Choosing One of Three Main Career Paths in Global Health - The Direct Service Adventure
- Dr. Sharon Rudy
- May 21
- 2 min read
In the next three InfoBlasts – the rest of December - we’ll explore the primary global health career paths: Direct Service Provision, Research, and Program Implementation.
You can, and people often do, thread in and out of these areas, but spending an entire career walking one path is also appropriate. Understanding these choices is essential in early career planning because each path requires unique expertise, especially in the beginning. Although overlapping in some technical areas, each path requires specialized knowledge, attitudes, and skills. The more you understand, the eas-+-+-er it will be for you to focus your preparation, whether you are considering entry, reinforcing what you already want to do, or thinking about making a switch.
Ever dreamed of being the superhero in someone’s health story?
That’s what the direct service career path is all about. From doctors and nurses to nutritionists and pharmacists, this route requires special training, certifications, and licenses. Basically, it’s where white coats meet the real-world drama of saving lives. However, most of physicians I’ve worked with move on to public health positions, sometimes as fast as possible after their degree.
The original health providers - and really they still are - were the mothers of the world—the ultimate MVPs of caregiving. If this path has you hooked, know that the health system is your stage. Whether you're with organizations like Doctors Without Borders, International Medical Corps, Partners in Health, Health Volunteers Overseas, and Seed Global Health, or tackling challenges in refugee camps, you’ll need to pack resilience, technical skills, and...a lot of bug spray. If you are an LMIC (low/middle income country) professional staying to work in an LMIC, you can move from domestic to global health if you get INTO the business of global health - a previous info blast, which is why you should be reading ALL the info blasts!
Tip: Thinking of practicing in an LMIC (low and middle income country)? Make sure you know the country's licensing rules. and, uh, avoid those sketchy "medical safari" gigs.
Stay tuned for the next InfoBlast, where we explore the "mad scientists" of global health careers:
RESEARCHERS!
If you are ready to create and execute your career strategy,
go to "SERVICES" and....... Let's GOOOOOO!!!!!
What else do you want to hear about??? Let me know at sharon@drsharonrudy.com. Feedback is welcome – Email me your questions and concerns.
THE GLOBAL HEALTH CAREER
A Practical Guide to Finding and Sustaining Your Place in a Changing Field
An essential guide to navigating global health careers with strategies for planning, networking, skill mastery, and achieving personal and professional goals.
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