Episode #135 Do You Need a Public Health Degree?

Overview

Are credentials required to call yourself a public health entrepreneur? In this must-listen episode of Public Health Entrepreneurs, our host addresses a question many in the field have silently wondered: how to make an impact in public health and wellness entrepreneurship without formal public health credentials. We dispel myths about authority and qualification, clearly define what it means to be a public health entrepreneur, and share practical guidance for leveraging diverse backgrounds to drive meaningful change. Whether you’re a health coach, wellness consultant, a founder, or advocacy leader, this episode will empower you with renewed confidence and strategic focus.

Takeaways

• Formal public health credentials (like an MPH or DRPH) are not required to become a public health entrepreneur if your work impacts population health in significant ways.

• The core of public health entrepreneurship is about prevention, health promotion, and creating systems or resources that help entire communities, not just individual patients.

• Entrepreneurship opportunities span many industries—including wellness, health tech, community health, advocacy, and education—where you can create healthier environments and behaviors.

• Being a public health entrepreneur means focusing on impact at the systems level, not dispensing clinical advice or telling individuals how to manage their health.

• Dr. Huntley’s programs are tailored for those who already have businesses in public health or overlapping spaces and want actionable strategies for sustainable growth, not for those seeking to become credentialed health experts.

• Your unique background, expertise, and perspective are valuable assets in public health entrepreneurship—business, marketing, tech, fitness, or education experience all contribute to healthier communities.

• Clarity about your mission and willingness to build for impact are more crucial than having “public health” on your diploma.
  

Resources For Public Health Entrepreneurs

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Whether you’re just getting started or you’ve been in public health consulting or other type of business for a while, we provide support for public health entrepreneurs through our podcast and mastermind group program. We serve public health entrepreneurs in South Carolina, Georgia, Florida, and California as well as other parts of the United States and worldwide.