Creating an academically competent public health workforce through supportive education and training
1
1 School of Public Health, SUNY Downstate Health Sciences University, Brooklyn, New York, United States
Popul. Med. 2026;8(Supplement Supplement 1):
ABSTRACT
INTRODUCTION:
According to a report published in January 2025 by the US Government Accountability Office (GAO), there is a shortage of public health workers across several occupations and locations. This has a profound impact on essential functions such as disease investigation, mitigation, hazard detection, and emergency response.1 The American Public Health Association (APHA) reports that to address basic health needs, health departments need 80000 more full-time public health employees locally and statewide. This increase does not address emergent situations.2
METHODS:
The Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) provided funds to develop an innovative program that recruits, trains, and retains students to strengthen and diversify the workforce through a health equity focused curriculum, seminar series, mentoring program, career development workshops, and applied practice experiences (APEx). Students in the Downstate Public Health Scholarship Program (DPHSP) are trained in prevention, preparation, and response to COVID-19 and other emergencies, SDOH, disparities, and health equity. Through partnerships with governmental and community-based organizations, we provide field placement sites for 85 trainees per year. DPHSP provides scholarships to offset the financial burden faced by disadvantaged trainees.
RESULTS:
In three years, we have trained and provided field placements for 255 students while facilitating entry into full-time public health jobs, with a 99% graduation rate. During our presentation, we will highlight data regarding the field experiences, employment rate, and industries where our program participants have entered.
CONCLUSIONS:
In order to address local, national, and global public health challenges, it is necessary to increase and diversify the public health workforce through specific training, professional development and applied practice opportunities. Providing financial support to current trainees assists with retention and graduation rates. With the proper support and opportunities, we can increase the number of competent public health leaders to do the work necessary to resolve our current public health issues.
According to a report published in January 2025 by the US Government Accountability Office (GAO), there is a shortage of public health workers across several occupations and locations. This has a profound impact on essential functions such as disease investigation, mitigation, hazard detection, and emergency response.1 The American Public Health Association (APHA) reports that to address basic health needs, health departments need 80000 more full-time public health employees locally and statewide. This increase does not address emergent situations.2
METHODS:
The Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) provided funds to develop an innovative program that recruits, trains, and retains students to strengthen and diversify the workforce through a health equity focused curriculum, seminar series, mentoring program, career development workshops, and applied practice experiences (APEx). Students in the Downstate Public Health Scholarship Program (DPHSP) are trained in prevention, preparation, and response to COVID-19 and other emergencies, SDOH, disparities, and health equity. Through partnerships with governmental and community-based organizations, we provide field placement sites for 85 trainees per year. DPHSP provides scholarships to offset the financial burden faced by disadvantaged trainees.
RESULTS:
In three years, we have trained and provided field placements for 255 students while facilitating entry into full-time public health jobs, with a 99% graduation rate. During our presentation, we will highlight data regarding the field experiences, employment rate, and industries where our program participants have entered.
CONCLUSIONS:
In order to address local, national, and global public health challenges, it is necessary to increase and diversify the public health workforce through specific training, professional development and applied practice opportunities. Providing financial support to current trainees assists with retention and graduation rates. With the proper support and opportunities, we can increase the number of competent public health leaders to do the work necessary to resolve our current public health issues.
| eISSN: | 2654-1459 |
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