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Masters in Health Communications Jobs

You will need to understand medical and healthcare terminology and be able to communicate it to laypeople. You may even need to condense critical and complex information into Twitter-size chunks. Image from Unsplash

Lucien Formichella June 26, 2020

Earning a master's in health communication can lead to a six-figure salary. Thanks to the proliferation of online degrees, you may not even need to leave your current job to earn one.

In this course, participants learn core principles, concepts, and methods of continuous improvement and explore the history of continuous improvement efforts. In a series of lectures, Master Black Belt in Six Sigma Shane Wentz, Ph.D., enables learners to enhance, optimize, and stabilize business processes and to augment quality control through varied methodologies. Participants gain the skills and knowledge to reimagine internal processes, engage in advanced problem-solving, and empower employees. The course covers high-level foundational principles of Lean, Six Sigma, and DMAIC processes before diving deep into Lean Six Sigma methods. Learners will analyze the tools of process mapping, Kaizen (a continuous improvement method/tool deemed a prerequisite for Lean transformation success), Lean (a continuous improvement philosophy that emphasizes streamlined workflows and reducing waste), and the process improvement methodology driving DMAIC: Define, Measure, Analyze, Improve, and Control.

Entrepreneurs fostering new ventures outside of well-developed entrepreneurial ecosystems like Silicon Valley face significant challenges. These markets are unlike Silicon Valley, and they will likely remain so. That doesn't mean they can't nurture and sustain new businesses. In transitioning markets that lack abundant private sector financing, creative approaches from government officials, donors, and business leaders can fill the void to support entrepreneurial activity. Northeast Ohio (where Cleveland and Case Western Reserve University are located) has become a laboratory for such innovative solutions. During our time together in this course, we will explore some of these creative approaches to promoting regional entrepreneurship. Northeast Ohio has seen a massive infusion of government and donor resources for over ten years. In that time, Northeast Ohio has promoted regional development (including job creation and follow-on funding) through alternative methods of financing startups. It has not been easy. The region has made progress, but it remains to be seen whether it has struck upon an enduring formula. A dynamic entrepreneurial ecosystem takes many years, even decades, to develop. Government policymakers and donors typically seek quicker returns on their support programs, which makes long-term support for entrepreneurship challenging. This course includes case studies and first-person testimonials from entrepreneurs who have launched products and services ranging from medical devices to LED lights to whiskey. You will learn how these entrepreneurs discovered and procured resources from various programs and intermediary organizations. You will hear from business people still in the process of developing their companies as well as those whose ventures have flourished. Our focus will extend beyond Cleveland to selected markets around the world, including Greece, Vietnam, Tunisia, Argentina, Rwanda and China. You will learn about international incentives and other supports available to developing startups and small businesses across the globe. This course examines how different communities around the world approach implementing strategies and methods to support businesses. I will ask you to reflect on how to apply the principles we learn to growing entrepreneurship where you live. The social interactive features of the online platform will enable students from around the world to share ideas and learn from one another. Most MOOCs rebroadcast professors’ lectures; this course is different. Don’t expect to see me standing in front of the camera, talking and lecturing every module. Instead, the lectures will be relatively short in length. They have more of the feel of an engaging documentary than a static classroom setting. ## __What type of person takes the *Beyond Silicon Valley* course?__ - Active and aspiring businesspeople in communities looking to initiate new startup ecosystems or bolster existing ones - Current and prospective entrepreneurs who want to learn about funding sources, risk management, and the lifecycle of startups - Professionals who work in government agencies, nongovernmental organizations, philanthropic institutions, and various private funds that fund startups - Anyone curious about how to create and grow startup ecosystems outside the major tech hubs - The principles Beyond Silicon Valley teaches have been drawn from and applied to startups worldwide, from small villages to megalopolises. You'll study success stories spanning the globe from Vietnam to Kosovo to Botswana. ## __What will you learn in *Beyond Silicon Valley*?__ - How and where startups can find funding to get their businesses off the ground - What role government can play in encouraging startups and a healthy startup ecosystem - How anchor institutions such as universities and healthcare systems participate in startup ecosystems - How nongovernmental organizations support startups - How to raise funds from venture capitalists, angel investors, and accelerators - How to navigate challenging periods in the startup lifecycle - The importance of mentoring in successful startups

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Earning a master's in health communications can prepare you for a high-paying career in the healthcare or communications industry. It trains students to analyze and talk about health issues accurately and effectively, whether they work for government agencies, non-profits, or private companies.

Read on to learn about some of the masters in health communications jobs currently available. This article answers the following questions:

What is a master's in health communications?
Who earns a master's in health communications?
What are the best master's in health communications programs?
What can you do with a master's in health communications?

What is a master's in health communications?

