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Advance your Career

By learning to improve and impact cost, quality, safety, and patient experiences in healthcare

The MSHC program brings together rising leaders with experiences and professional interests in improving communication and interactions within the healthcare industry.  MSHC students and alumni have a vast network of connections with people across organizations that can help them source ideas, improve health care products and communication strategies.

Who are Health Communication Professionals?

  • Professionals who design, produce, analyze and evaluate messages, interactions, media, networks and audiences in order to solve problems in healthcare
  • Leaders who communicate with diverse audiences about public health matters and use media and advocacy to influence policy
  • Practitioners who design behavior change communication campaigns and strategies
  • Professionals who work in advertising, consulting, public relations, and health marketing agencies

Career Paths

The Northwestern MS in Health Communication is a highly flexible and marketable credential. Students advance or transition their careers in a variety of roles across the healthcare industry. From non-profit, advocacy, or government organizations to private sector healthcare organizations, student’s careers span the healthcare industry. Below are examples of the areas our students pursue and the organizations that hire them.

Early Career (0-4 yrs. experience)
  • Policy Analyst, Connect for Health Colorado
  • Customer Service Specialist, Wolters Kluwer Health
  • Voicer User Interface Designer, Wolters Kluwer Health
  • Decision Support Specialist, Strata Decision Technology
  • Administrative Assistant, Thoracic Surgery, Northwestern Medicine
  • MyChart Application Services Manager, EPIC
  • Coordinator 2, Harvard University’s T.H. Chan School of Public Health
  • Junior Brand Strategist, Health Brand Group
  • COVID-19 Vaccine Clinic Coordinator, SCL Health Colorado
  • Communications Specialist, American Lung Association of Greater Chicago
  • Analyst, Population Health Operations, VillageMD
Mid-Career (5-10 yrs. experience)
  • Sr. Director Client Implementation, Teledoc
  • Director of Health Communications & Content Strategy, Upfront Healthcare Services
  • Sr. Manager, Advocacy Communication, American Academy of Dermatology
  • Managing Director, Pharmacy Programs, Blue Cross Blue Shield of IL
  • Quality Program Supervisor, UCSF Medical Center
  • Sr. Communication Specialist, Digital Health, Rush University Medical Center
  • Sr. Voice User Interface Designer, Waterfield Technology
  • Sr. Director, Content & Product Marketing, AVIA
  • Project Manager, Government Affairs, Joint Commission
  • Southwest Regional Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Manager, DPR Construction
  • Director of CX & UX teams in Enterprise Modernization, CVS Health
  • Associate Director, Market Research, Sanofi Genzyme
  • Director of Communications, National Headache Foundation
Experienced Career (11+ yrs. experience)
  • Senior Managing Advisor, Jarrad, Phillips, Cate & Hancock
  • Vice President, Health Care Service Corporation, Blue Cross Blue Shield
  • Director, Customer Success, VigiLanz
  • Director, Public Affairs, AbbVie
  • Sr. Specialist, Brand & Patient Experience, Alliance Rx Walgreens
  • Director of Health Content, Movember Foundation
  • Associate Vice President, Market Products & Solutions, Blue Cross Blue Shield of IL
  • Health Communication Specialist, Food and Drug Administration
  • Research Director, Oak Dermatology
  • Director, Corporate Development and Venture Investment, Blue Cross Blue Shield of IL
  • Community Impact Manager for Social Impact, GoodRx
  • Strategic Product Manager, Blue Cross Blue Shield (IL, MT, MN, OK, TX)
  • Clinical Operations Manager – Recruitment, Northwestern University Clinical and Translational Sciences Institute (NUCATS)