Public health involves organized community efforts to promote health and prevent disease. Public health professionals work to analyze health issues and develop programs to protect populations. There are many career paths in public health, including roles as dietitians, epidemiologists, health educators, microbiologists, and public health nurses. The five core disciplines of public health are biostatistics, environmental health sciences, epidemiology, health policy and management, and social and behavioral sciences. Public health degree programs are based on these core competencies to prepare graduates for careers in population health.