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Clarification of Public Health Pathways Toward Clinical Careers: A Pilot Study Describing a Benchmark Analysis Project

April 22, 2025

In a new article published in Frontiers in Public Health, Clarification of Public Health Pathways Toward Clinical Careers: A Pilot Study Describing a Benchmark Analysis Project, authors Elizabeth A. Brown, Melissa Feliciano, and Daniel Martinez describe how a benchmark analysis of undergraduate public health programs in the southern United States was used to create a model for aligning basic science requirements with pathways to clinical graduate programs such as medicine, pharmacy, physician assistant, and dentistry.

Key Findings

  • Variation in basic science requirements across programs
    • The analysis examined 38 accredited, baccalaureate public health-related programs in the southern region of the United States. Requirements for basic sciences varied widely. General or Introductory Biology, Anatomy and Physiology, and General or Introductory Chemistry were the most common courses. Fewer programs required Microbiology, Genetics, Physics, or Organic Chemistry.
  • Nearly half offer concentrations or tracks
    • Eighteen programs (47.4 percent) had at least one concentration, most often in Community Health Education and Promotion or Pre-Medical/Clinical Science. Other tracks included Health Policy and Management, Environmental Health, Dietetics and Nutrition, and Genetics.
  • Model developed for flexibility and inclusivity
    • The authors proposed a model that streamlines required basic sciences by removing some advanced courses, such as Organic Chemistry and Physics, and allowing lower-level introductory sciences to increase access for students with diverse strengths and career goals.
  • Pathways tailored for clinical graduate programs
    • For students interested in applying to clinical graduate programs, the authors provide suggested basic science course sequences that align with admission requirements for medical, physician assistant, pharmacy, and dental schools.
  • Link to accreditation standards
    • The proposed model aligns with the Council on Education for Public Health’s March 2024 Accreditation Criteria, specifically Foundational Domain #2 (Foundations of biological and life sciences) and Domain #6 (Underlying science of human health and disease).

Implications

This benchmark analysis offers public health program leaders a data-driven approach to revising curricula so that Bachelor of Science in Public Health degrees can serve as clearer pathways to both public health and clinical careers. Flexibility in required science courses can help recruit and retain a wider range of students by removing unnecessary barriers while still meeting accreditation standards.

The authors recommend program directors discuss and consider adopting the proposed model, which could make BSPH degrees more marketable and responsive to student goals, especially amid projected workforce shortages in multiple health professions.

Access the Full Article

Read the full text in Frontiers in Public Health.