
- Director, Center for Health Equity, Illinois Department of Health
- Director of Community Health, Florida Department of Health
- Director of External Affairs & Priority Populations, Division of Disease Control, New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene
- Director of Jurisdictional HIV Testing Initiatives, New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene
- Environmental Health Specialist, Somerset County Health Department
- Epidemiologist II, Texas Department of State Health Services
- Food Borne Illness Investigator, New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene Public
- Grant Manager, The Fund for Public Health in New York
- Healthcare Analyst, San Francisco Department of Public Health
- Health Policy Analyst, Harris County Public Health
- HIV Program Manager, New York State Department of Health
- Integrated Services Administrator, New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene
- Lead Investigator COVID 19 Contact Trace Force, DC Department of Health
- Nutrition Incentives Project Coordinator, New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene
- Population Health Planning and Improvement Coordinator, Virginia Department of Health
- Project Manager, National Salt and Sugar Reduction Initiative, New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene
- Project Manager, Teen Wellness, New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene
- Public Health Analyst, San Francisco Department of Public Health
- Public Health Communications Coordinator, New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene
- Public Health Epidemiologist Technician, Louisiana Department of Health
- Senior Clinical Quality Specialist, The Fund for Public Health in New York
- Senior Director of Health Information and Insurance, Correctional Health Services, New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene
- Senior Project Officer/ Bronx AIDS Specialist, New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene
- Sexual and Reproductive Health Analyst, New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene
- SNAP-Ed Program Manager, Washington State Department of Social and Health Services
- Tuberculosis Controller, Texas Department of State Health Services
- Non-US Health Departments
- Clinical Auditor: Policy Monitoring & Evaluation, Dubai Health Authority
- Health Consultant Assistant, Saudi Center for Disease Prevention and Control
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS)
HHS is the U.S. government’s principal agency for protecting the health of all Americans and providing essential human services, especially for those who are least able to help themselves. HHS accomplishes its mission through programs and initiatives that cover a wide spectrum of activities, serving and protecting Americans at every stage of life, from conception.
HHS has 11 operating divisions, including eight agencies in the U.S. Public Health Service and three human services agencies. These divisions administer a wide variety of health and human services and conduct life-saving research for the nation, protecting and serving all Americans.
- Administration for Children and Families (ACF)
- Administration for Community Living (ACL)
- Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ)
- Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR)
- Assistant Secretary for Administration (ASA)
- Assistant Secretary for Financial Resources (ASFR)
- Assistant Secretary for Health (ASH)
- Assistant Secretary for Legislation (ASL)
- Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation (ASPE)
- Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response (ASPR)
- Assistant Secretary for Public Affairs (ASPA)
- Center for Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships (CFBNP)
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
- Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS)
- Departmental Appeals Board (DAB)
- Food and Drug Administration (FDA)
- Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA)
- Immediate Office of the Secretary (IOS)
- Indian Health Service (IHS)
- National Institutes of Health (NIH)
- Office for Civil Rights (OCR)
- Office of Global Affairs (OGA)
- Office of Inspector General (OIG)
- Office of Intergovernmental and External Affairs (IEA)
- Office of Medicare Hearings and Appeals (OMHA)
- Office of the Chief Technology Officer (CTO)
- Office of the General Counsel (OGC)
- Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology (ONC)
- Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA)
- 10 Regional Offices
National Institutes of Health (NIH)
Headquartered in Bethesda, Maryland and an agency of the Department of Health and Human Services, the NIH is the nation’s medical research agency making important discoveries that improve health and save lives. NIH is made up of 27 different components called Institutes and Centers. Each has its own specific research agenda, often focusing on particular diseases or body systems. Their research enables explorations that have led to the development of the MRI, understanding of how viruses can cause cancer, insights into cholesterol control, knowledge of how the brain processes visual information and much more.
People with a strong interest in science, laboratory or clinical research, administration, policy or executive careers may find the career of their dreams with the NIH.
