Deb Riebe, Molly Greaney featured in national career site article
The world has changed in many ways in recent months, not the least of which is in the job market, which presents challenges — and opportunities — for new college graduates.
Zippia, a site for companies who want to recruit top-level staff and job seekers who want to empower their career aspirations, recruited a number of experts to advise aspiring graduates what they can do to start off their careers in an uncertain economic climate. Two URI College of Health Sciences faculty members — Associate Dean Deb Riebe and Associate Professor Molly Greaney, chair of the Department of Health Studies — offered their advice to recent and aspiring graduates. See their comments below, and check out the full article here.
Dr. Molly Greaney
In your opinion, what are the biggest trends we’ll see in the job market given the pandemic?
Greaney: I think the importance of physical and mental health is very much at the forefront now, and there will, hopefully, be increased efforts to promote health at the individual, community, state, and national levels. The pandemic has made it evident that public health in the United States has been underfunded for a long time. There also will be increased efforts to address inequities in housing, health care access, etc., that have contributed to the disparities in COVID-19 related morbidity and mortality in the US.
What technology do you think will become more important and prevalent in the field in the next 3-5 years?
Greaney: Remote working will continue post-pandemic, and our reliance on technology to facilitate working remotely and collaboratively will continue to increase. I think telehealth is here to stay, and its use will expand and be refined. I also believe that the service of apps for exercise and well-being and addressing social isolation will increase.
Will there be an increase or decrease in demand for graduates in this field in the next 5 years?
Greaney: I think there will be an increased demand for health science graduates. The pandemic has brought the importance of public health and robust public health infrastructure to the forefront. It also has made evident the need to address health inequities, promote healthful behaviors, and the importance of prevention, including primary prevention.
Dr. Deborah Riebe
In your opinion, what are the biggest trends we’ll see in the job market given the pandemic?
Riebe: It will be interesting to see an increased focus on health promotion/disease prevention following the pandemic. Studies already demonstrate that lifestyle factors, such as physical inactivity, obesity, and smoking, for example, increase the risk of severe Covid-19 infection. An increased focus on wellness would provide employment opportunities for dieticians, exercise physiologists, behavior change counselors, and other health and wellness professionals. For years, we have known that unhealthy lifestyle habits contribute to chronic disease; the pandemic may finally bring this issue to the forefront.
What technology do you think will become more important and prevalent in the field in the next 3-5 years?
Riebe: The pandemic has made us realize that many things can be done remotely in our daily lives. Telehealth is here to stay and will likely grow over the coming years. While there will still be a need for face-to-face appointments, many medical meetings and counseling sessions can be effectively completed remotely. Online individual and group exercise sessions are becoming more common and help those with time constraints or who prefer to exercise at home rather than in a fitness center. Technology that connects health and wellness professionals, easier for individuals with poor technical skills or physical challenges such as poor eyesight, is essential.
Will there be an increase or decrease in demand for graduates in this field in the next 5 years?
Riebe: The pandemic may bring a renewed focus on the importance of a healthy lifestyle. We have known for a long time that poor lifestyle choices contribute to chronic disease. We now know that unhealthy lifestyle practices are tied to poorer Covid-19 outcomes. While our healthcare system has traditionally focused on illness, I am hopeful that we turn our attention to health promotion/disease prevention through a healthy lifestyle.
In addition to public health professionals, a renewed focus on health and wellness would increase the demand for behavior change counselors, exercise physiologists, nutritionists and registered dieticians, and wellness communication specialists. Health and wellness professionals can and should play a role in non-traditional settings. Imagine a city planning board that includes an exercise physiologist so that the importance of a focus on a walkable and bike-able community is not overlooked.