ASPPH President and CEO Dr. Laura Magaña recently co-authored an editorial, Bridging the Gap: Aligning Education for Public Health with Emerging Workforce Demands, with Dr. Emily Burke, ASPPH’s Senior Director of Workforce Development and Applied Practice. The piece, published in the American Journal of Public Health (AJPH), can be read here.

The editorial emphasizes the critical need to align public health education with the rapidly evolving expectations of the workforce. Dr. Magaña and Dr. Burke highlight that educational and theoretical frameworks that adapt to changes in public health practice are crucial for preparing graduates for interprofessional opportunities across various industries and job sectors.

The authors call for prioritizing training in emerging and specialized competencies, such as leadership, innovation, and systems thinking, while ensuring a balance between global and local perspectives. They underscore the importance of strong partnerships between schools and programs of public health and public health practitioners and employers. These collaborations are essential to equipping students with the skills and knowledge necessary to address public health challenges in an ever-changing world.

This editorial continues ASPPH’s ongoing efforts to advance academic public health and support the future workforce.