Fiona Sim, co-wrote Working in Public Health alongside Jenny Wright, where she mapped out a range of “exciting and varied” opportunities open to people considering a career in public health.

The book (launched alongside another title, charting the recent history of the public health workforce – Multidisciplinary Public Health) provides helpful information on how to get into public health work, either as a fully-fledged specialist or in an operational practitioner role.

Designed especially for those wanting to find out about public heath, the book looks at public health work in a range of settings, from health services to the commercial sector, and in a range of different roles, from health protection to public health intelligence, in the UK and internationally.

Professor Sim’s longstanding professional and research interest lies in building capacity and capability across all sectors in order to deliver better health and to reduce health inequalities.

One of the principle purposes behind the book is to raise awareness of jobs that can really make a difference. It records personal accounts and case studies from highly experienced as well as early career public health workers.

Professor Sim said: “The aim of the book is not only to help people discover what public health is all about and to inform them how best to get into the field, but also to illustrate the impact those already working in public health have on improving health and wellbeing and in reducing inequalities.”

Katie Ferguson, Jenny Wright and Fiona Sim

Professor Sim, who has previously held senior roles in Public Health and Health Services Management, explained the aim of the second title, which has been written alongside Jenny Wright and Katie Ferguson, is to explain the development and history of the modern, inclusive public health workforce.

“We wanted to chart the events leading to the unique achievement, from 2003, of specialist status, equivalent to public health medical consultants, for those from non-medical backgrounds. Setting these changes in context the book discusses implications for the future UK public health workforce.”

For more information on Working in Public Health, and to purchase a copy, visit: www.routledge.com

For more information on Multidisciplinary Public Health, and to purchase a copy, visit www.policypress.co.uk