A master's degree in health communication, as its name indicates, prepares you for a career in health communications. That's simple enough; the field it covers, on the other hand, is quite complex. You will need to understand medical and healthcare terminology and be able to communicate it to laypeople. You may even need to condense critical and complex information into Twitter-size chunks.

Simply put, you will need to be able to speak and translate doctor. You'll be responsible for making sure critical guidance is disseminated widely and clearly without inducing mass panic. It's a job that requires a broad skill set.

A master's in health communications covers a lot of ground. Programs focus on a wide array of subjects, including:

Advocacy and communication
Computer skills for healthcare
Digital media
Health literacy
Marketing
Policy design and evaluation
Public relations
Social media

Who earns a master's in health communications?

To qualify for a master's in health communications, you first need a bachelor's degree—and, of course, superior communication skills. Most programs do not require a specific degree. An undergraduate diploma in public health, communications, English, or even a hard science like biology could serve you well. Many programs look for candidates with relevant work experience. The typical applicant has at least two years of experience in healthcare, communication, or health communication.

Earning a master's degree is a significant undertaking. Full-time programs usually take two years or less, while a part-time program can take up to five. Part-time programs may be less intensive, but that doesn't mean that you get to sit on your couch and drink Miller High Lifes out of a beer hat. These programs, as well as online or hybrid (part online and part on-campus) programs, are often designed for those with work and family commitments.

Northwestern University, for example, schedules its health communications masters classes on Saturdays. The program is designed for active communications pros who want to advance by becoming "a more effective professional with each passing week." Does it work? According to the school's website, "on average, 40 percent of students receive a promotion or start a new role before they graduate."

What are the best master's in health communications programs?

Earning a master's in health communications is a great way to advance your career. Which program is the best? Attending a top school can have massive benefits, including a pay increase that you won't get from a run-of-the-mill graduate degree.

Most health communications programs are offered through universities' schools of public health. According to US News & World Report, the top public health programs that offer a health communications master's degree include:

Boston University
Johns Hopkins University
New York University
Northwestern University
University of Illinois at Urbana - Champaign
University of Missouri - Columbia

You may also decide to earn a Master in Public Health (MPH) with a concentration in health communication. If you pursue this option, you'll likely study:

Disease prevention
Global health
Health administration
Health disparities among populations

MPH programs offering a health communications concentration include:

You may also decide to earn a certificate in health communication—these programs often have fewer credit requirements than a traditional master's program. Boston University's MPH Functional Certificate: Health Communication and Promotion requires only 16 credits, while the University of Illinois has a 12-credit program.

What can you do with a master's in health communications?

The jobs that you can get will depend on the kind of degree that you have. For instance, Missouri University's program is a Master of Arts in journalism focusing on health communication. That means that graduates are prepared for careers in journalism and media relations in the health sector. A degree from Boston University, on the other hand, better prepares you to work in marketing and distribution.

Other jobs open to those with a master's in health communication include:

Advertising, promotion, and marketing managers
Communications manager
Communications specialist
Evaluation specialist
Grants officer
Health communications specialist
Health educators and community health workers
Health insurance public relations manager
Medical and health services managers
Medical editor
Medical writer
Operations program manager
Patient engagement specialist

What are the top jobs in health communications?

Not all health communication jobs pay the same. For instance, a health educator earns a median annual wage of just under $55,000, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). That's not bad, but it might not be what you hoped for when you invested thousands of dollars in a master's degree. Northwestern reports that anchortext 46 percent of graduates get promoted or find new employment within one year of graduating, at an average pay increase of 14 percent.

Here are some of the best-paying jobs that you can get with a master's in health communications.

Advertising, promotion, and marketing managers

Medical advertising is big business; think of all the pharmaceutical ads you see whenever you watch broadcast television. As an advertising, promotion, and marketing manager, you might develop a giant cartoon booger for a 30-second commercial to illustrate how a product gets rid of mucus. Fulfilling and fun! In 2019, advertising, promotion, and marketing managers earned a median income of just under $136,000.

Medical and health services manager

Healthcare is a business; medical and health services managers are in charge of making it run. Their job duties include creating and overseeing budgets, hiring and firing, and ensuring that care is administered properly. Medical health and services managers work not only in hospitals but also in outpatient centers, nursing homes, and government agencies. The median pay for these professionals was $100,980 in 2019, according to the BLS. Alternatives to this job title include healthcare executive and healthcare administrator.

Healthcare program director

Healthcare program directors usually focus on a single department in large healthcare organizations. Program directors oversee care administration and regulatory compliance. They also might have a hand in budgeting. According to PayScale, healthcare program directors earn an average annual salary of just under $81,000 per year.

Medical writer

Medical writers earn an average annual salary of nearly $72,000, according to PayScale. Some are medical journalists, but most write educational and training materials for healthcare companies. The job also involves conducting research.

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