| As health problems around the world continue to | | | | want to do something about it. |
| challenge even the most seasoned veterans, the | | | | A related trend also shows signs of hope. In |
| need for well-educated problem solvers has never | | | | addition to being more aware globally of health |
| been greater. Could more people with an MPH | | | | and healthcare, students are showing increasing |
| (Master of Public Health) degree be one of the | | | | interest in "do good" entrepreneurship. That is, |
| solutions? It just might be, especially if the trend | | | | they want to help improve the lives of people, |
| towards teaching social entrepreneurship keeps | | | | but they want to do it with an entrepreneurial |
| growing. | | | | spirit, whether that means actually creating a |
| The MPH is a professional advanced degree that | | | | startup or using entrepreneurial techniques within |
| typically takes 2-3 years to complete. Most | | | | an established organization to implement change |
| programs are taught on campus. However, a | | | | that is faster and better. Some universities are |
| growing number of MPH courses are being taught | | | | even incorporating social entrepreneurship into |
| online, such as the Executive MPH program that is | | | | their curriculum and course offerings, as well as |
| offered at the University of North Carolina at | | | | establishing grant programs that encourage |
| Chapel Hill. Students usually focus their studies in | | | | entrepreneurial thinking among faculty. Recently, |
| one of five main areas: public health administration, | | | | for example, the Dr. Dennis Gillings and his wife |
| epidemiology, biostatistics, behavioral sciences | | | | agreed to set aside $50 million at the School of |
| (including health education) and occupational and | | | | Public Health at UNC-Chapel Hill to fund Innovation |
| environmental health sciences. The degree, along | | | | Laboratories, which will focus concentrated efforts |
| with the PhD, has been the primary qualification | | | | on solving big public health problems whose |
| for people in public health working in some | | | | solutions can make a difference in the public's |
| administrative, scientific or professional capacity | | | | health. |
| and it has served the public health environment | | | | The bottom line - the world could use more |
| well for many years now. | | | | "change agents" who understand public health and |
| But there's more that needs to be done. | | | | who have the intelligence, drive and knowledge to |
| Accredited MPH programs have seen their | | | | get things done for the benefit of communities |
| numbers stagnate or decline in recent years. The | | | | worldwide. The MPH degree can help fill that bill |
| reasons vary, but one possible explanation is that | | | | and the time may be ripe to see an acceleration, |
| more young professionals have been attracted to | | | | not a decline, of dedicated, aspiring MPH applicants. |
| the higher incomes generally associated with | | | | Schools of public health need to redouble their |
| another degree - the MHA or Master of Health | | | | efforts to attract more students and to offer |
| Administration - which is often the preferred | | | | courses and curriculum that help spur even |
| route for hospital administrators. Another possible | | | | greater social entrepreneurship participation by |
| reason is the continued erosion of support and | | | | today's students. But they must be innovative |
| interest in governmental positions, either at the | | | | themselves and not conduct business as usual. For |
| county, state or national level, which is where the | | | | example, some schools are still reluctant offer an |
| MPH is often used. | | | | MPH online program for fear that the educational |
| Whatever the reason, the MPH has often not | | | | process will be compromised. And yet, no |
| been seen as the most attractive degree to | | | | research supports such a notion. In fact, anecdotal |
| pursue. But could the tide be turning? An | | | | evidence strongly suggests that the online |
| increasing number of colleges and universities are | | | | curriculum is just as effective, if not more |
| taking a more global approach to their curriculum, | | | | effective, in educating students. |
| including courses taught at schools of public health. | | | | It's not easy breaking from tradition, but the |
| This has resulted in students becoming increasingly | | | | global community cannot wait. It's up to those |
| familiar with the myriad of health problems that | | | | responsible for and in pursuit of the MPH degree |
| world faces and, because of heightened activism, | | | | to lead the way for the rest of us. |