Public health and health advocacy are two distinct but related fields that aim to improve the health and well-being of individuals, communities, and populations. While both public health and health advocacy are concerned with improving health outcomes, public health focuses on population-level interventions and policies, while health advocacy focuses on individual and community-level activism and advocacy for change.
Health advocacy and public health are both vital fields that play crucial roles in promoting better health outcomes for individuals and communities. While there is some overlap between the two fields, important differences reflect their distinct focuses and scopes of work.
Health advocacy is focused on promoting the interests of individual patients or groups of patients. Health advocates ensure that patients receive the care and support they need and promote policies and practices that support patient rights and access to care. This might involve advocating for better health insurance coverage, improving treatment options for a particular condition, or advocating for the rights of vulnerable populations such as children, seniors, or people with disabilities.
Public health, on the other hand, refers to the science and practice of promoting and protecting the health of populations. This includes efforts to prevent the spread of disease, improve access to healthcare, promote healthy behaviors, and address social determinants of health. Public health professionals work at the local, state, and national levels to design and implement programs and policies that promote health and prevent disease.
Because the two fields both work to promote better health access and outcomes, much of the coursework overlaps. In both a Master of Arts in Health Advocacy and a Master’s in Public Health (MPH), students learn about policy, statistics, program design, and research methods. Depending on the track a student chooses in an MPH, there may be even more overlap with courses like health policy, health economics, or health law. The MPH includes coursework to prepare people for more specialized career paths, such as biostatisticians or epidemiologists. The MA in Health Advocacy prepares students to work across various settings, such as in policy, leading nonprofits, serving as a patient advocate, or working within healthcare systems.
While public health and health advocacy are distinct, they often work together to promote better health outcomes. For example, public health professionals may work with health advocates to design programs and policies that are responsive to the needs and concerns of patients and communities. Health advocates, in turn, may work with public health officials to promote policies that support the health and well-being of their constituents.
Because the two fields both work to promote better health access and outcomes, much of the coursework overlaps. In both a Master of Arts in Health Advocacy and a Master’s in Public Health (MPH), students learn about policy, statistics, program design, and research methods.
Health advocacy and public health are both vital fields that play crucial roles in promoting better health outcomes for individuals and communities. While there is some overlap between the two fields, important differences reflect their distinct focuses and scopes of work. If you would like to learn more about the differences between these two fields and explore which one is right for you, email Bridget to set up a time to talk further.