Public health careers might be misunderstood because the field can be difficult to define. At one level, public health involves medical care provided within a community and outside a hospital setting. In a different context, public health can have global repercussions and refer to efforts to prevent epidemics and improve the health of entire nations.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) says public health systems are complex and require the coordination of multiple organizations. There is usually a public agency, such as a health department, working in tandem with schools, medical providers, churches, employers and more.