What Types of Jobs in Education are in the Health Industry?

Those who think that graduates of education programs work solely in schools are often surprised when they find out more about the types of jobs in education in health industry. The health industry refers to hospitals, doctors’ offices, medical clinics and the public health field. Educators working in this arena work hard to ensure that people stay healthy and that they remain aware of any potential diseases or problems facing the community. Studying education in college can prepare you for working in these fields.

Hospital Teacher

Pediatric hospitals and hospitals with a large number of younger patients need teachers who can work with those students. As a hospital teacher, you will either function as a traditional teacher or as a tutor. Some hospitals will send you into the rooms of your patients to go over their homework with them and offer basic lessons. Other hospitals have separate classrooms and ask you to teach classes to larger groups of students. Hospital teachers help students keep up with other students in their age range and prepare them for going back to school after leaving the hospital.

Health Educator

The types of jobs in education in health industry include health educators. Also known as community health workers, they create programs designed to teach locals how to improve their health and reduce their risks of developing certain diseases. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the health educator field will grow by 21 percent in the coming years, which indicates a growth of more than 21,000 new jobs. Health educators also work directly with patients in clinics and other settings to help them understand the severity of certain illnesses and to help them remain healthy.

Policy Advocate

Not all educators working in the health industry work specifically with patients or in classrooms. Policy advocates use their training and education as a way to promote and bring awareness to different issues. You often hear about advocates in the news prior to major elections. They work with politicians to change the laws that affect the health care industry and bring attention to specific diseases. As a policy advocate, you might work with a breast cancer group to host special events that are open to the public. You might also research how new laws will impact a large group of people.

College Professor

The types of jobs in education in health industry also include jobs as college professors. A college professor working in health care usually has a minimum of a bachelor’s degree and several years of experience working in the field. They teach courses designed to prepare students for working as doctors, nurses and in health education fields. In addition to teaching classes, they also lead students in fieldwork, prepare and administer tests and meet with students one on one during office hours. College professors can work for public and private colleges, but they may also work at vocational schools and for smaller community colleges.

Related Resource: Early Childhood Education Specializations

Education majors learn the importance of teaching others and ensuring that students retain the knowledge presented to them in class. Those specializing in the health industry work specifically with those interested in health care careers. The types of jobs in education in health industry include positions as policy advocates, health educators and community health workers, college professors and teachers in hospitals.