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Health Geography Jobs (NOW HIRING)

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Health Geography information

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How much do health geography jobs pay per hour?

As of Jun 28, 2026, the average hourly pay for health geography in the United States is $28.52, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $21.63 and $33.65 per hour, depending on experience, location, and employer.

How to become a health geographer?

To become a health geographer, typically a bachelor's degree in geography, public health, or a related field is required, followed by a master's or doctoral degree specializing in health geography or spatial analysis. Developing skills in GIS software, spatial data analysis, and understanding health systems is essential for this role.

What do health geographers do?

Health geographers study how geographic factors influence health outcomes, disease distribution, and healthcare access. They analyze spatial data using GIS tools and often work in research, public health planning, or policy development to address health disparities and improve health services.

How do Health Geographers typically collaborate with public health officials and policymakers?

Health Geographers often work closely with public health officials and policymakers to analyze spatial data related to health trends, disease outbreaks, and resource allocation. Collaboration usually involves sharing geographic information systems (GIS) analyses, interpreting spatial patterns of health outcomes, and making recommendations for targeted interventions. These professionals may participate in interdisciplinary teams, contribute to public health reports, and help design data-driven strategies to improve community health. Strong communication and data visualization skills are essential for effectively conveying findings to decision-makers.

What careers involve human geography?

Careers involving human geography include roles such as health geographers, urban planners, and environmental consultants, which focus on understanding how human activity interacts with geographic spaces. These jobs often require skills in spatial analysis, GIS tools, and data interpretation to address issues like public health, urban development, and resource management.

What is health geography?

Health geography is a subfield of human geography that focuses on the spatial aspects of health, disease, and healthcare. It examines how geographic factors such as location, environment, and population distribution influence health outcomes and access to medical services. Health geographers use techniques like GIS mapping and spatial analysis to study patterns of disease, healthcare delivery, and health inequalities. Their work supports public health planning, policy development, and efforts to address disparities in health at local, national, and global scales.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a Health Geographer, and why are they important?

To thrive as a Health Geographer, you need expertise in spatial analysis, epidemiology, and geography, often supported by a degree in geography, public health, or a related field. Familiarity with Geographic Information Systems (GIS), spatial statistics software, and data visualization tools is typically required. Strong analytical thinking, attention to detail, and effective communication skills help convey complex spatial health patterns to diverse stakeholders. These skills are vital for accurately mapping health trends, informing public health policy, and improving community health outcomes.

What is the difference between Health Geography vs Public Health?

AspectHealth GeographyPublic Health
Required CredentialsBachelor's or Master's in Geography, Public Health, or related fieldsBachelor's or Master's in Public Health, Epidemiology, or related fields
Work EnvironmentResearch institutions, universities, government agenciesHealthcare organizations, government agencies, community programs
Industry UsageFocuses on spatial analysis of health data and environmental factorsFocuses on population health, disease prevention, and health policy

Health Geography and Public Health share overlapping skills and work environments, but Health Geography emphasizes spatial analysis of health data, while Public Health concentrates on population health strategies and policies. Both roles are vital in improving health outcomes but differ in focus and application.

What is the highest paying geography job?

In health geography, senior roles such as health geographers with extensive experience or leadership positions tend to have the highest salaries. Additionally, roles that involve data analysis, GIS expertise, or policy development often offer higher compensation, especially in government agencies or large organizations.
More about Health Geography jobs
What cities are hiring for Health Geography jobs? Cities with the most Health Geography job openings:
What states have the most Health Geography jobs? States with the most job openings for Health Geography jobs include:
Top healthcare system is searching for three Service Line Medical directors for our Cardiovascula...

Top healthcare system is searching for three Service Line Medical directors for our Cardiovascula...

