Where Health education & behavior can take you
A Major That Opens Doors
Built to help you create healthier communities and meaningful change.
Health Education & Behavior (HEB) puts you on a path toward careers focused on improving health outcomes, empowering individuals and communities, and shaping wellness programs across a wide range of settings.
You might be preparing for graduate programs. You might want to work in community health, corporate wellness, health coaching, or patient education. Or you may see yourself designing health interventions, leading outreach programs, or supporting clinical teams.
Whatever your path, HEB gives you the scientific foundation, communication skills, and real‑world experience to get there. This is more than a major – it’s a launch point for your future in health and wellness.
HEB Career Growth Projections
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) projects steady growth across many careers connected to health education, community health, and public health – reflecting nationwide demand for prevention, behavior‑change expertise, and population‑level health improvement.
Students with a B.S. in Health Education can obtain a wide variety of professions. The percentages shown are the projected growth rates from 2024-2034 from the BLS for each occupation.
- Community health workers: promote wellness by helping people adopt healthy behaviors. They implement programs and advocate for people who may have limited access to health resources and social services
- 11% growth (much faster than average)
- Health education specialists: develop programs to teach people about conditions affecting well-being
- 4% growth (as fast as average)
- Health information technologists and medical registrars (including health informatics specialists): implements technology at appropriate junctures in a healthcare setting to improve treatment quality and contribute to data collection efforts
- 15% growth (much faster than average)
- Medical and health services managers: oversee health and wellness programs and healthcare operations
- 23% growth (much faster than average)
- Occupational therapist: evaluate and treat people who have injuries, illnesses, or disabilities to help them with vocational, daily living, and other skills that promote independence
- 14% growth (much faster than average)
- Physical therapist: help injured or ill people improve movement and manage pain
- 11% growth (much faster than average)
- Physician: diagnose and treat injuries or illnesses and address health maintenance
- 3% (as fast as average)
- Physician assistant: examine, diagnose, and treat patients under the supervision of a physician
- 20% growth (much faster than average)
- Registered nurse: provide and coordinate patient care and educate patients and the public about various health conditions
- 5% growth (faster than average)
- Social and community service managers: coordinate and supervise programs and organizations that support public well-being
- 6% growth (faster than average)
HEB Alumni Spotlights
HEB alumni are improving health and wellness in communities, clinics, organizations, and public health systems across the country. They lead outreach programs, design health interventions, support patient education, manage wellness initiatives, and build careers centered on helping people live healthier lives. Their stories show what’s possible when you combine behavioral science, communication skills, and hands‑on experience. Explore where an HEB degree can take you and imagine the path you’ll create next.
Improving Health at a National Scale
Kristine S. Calderon (MHEB ’97, Ph.D. ’00 )
With more than 20 years in wellness, disease management, and public health, Dr. Kris Calderon has built a career shaping health outcomes for millions. She has led worksite wellness programs for NASA’s Kennedy Space Center, advanced medical education initiatives, and directed population health programs for major healthcare organizations. Today, she serves as a senior strategist and researcher supporting quality improvement efforts for over 6.5 million Medicare beneficiaries. Her path shows how HEB graduates can lead meaningful change across large, complex health systems.
Protecting Patients & Communities
Isis Lamphier, M.P.H., M.H.A., C.I.C., AL-CIP (BSHEB ’19)
Isis Lamphier discovered HEB at Preview and never looked back. Since graduating, she has contributed to Florida’s COVID‑19 response, led infection prevention programs in long‑term care, and now manages infection control across Moffitt Cancer Center’s expanding network. She oversees safety practices, guides clinical teams, and shares her expertise through national publications. Her career reflects the impact HEB graduates can have in public health, patient safety, and healthcare leadership.
Leading Through Health, Science & Service
Robert “Bob” LeFavi (BSHE ’83)
Dr. Bob LeFavi has built a distinguished career in higher education, research, and community service, all rooted in the foundation he gained at as an HEB graduate. He has served as a department head, professor, and now campus dean at the University of South Carolina Beaufort.
LeFavi’s research and popular press articles have led to interviews on “CBS Evening News with Dan Rather,” CNN with Paula Zahn, ESPN, and “Inside Edition,” and quotes as an expert in the New York Times, San Francisco Chronicle, USA Today, Sports Illustrated and Parade.
LeFavi’s interests in all dimensions of health are reflected in the variety of his research topics; LeFavi’s technical analysis of sport movements has been highlighted by National Geographic and the Washington Post, and his research on life review in the terminally ill has received critical acclaim.
With a belief in servant leadership, LeFavi created The Oasis Center – a nonprofit providing free counseling to persons in crisis.His work demonstrates the versatility of an HEB degree and the many ways graduates can lead, teach, and serve.
Advancing Public Health on a National Stage
Brittany Marshall (BSHE ’08)
Dr. Brittany Marshall leads major public health initiatives at the CDC Foundation, where she oversees a nationwide project helping state and local health departments address the health impacts of climate change. Her career spans HIV prevention, program evaluation, and implementation science, and she has held influential leadership roles within the American Public Health Association — including serving on its executive board. Recognized as a “40 Under 40 in Public Health” honoree and one of Atlanta’s top young leaders, Dr. Marshall exemplifies how HEB graduates can shape policy, strengthen communities, and drive meaningful change in public health.
Supporting the Health & Wellness of Wounded Veterans
Meghan Wagner (BSHEB ’09)
For more than a decade, Meghan Wagner has built a career dedicated to improving the lives of wounded service members. After discovering her passion for health education at UF, she joined the Wounded Warrior Project, where she has grown from supporting adaptive cycling events to leading physical health and wellness programs nationwide. Today, she oversees program development and core initiatives that help veterans manage chronic conditions, build strength, and improve their overall well‑being. Her path shows how HEB graduates can turn their commitment to helping others into meaningful, mission‑driven careers.
Explore more alumni spotlights to see the diverse paths our graduates are taking and imagine where HEB could take you next.
Organizations Powered by HEB Grads
HEB alumni are making an impact in communities, organizations, and health systems across the country. Their success reflects the program’s strong foundation in health promotion, behavior change, and real‑world experience. The employers below highlight the breadth of opportunities HEB graduates pursue and represent just a glimpse of where they’re driving meaningful change.
- Aetna
- Columbia University
- Florida Blue
- Florida Department of Health
- Head Start Child Development Program
- Mayo Clinic
- National Basketball Association (NBA)
- National Institutes of Health (NIH)
- Nemours Children’s Health
- Tampa General Hospital
- U.S. Army
- U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
- U.S. Department of Defense (DOD)
- U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
- Wounded Warriors Project
Guided By Professionals Who Know the Field
The HEB Industry Advisory Board is made up of leaders from public health, nonprofit organizations, healthcare, wellness, and community programs. These professionals help shape the student experience by offering insight into emerging career paths, sharing workforce expectations, and connecting students with mentorship and networking opportunities. Their guidance ensures that what you learn in HEB aligns with real‑world needs — and helps you prepare for a career that fits your goals and passions.
Driving Innovation in Health Behavior Change
The Center for Behavioral Economic Health Research brings together experts who study how people make health decisions — and how we can design programs that help individuals and communities live healthier lives. CBEHR focuses on promoting well‑being, preventing illness and injury, and creating interventions that are accessible, cost‑effective, and grounded in evidence. As an HEB student, you’ll learn from research that’s shaping the future of health behavior change and discover how behavioral economics can be used to improve health at every level, from individuals to entire communities.
Undergraduate Admission Information
Your Path to HHP