The public health workforce plays a vital role in ensuring the health of the population, but how do we ensure that we have a strong public health workforce? How do we communicate the value the public health workforce provides in these uncertain times? This November at the American Public Health Association (APHA) Annual Meeting in Atlanta, GA, the Council on Linkages Between Academia and Public Health Practice (Council on Linkages) will bring together influential public health leaders to tackle these critical questions.

 

Workforce development efforts nationwide help to build competencies and skills within the workforce, but rather than being seen as an integral component of all public health efforts, workforce development may be perceived as a luxury. As the public health field continues to evolve and new competencies and skills are needed to be successful in roles like community chief health strategist, there is an urgent need to shift this perspective.

 

The public health community must come together to clearly demonstrate the importance of the public health workforce to achieving population health objectives and make the case for the resources necessary to sustain a high performing workforce. The Council on Linkages, a collaborative of 22 national public health organizations, is taking a step in this direction with its hosting of Advocating for the Public Health Workforce at this year’s APHA Annual Meeting.

 

On Monday, November 6th from 10:30am-12pm, join Council on Linkages Chair C. William Keck, MD, MPH, for a panel discussion with John Auerbach, MBA, President and CEO, Trust for America’s Health; Ed Hunter, MA, President and CEO, de Beaumont Foundation; Phyllis Meadows, PhD, Senior Fellow – Health, Kresge Foundation; and Judy Monroe, MD, President and CEO, CDC Foundation, and explore efforts underway to help make the case for the public health workforce. Panelists will discuss the current public health environment, characterized by a shrinking and aging workforce, changing composition of the workforce and the work, funding uncertainty, and a disconnect between causes of death and funding allocations, and focus in on how their organizations are addressing these challenges by working to demonstrate the value of the public health workforce, advocate for the public health workforce, and provide funding to support public health workforce development.

 

The interactive format of this session will provide an opportunity for attendees to engage with the speakers to share their own questions and concerns and will challenge participants to become part of the movement to advocate for the public health workforce. Questions for any of the speakers are welcome in advance of the session and may be shared with Janelle Nichols at jnichols@phf.org.

 

Interested in additional opportunities to connect with the Council on Linkages or catch up on the latest Council on Linkages work? Council on Linkages initiatives including the Academic Health Department Learning Community and Core Competencies for Public Health Professionals will be featured during a number of APHA Annual Meeting sessions, as well as at the Public Health Foundation’s (PHF’s) booth (#1443) in the APHA Public Health Expo. Visit the APHA 2017 Annual Meeting and Exposition event page on the PHF website for a complete list of presentations.