UnityPoint Health

Des Moines, IA

Full-time

Retirement

Posted 17 days ago


UnityPoint Health rating

7.3

Company rating: 7.3 out of 10

Based on 356 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

295th of 877 rated healthcare providers


Job description

UnityPoint Clinic is actively recruiting Service Line Medical Directors for General Cardiology/Imaging, Interventional/Structural, and Electrophysiology to join our team in Des Moines, IA. 


Choose a career that matters at UnityPoint Health. At UnityPoint Health, we believe that our patient-centered vision and physician-driven philosophy, along with our one team approach, ensures every patient knows just how much they matter to this world. Commitment to our team has earned us recognition as a Top 150 Places to Work in Healthcare 2022 by Becker’s Healthcare and among America’s Best Employers by State in Iowa, Illinois and Wisconsin. Come be an essential part of our core purpose—to improve the health of the people and communities we serve. At UnityPoint Health, you matter.

UnityPoint Clinic is a physician-led, nonprofit health care organization offering comprehensive services in primary care, walk-in care and specialty care. The clinical teams at the area’s clinics are improving outcomes, lowering the number of hospital readmissions and reducing avoidable costs associated with treating chronic conditions. The UnityPoint Clinic team is known for excellence and quality patient care, putting patients at the center of their care to provide the best level of health and well-being.

As a member of the UnityPoint Health cardiovascular leadership team, the Service Line Medical Director – Cardiovascular, is the accountable clinical executive for cardiovascular services provided within the scope of their sub-specialty across UnityPoint Health’s geography and all sites of service. The Service Line Medical Director reports to the Chief Medical Officer for the Cardiovascular Service Line.

In collaboration with cardiovascular service line leadership, other physician leaders, and operations leadership, the Service Line Medical Director will optimize growth while delivering cardiovascular care in an efficient and effective manner as demonstrated by clinical, operational, and financial outcomes. The Service Line Medical Director will be responsible for key activities including short- and long-term strategic planning, leading physicians and APPs, clinical program and clinical pathway development, to support the clinical, operational, and financial effectiveness of the cardiovascular service line.

The Service Line Medical Director – Cardiovascular promotes a collaborative and experience-focused culture, which encourages teamwork, physician and APP development, innovation, and the delivery of an Exceptional Experience focused on quality, access, and patient experience. The medical director is expected to maintain clinical practice in addition to their administrative duties.

  Responsibilities: 

*Physician will need to relocate to Des Moines, Iowa.

% Time

Function

Duties

70%

Clinical and Service Quality Performance

  • Establish strong working relationships with service line physicians (employed as well as independent partners) and other providers and stakeholders through regular and ad hoc meetings, site visits and other connections as requested or needed.
  • Lead service line physicians, APPs, and other health care providers in the identification of unnecessary clinical and associated operational variation and the development of high reliability care standards.
  • Champion the adoption of high reliability care standards with regional and subspecialty physician and provider leadership.
  • Develop and review performance dashboards and monitor clinical outcomes, including but not limited to quality metrics, registry outcomes, and patient experience results; develop and implement action plans as needed to optimize outcomes.
  • Manage performance of physicians and APPs within the service line, proactively building culture and addressing performance concerns.

10%

Education & Training Development

  • Serve as the primary representative for respective cardiovascular specialties within the system and with independent partners.
  • Build clinical, fellowship, and research programs, as appropriate.
  • Establish and lead standardization of clinical protocols, system policies, and procedures.
  • Ensure adherence to established protocols, policies, and procedures.
  • Disseminate information to physicians, APPs, and clinical staff in a consistent manner.
  • Conduct regularly scheduled specialty division meetings within sub-specialty focus to discuss and plan for future activities.
  • Attend seminars, conferences etc. to maintain up-to-date knowledge and insight into national developments relevant to service line activities

10%

Clinical Program Development & Workforce Recruitment

  • Ensure alignment of service line physicians and APPs in achievement of strategic priorities and goals.
  • Partner with cardiovascular operations leaders to develop short-term (1-2 year) and long-term (2-5 year) strategic plans for Division which align with and are informed by the UPH strategic plan.
  • Surface ideas and provide internal consulting for new programs, initiatives, and technology investments.
  • Participate in business plan development and discussions with all stakeholders.
  • In partnership with cardiovascular operations leaders, establish, strategize, coordinate, and collaborate to achieve key performance metrics, goals, and objectives.
  • Participate in workforce planning discussions for physicians, APPs, and other health care providers.
  • Lead the development of service line physician and provider recruitment strategies and actively participate in the recruitment process.

