Diversity Makes the Real Difference
In Wisconsin, African Americans and Hispanics face significant health disparities that directly affect every part of our communities of color—from income to education to average lifespan. Creating a diverse public health workforce is a crucial step in eliminating these disparities, and ultimately make a real difference in the lives of those who need it most.
Students of color want a fulfilling future and the ability to create positive change in their communities, and that’s what makes a career in public health one of the most promising paths!
Diversity Matters is a statewide initiative with the goal of increasing the diversity of Wisconsin’s public health workforce by inspiring African American and Hispanic students in middle school, high school and college to pursue a career in public health. Diversity Matters is funded wholly by the Advancing a Healthier Wisconsin Endowment at the Medical College of Wisconsin.

Public Health Professionals: Our REAL Superheroes
See how they use their unique knowledge and skills everyday, to make a real difference in the real world.
Career Opportunities with REAL Potential
There are limitless career paths in public health. So many ways to improve the lives of others in your community and beyond. What are your strengths? Where do your interests lie? No matter what your answers to those questions are, there is a place for you in public health! There is an ever-growing need for public health professionals in a broad range of fields.
Follow along with our #mypublichealthfuture series! Each month we will explore a different career in #publichealth. Click here to see the latest edition.
Powerful Learning Opportunities
There are lots of summer learning programs, pre-college programs, networking and mentoring opportunities, co-ops and paid internships available to high school and college students interested in a public health career – whether you’ve already decided it’s for you, or want to learn what it’s like.

Use Your Power – Change Our World!




Students
- Discover the vast career options in public health – talk to your career counselor and visit ExploreHealthCareers.org.
- Visit www.wpha.org to check out the many available internships, learning programs, and networking and mentorship opportunities.
- Explore the many scholarship and funding opportunities.
- Check out the DIVERSITY MATTERS brochure to learn more about careers in public health.
- Read “10 Things to Know Before You Apply“
- START PLANNING YOUR PATH – AND MAKE IT HAPPEN!
Parents
- Talk to your children about their hopes, their dreams – their future.
- Visit your school’s career counselor to discuss the many paths to a career in public health.
- Help your child create a plan for entering a career in public health.
- Check out the DIVERSITY MATTERS brochure to learn more about Diversity Matters and career options in public health.
- Encourage, support, and motivate. Everyday!
Community
- Inform students about the tremendous possibilities in a Public Health degree.
- Promote the Diversity Matters initiative, its resources and events.
- JOIN THE MOVEMENT – BECOME A SUPER PARTNER
Employers
- Provide internship, job shadowing, or mentoring opportunities.
- Exhibit at the yearly public health career fair. Check out wpha.org for more information.
- Become a WPHA member and list your job postings to draw a diverse pool of applicants.