February 28, 2018
SIU hosting inaugural Illinois Public Health Career Fair
CARBONDALE, Ill. — Public health is a diverse and growing field and a new event, hosted by Southern Illinois University Carbondale, seeks to bring together students, professionals, educational institutions and potential employers.
SIU’s inaugural Illinois Public Health Career Fair, organized by the campus chapter of the national health honorary society Eta Sigma Gamma, will take place March 6 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Student Center, 1255 Lincoln Drive.
SIU, The Illinois Public Health Association, Eta Sigma Gamma Alpha Alpha Chapter and the SIU Department of Public Health and Recreation Professions within the College of Education and Human Services are partnering to create this new annual event.
Plans call for it to rotate to locations in central and northern Illinois, according to Aaron Diehr, assistant professor and program director for SIU’s public health undergraduate program.
Explore careers in public health
The health fair is open to anyone, according to Brione Lockett, a doctoral health education student who serves as president of SIU’s Eta Sigma Gamma. He said public health is a large field and can encompass health administration, dentistry, agriculture, nursing, health education, psychology, the law school and much more.
“This is a great opportunity for students from all over to come and see what the health field has to offer them,” Lockett said. “We want to help participants envision the many options available to them in the rapidly expanded field of public health and highlight the variety of employers, both within and outside of the health professions.”
Health care is a growing field
Lockett noted that the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts a 13 percent growth in health care-related employment opportunities between 2015 and 2024.
Careers can focus not only on promoting the health of individual people, but anything involving that involves the health of an entire population. Thus, there are many different types of public health job opportunities which in turn work with other professionals, making it a very interdisciplinary profession, Lockett said.
Universities, employers and vendors are participating
Employers from the non-profit sector as well as government agencies and organizations and private companies will be participating as well, promoting internships, career opportunities, and summer jobs.
Academic institutions will also be on hand with information about their programs in public health- related fields. In addition, participants can view displays from participating vendors.
Free to attend
The Illinois Public Health Career Fair is free and open to the public. No pre-registration is required for those attending but organizers suggest bringing copies of resumes and/or contact cards. Resume assistance will be provided on site.
Complimentary refreshments will be available as well.
Additional information is available at the Illinois Public Health Career Fair website.