Training Future Public Health Professional in Law: Results from a Pilot Curriculum

Recognizing the increased demand for public health law skills within the public health workforce, ChangeLab Solutions, in collaboration with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, conducted a pilot program to increase knowledge of law among public health students. In partnership with a team of curriculum consultants, ChangeLab Solutions developed and piloted a curriculum across eight public health programs that consisted of six modules which focused on defining public health law and explaining its role in shaping health outcomes and inequities. Faculty members that piloted the modules found students had an increased knowledge of public health law concepts after completing the modules. Faculty members also experienced several barriers that might hinder effective delivery of the curriculum. Integration of public health law concepts into public health coursework within SPPH is one method of increasing students' preparedness and capacity to use legal tools in addressing health outcomes and inequities.