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The public health workforce
Hugh Tilson1, Kristine M Gebbie
1Public Health Leadership Program, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, North Carolina 27599-7400, USA. htilson@email.unc.edu
Annual Review of Public Health
|March 16, 2004
Summary
Developing a competent public health workforce is crucial for national infrastructure. This involves defining, credentialing, and educating professionals to address key challenges and improve the field.
Area of Science:
- Public Health
- Health Workforce Development
Background:
- The public health workforce is a critical component of national health infrastructure.
- Recent reports highlight the growing attention on workforce competence and development.
- Numerous public health associations are collaborating on workforce-related issues.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review major questions confronting the public health workforce.
- To introduce key components of current thinking on workforce improvement strategies.
Main Methods:
- Literature review of recent reports and collaborations.
- Analysis of key issues in public health workforce development.
Main Results:
- Significant attention is being paid to the public health workforce.
- Collaborative efforts are underway to define, credential, and educate the workforce.
- Major questions and improvement approaches are being identified.
Conclusions:
- Strengthening the public health workforce is essential for robust public health infrastructure.
- Ongoing collaboration and research are vital for addressing workforce challenges.
- A focus on defining, credentialing, and educating professionals will enhance public health capacity.