Where are they and how do they perform? Measuring long-term career outcomes of public health doctoral recipients

Abstract

Background Doctoral recipients of public health play pivotal roles in the support and leadership of the public health industry and academic research. We conducted this study to assess and track the long-term career outcomes of public health PhDs (PHPhD). Methods We linked data from the Survey of Doctorate Recipients to the Survey of Earned Doctorates and tracked the long-term career outcomes and job placements of PHPhD from 2001 to 2017. Logistic regression and ordinary least squares regression models were used to model career outcomes and behavioral characteristics. Results PHPhD specializing in biometrics and biostatistics had the highest annual income. In all, 59.5% of PHPhD chose academia to likely continue research activities. However, 11.1% of PHPhD shifted job sectors from academia to industry or government 10 years postgraduation. Persistent disparities across racial and gender groups were observed in job outcomes such as salary, working hours and job satisfaction. Conclusions These results provide instructive insights PHPhD can use for long-term career planning. Public health program administrators, employers and stakeholders may use the results to address labor outcome disparities in race and gender.