The Rise of the Public Health Content Creator: Careers, Skills, and Global Opportunities in the Digital Age

Digital Doctors

Tue, 01 Jul 2025

In an increasingly digital world, the public health sector has expanded beyond research labs, policy halls, and hospitals. A new frontier is taking shape—one where communication, storytelling, and digital literacy meet epidemiology and social change. Welcome to the age of the Public Health Content Creator.

Whether through YouTube channels demystifying vaccine science, Instagram campaigns on reproductive health, TikToks on mental wellness, or LinkedIn newsletters like this one, content creators in the health space are transforming how public health is understood, accessed, and practiced—globally.

Who is a Public Health Content Creator?

A Public Health Content Creator uses digital platforms to educate, inform, and influence populations on topics like disease prevention, wellness, nutrition, sanitation, mental health, maternal care, and more.

These professionals:

• Craft compelling health messages using videos, blogs, infographics, webinars, podcasts, and social media.

• Translate complex medical and epidemiological data into clear, relatable content.

• Serve NGOs, governments, health tech startups, or work independently as health influencers or consultants.

Common Niches:

• Maternal and child health

• Reproductive health

• Nutrition and wellness

• Infectious disease prevention

• Sexual and gender-based violence awareness

• Mental health education

• Vaccination and immunization campaigns

Career Paths in Digital Public Health Communication

Here are some evolving job titles and career directions:

Featured Case Study:

Dr. Madiha Saeed (HolisticMom, MD) gained a global audience by simplifying public health messages on lifestyle, nutrition, and child health via Instagram and YouTube, now partnering with public health campaigns internationally.

Key Skills and Tools for Public Health Content Creators

Core Skills

• Health literacy & plain language writing

• Behavioral change communication (BCC)

• SEO, analytics, and performance tracking

• Graphic design and data visualization

• Short-form video editing

• Social media content calendars and strategy

• Digital storytelling and user engagement

Essential Tools:

• Canva (https://www.canva.com/) – for infographics and health posters

• CapCut / Adobe Premiere Rush – for editing short health videos

• Hootsuite or Buffer – for scheduling content across platforms

• Google Analytics – to measure impact

• Notion – to organize scripts, content calendars, and strategy

• Descript (https://www.descript.com/) – for podcast editing

• Lumen5 (https://www.lumen5.com/) – to turn blog content into videos

Where and How to Apply: Remote, Hybrid, and Freelance

Top Global Job Boards:

• Devex: https://www.devex.com/jobs

• UN Careers: https://careers.un.org/

• ReliefWeb: https://reliefweb.int/jobs

• Global Health Jobs: https://globalhealth.org/jobs/

• Idealist: https://www.idealist.org/

• LinkedIn Jobs: https://www.linkedin.com/jobs/

• Upwork/Fiverr (for freelancers): https://www.upwork.com/, https://www.fiverr.com/

• WHO Opportunities: https://www.who.int/careers

• Global Health Corps: https://ghcorps.org/fellows/apply/

• Toptal (for top-tier freelancers): https://www.toptal.com/

Certifications and Online Courses (Free & Paid)

Free Courses:

• Global Health and Humanitarianism by University of Manchester (FutureLearn):
  https://www.futurelearn.com/courses/global-health

• Communication for Health by Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health (Coursera):
  https://www.coursera.org/learn/health-communication

• COVID-19 Digital Communication Training (CDC/Aspen Institute):
  https://covid19.digitalmedic.org/

Paid/Professional Certifications:

• Digital Health Communication Certificate – Stanford Center for Health Education:
  https://online.stanford.edu/courses/xine260-digital-health

• MPH with Health Communication Concentration – Boston University, Online:
  https://www.bu.edu/sph/academics/degrees/online-mph/

• Certificate in Public Health Communication – Johns Hopkins:
  https://publichealth.jhu.edu/academics/public-health-communication

• Health Writing for the Web – Health Writer Hub:
  https://www.healthwriterhub.com/health-writing-course/

• Content Strategy for Professionals – Northwestern (Coursera):
  https://www.coursera.org/specializations/content-strategy

Optimizing for ATS and Hiring Algorithms

The majority of international NGOs, tech companies, and global public health employers now use Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) to filter candidates.

How to Beat the Algorithms:

1. Use keywords from job postings (e.g., “health content strategy,” “digital health,” “public health communications”).

2. Avoid fancy templates. Use simple Word or PDF resumes with standard section titles.

3. Highlight tools like Canva, Google Analytics, or SEO if required.

4. Link to live content portfolios (e.g., Medium blog, YouTube channel, LinkedIn Articles).

5. Add metrics: “Grew public health blog traffic by 220% in 6 months.”

6. Include SEO-friendly skills on LinkedIn: “Health Communication,” “Behavior Change Messaging,” “Global Health.”

How to Build a Portfolio that Gets You Noticed

An optimized Health Content Portfolio can include:

• Sample blog articles on global health topics

• Infographics or carousels for Instagram health campaigns

• A YouTube or TikTok channel on public health tips

• A LinkedIn newsletter with health updates

• Guest posts on platforms like Medium, The Conversation, or Healthline

Example:

Chukwuemeka Eze, a Nigerian MPH graduate, launched a YouTube series breaking down WHO reports in local languages. His portfolio landed him consulting gigs with Africa CDC and UNICEF.

Strategic Networking and Online Presence

Where to Network:

• LinkedIn Groups: Global Digital Health Network, Health Communication Professionals

• Slack Communities: PHSP Slack, HealthComNet

• Conferences: Digital Health Week, Global Digital Health Forum

• Platforms like ResearchGate for academic-public partnerships

What to Share:

• Commentary on trending global health issues

• Translations of WHO or UN data into visual, audience-friendly formats

• Your ongoing learning or project milestones

• Open-source content frameworks and health toolkits

Final Thoughts: A Global Need, A Digital Solution

The COVID-19 pandemic emphasized that misinformation can kill, but so can silence. Public Health Content Creators are uniquely positioned to bridge this gap—translating verified health information into language people understand and trust.

Whether you're a nurse, a journalist, a graphic designer, or a public health graduate, there’s a space for you in this growing ecosystem. What matters is your commitment to accuracy, accessibility, and public service—powered by creativity.

Action Steps Checklist

✅ Enroll in at least one public health communication course
✅ Audit your resume for keywords and simplicity (ATS-ready)
✅ Set up a free portfolio using Notion, Medium, or Google Sites
✅ Publish your first LinkedIn article or video
✅ Join a global Slack or LinkedIn public health content network
✅ Apply to 3 roles via Devex, Idealist, or LinkedIn this week
✅ Bookmark and revisit: https://globalhealth.org/jobs/

If you'd like help building your portfolio, optimizing your resume for digital health jobs, or curating a learning path tailored to your goals—feel free to reach out.

Until next time, keep creating for change.