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Published Research Article

Toward a Public Health Leadership National Training Agenda: A Review of Conceptual Frameworks and Core Competencies

August 6, 2025

In a new article published in Frontiers in Public Health, Toward a public health leadership national training agenda: a review of conceptual frameworks and core competencies, presents the ASPPH Public Health Leadership Competency Mapping and Training Agenda: a foundational framework designed to strengthen capabilities across current and future governmental public health professionals.

Key Findings

  • Leadership is essential to public health
    • Effective leadership drives system improvement and community health. The COVID-19 pandemic revealed how critical it is, especially in government settings.
  • Workforce challenges highlight the need
    • High turnover, limited development opportunities, and political pressure make structured leadership training more urgent than ever.
  • Current training efforts are fragmented
    • Many leadership models exist, but they are inconsistent, often theoretical, and not tailored to public health realities.
  • ASPPH created a unified framework
    • An expert panel developed the 4P Framework of Public Health Leadership:
      • Problem: Understanding complex public health issues
      • Person: Building self-awareness and leading teams
      • Pathway: Driving systems change and strategic action
      • Purpose: Staying grounded in mission, values, and equity
  • A national training agenda was developed
    • The framework informed a set of 41 leadership competencies across 10 themes, offering a practical guide for education and workforce development.
  • Designed to be scalable and inclusive
    • The agenda supports leadership growth at all career levels and roles, using real-world methods like mentoring, simulations, and case-based learning.
  • Institutions are urged to take action
    • Schools, employers, and agencies should embed this framework into training and curricula to prepare resilient, equity-focused leaders for the future.

Implications


This framework and training agenda offer a much-needed, unified approach to public health leadership development. By aligning leadership competencies with real-world demands, it helps prepare a more resilient, equity-focused workforce capable of navigating complex challenges and driving systemic change.

Access the Full Report


To read the complete analysis and explore the findings, download the full report.