- NIH Institutes & Offices
- NIH Office of the Director (OD)
- National Cancer Institute (NCI)
- National Eye Institute (NEI)
- National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI)
- National Human Genome Research Institute (NHGRI)
- National Institute on Aging (NIA)
- National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA)
- National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID)
- National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases (NIAMS)
- National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering (NIBIB)
- Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD)
- National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders (NIDCD)
- National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research (NIDCR)
- National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK)
- National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA)
- National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS)
- National Institute of General Medical Sciences (NIGMS)
- National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH)
- National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities (NIMHD)
- National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS)
- National Institute of Nursing Research (NINR)
- National Library of Medicine (NLM)
- NIH Centers
Center for Disease Control (CDC)
The CDC is the country’s go-to federal agency for all things involving public health. It is one of the major operating components of the Department of Health and Human Services. It employs researchers, scientists, nurses, doctors, economists, communicators, educators, technologists, epidemiologists, public health advisors and many other professionals. Its mission is to respond to disease outbreaks, ensure the safety of food and water, protect against environmental hazards, prevent injuries and ward off other public health threats, from leading causes of death to bioterrorism.
- Public Health Service and Implementation Science
- Office of Minority Health and Health Equity
- Center for Global Health
- Center for Preparedness and Response
- Center for State, Tribal, Local and Territorial Support
- Public Health Science and Surveillance
- Central Office of Public Health Science and Surveillance
- Office of Science
- Office of Laboratory Science and Safety
- Center for Surveillance, Epidemiology, and Laboratory Services
- National Center for Health Statistics
- Non-Infectious Disease
- National Center on Birth Defects and Developmental Disabilities
- National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion
- National Center for Environmental Health
- Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry
- National Center for Injury Prevention and Control
- Infectious Diseases
Other Government Agencies and Departments
- A-Z Index of U.S. Government Departments and Agencies
- Administration on Aging
- Agency for International Development
- Bureaus and Offices of HRSA
- Central Intelligence Agency (CIA)
- Congressional Research Service
- Department of Agriculture
- Department of Commerce
- Department of Energy
- Department of Homeland Security
- Department of Transportation
- Department of Veterans Affairs
- Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
- Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)
- Global Health Technical Professionals (GHTP)
- Health Resources and Services
- Institutes, Centers, and Offices of NIH
- Millennium Challenge Corporation
- National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration
- New York State Department of Civil Service
- Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education (ORISE)
- Office of Management and Budget
- Peace Corps
- President’s Emergency Fund for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR)
- State Department
- U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID)
- U.S. Public Health Service Commissioned Corps
- U.S. Navy Medicine
U.S. Health Departments
Comprising the individual state and local health departments nationwide, this sector is responsible for supporting public health through a range of services, policy initiatives and research. Such organizations monitor diseases; ensure safe food and water; plan, investigate and respond to emergencies and outbreaks; administer programs for immunization, nutrition, and prevention; decipher trend data; implement reforms; and measure and report quality standards.
New York City Public Health-Related Departments
- New York City Department of Public Health and Mental Hygiene
- New York City Office of the Deputy Mayor for Health & Human Services
- New York City Office of Labor | WorkWell NYC
- New York City Department of Youth and Community Development (DYCD)
State Public Health Departments
The resources below link to state or territorial health departments in all 50 states, 8 US territories and freely associated states, and the District of Columbia.
☛ States
Alabama | Alaska | Arizona | Arkansas | California | Colorado | Connecticut | Delaware | District of Columbia | Florida | Georgia | Hawaii | Idaho | Illinois | Indiana | Iowa | Kansas | Kentucky | Louisiana | Maine | Maryland | Massachusetts | Michigan | Minnesota | Mississippi |Missouri | Montana | Nebraska | Nevada | New Hampshire | New Jersey | New Mexico | New York | North Carolina | North Dakota | Ohio | Oklahoma | Oregon | Pennsylvania | Rhode Island | South Carolina | South Dakota | Tennessee | Texas | Utah | Vermont | Virginia | Washington | West Virginia | Wisconsin | Wyoming |
☛ Territories
American Samoa | Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands | Guam | Puerto Rico | US Virgin Islands
☛ Freely Associated States
- Republic of the Marshall Islands*
- Federated States of Micronesia National Government
- Republic of Palau
* The Republic of the Marshall Islands Ministry of Health and Human Services does not currently have a website.
Federal Job Search Engines
- Best Places to Work in the Federal Government
- Federal Internship Directory
- Federal Jobs
- GovLoop
- GovtJobs.com
- New Jersey State Employment
- NYC Government Official Job Board
- NY State Government Official Job Board
- Opportunity in Public Affairs
- Partnership for Public Service
- Pathway to Public Service
- Public Affairs Council
- Public Service Careers
- State & Local Government Jobs
- USAJobs
- U.S. House Employment Office