Public Health, Policy, and Foundations

Careers in public health, policy, and foundations focus on improving health outcomes at the population level—through research, advocacy, program design, and funding decisions rather than direct patient care.

Professionals in this space work at government agencies (like the CDC or state health departments), multilateral organizations (like WHO or UNFPA), advocacy and policy nonprofits, and philanthropic foundations that fund public health initiatives.

Key Skills and Coursework

Students pursuing this pathway benefit from coursework and experience in:

  • Epidemiology and biostatistics fundamentals

  • Health policy and health economics

  • Public administration or political science (for policy-focused roles)

  • Statistics and quantitative reasoning

  • Writing and communication (policy memos, briefs, grant reports)

A master's degree—commonly an MPH (Master of Public Health), MPP (Master of Public Policy), or MPA (Master of Public Administration)—is often required or strongly preferred for advancement in this field, though many entry-level roles are accessible directly after an undergraduate degree.

Gaining Experience

Although research is not required for every role in this field, hands-on experience strengthens candidacy for both jobs and graduate programs. Relevant experience includes:

  • Internships with government health departments, foundations, or advocacy nonprofits

  • Research assistantships in public health, health policy, or health economics labs

  • Volunteer work with community health organizations or policy campaigns

  • Involvement in student government, advocacy groups, or health-focused student organizations

Foundations and grantmaking roles in particular value candidates who understand both the technical side of public health and the practical realities of running programs on the ground, so experience that combines research with direct community engagement is especially valuable.

Kiphart Collegiate Fellows Program

The Kiphart Collegiate Fellows Program supports experiential-learning internships in global health and social development, with a preferred focus on low- and middle-income countries.

Fellows receive a stipend of up to $5,000, access to an exclusive job board, and cohort events throughout the fellowship year. Up to 15 first-, second- and third-year students are selected each year, and students of any major are eligible to apply.

Applications are managed by Career Advancement and posted on Handshake during Autumn Quarter.

Pozen Global Health Scholars

The Pozen Global Health Scholars Program is a selective track for College students interested in the broad range of careers related to health equity. The program is open to first-, second-, and third-year students, and students of all majors are encouraged to apply.

Scholars complete skills workshops, attend conferences, participate in innovation challenges, and receive a designation of completion on their transcript at graduation. They also benefit from networking with global health and human development organizations, international summer internships with grassroots nonprofits and multilateral agencies, funding for certifications and conference attendance, and international global health career treks.

The program is supported by a generous gift from Richard (AB’69) and Ann Pozen.