10%

Financial Management

  • Provide input into the management of the profit and loss of the assigned Division / specialty.
  • Participate in strategic, operational, and capital discussions pertaining to Division activities.
  • Develop and implement tactics in collaboration with cardiovascular operations leaders which leads to the overall profitability of the cardiovascular service line.

· Demonstrates the UnityPoint Health Values and Standards of Behaviors as well as adheres to policies and procedures and safety guidelines.

· Demonstrates ability to meet business needs of department with regular, reliable attendance.

· Employee maintains current licenses and/or certifications required for the position.

· Practices and reflects knowledge of HIPAA, TJC, DNV, OSHA and other federal/state regulatory agencies guiding healthcare.

· Completes all annual education and competency requirements within the calendar year.

· Is knowledgeable of hospital and department compliance requirements for federally funded healthcare programs (e.g., Medicare and Medicaid) regarding fraud, waste, and abuse. Brings any questions or concerns regarding compliance with the immediate attention of hospital administrative staff. Take appropriate action on concerns reported by department staff related to compliance.

Qualifications: 

  •   MD or DO
  • Board Eligible or Board Certified in Cardiology/Cardiovascular Subspecialty
  • Fellowship trained in the applicable (sub)specialty for the service line
  • Ability to obtain and hold an unrestricted license to practice in the state of Iowa
  • Hold current and unrestricted state and federal authority to prescribe and administer medications as necessary or appropriate to the physician’s field of practice
  • Advanced degree in healthcare management (MBA, MHA) preferred
  • Additional training in leadership (i.e., the UPH Physician Leadership Academy) preferred
  • Practicing physician with a focus on high quality patient centric care, minimum 5 years
  • Experience leading physicians, APPs, and other clinicians through change, minimum 3 years

We offer

  • Initial 2-year salary guarantee with ability to exceed on an innovative compensation program
  • Attractive incentive package
  • A competitive Total Rewards program offers benefits that align with your needs and priorities, no matter what stage of life you are in.
  • Generous time off and CME allowance, malpractice insurance, retirement contributions and more
  • Dedicated provider resources to positively impact providers work-life balance
  • Eligibility for Public Service Loan Forgiveness, including a free third-party service for loan restructuring and consolidation.
  • A commitment to ensuring you have a voice that is heard regardless of role, race, gender, religion, or sexual orientation.
  • Support and development opportunities that are a crucial part of delivering a remarkable employment experience.
  • A culture guided by uncompromising values and unwavering belief in doing what’s right for the people we serve.

Greater Des Moines (DSM) is a community that invests in itself, that is powered by multi-national corporations and supports small, locally owned businesses. DSM is a community committed to cultivating an inclusive, equitable environment for people of all backgrounds. Whether you’re looking for vibrant, urban living or a fresh start in the surrounding suburbs, Greater Des Moines (DSM) has many communities to call home. Learn why Des Moines is one of the fastest-growing major metros in the nation and an amazing place to call home.


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UnityPoint Health logo

About UnityPoint Health

Sourced by ZipRecruiter

At UnityPoint Health, we provide care in nine regions throughout Illinois, Iowa, and Wisconsin. As the nation's fourth largest nondenominational health system in America, UnityPoint Health keeps people at the center of all we do. We are looking for dynamic and talented individuals to join our team. You'll find opportunities for every sized dream.

Industry

Hospitals

Company size

10,000+ Employees

Headquarters location

West Des Moines, IA, US

Year founded

1995