DrPH Model

While superseded  in 2016 by the Council on Education for Public Health’s D1. MPH and DrPH Foundational Public Health Knowledge and D3. DrPH Foundational Competencies, ASPPH’s Doctor of Public Health core competencies, identified by national consensus in 2009, is provided as a reference for DrPH programs.

• Advocacy

  The ability to influence decision-making regarding policies and practices that advance public health using scientific knowledge, analysis, communication, and consensus-building.

  • Present positions on health issues, law, and policy.
  • Influence health policy and program decision-making based on scientific evidence,stakeholder input, and public opinion data.
  • Utilize consensus-building, negotiation, and conflict avoidance and resolution techniques.
  • Analyze the impact of legislation, judicial opinions, regulations, and policies on population health.
  • Establish goals, timelines, funding alternatives, and strategies for influencing policy initiatives.
  • Design action plans for building public and political support for programs and policies.
  • Develop evidence-based strategies for changing health law and policy.
• Communication

  The ability to assess and use communication strategies across diverse audiences to inform and influence individual, organization, community, and policy actions.

  • Discuss the inter-relationships between health communication and marketing.
  • Explain communication program proposals and evaluations to lay, professional, and policy audiences.
  • Employ evidence-based communication program models for disseminating research and evaluation outcomes.
  • Guide an organization in setting communication goals, objectives, and priorities.
  • Create informational and persuasive communications.
  •  Integrate health literacy concepts in all communication and marketing initiatives.
  • Develop formative and outcome evaluation plans for communication and marketing efforts.
  • Prepare dissemination plans for communication programs and evaluations.
  • Propose recommendations for improving communication processes.
• Community/Cultural Orientation

  The ability to communicate and interact with people across diverse communities and cultures for development of programs, policies, and research.

  • Develop collaborative partnerships with communities, policy makers, and other relevant groups.
  • Engage communities in creating evidence-based, culturally competent programs.
  • Conduct community-based participatory intervention and research projects.
  • Design action plans for enhancing community and population-based health.
  • Assess cultural, environmental, and social justice influences on the health of communities.
  • Implement culturally and linguistically appropriate programs, services, and research.
• Critical Analysis

  The ability to synthesize and apply evidence-based research and theory from a broad range of disciplines and health-related data sources to advance programs, policies, and systems promoting population health.

  • Apply theoretical and evidence-based perspectives from multiple disciplines in the design and implementation of programs, policies, and systems.
  • Interpret quantitative and qualitative data following current scientific standards.
  • Design needs and resource assessments for communities and populations.
  • Develop health surveillance systems to monitor population health, health equity, and public health services.
  • Synthesize information from multiple sources for research and practice.
  • Evaluate the performance and impact of health programs, policies, and systems.
  • Weigh risks, benefits, and unintended consequences of research and practice.
• Leadership

  The ability to create and communicate a shared vision for a positive future; inspire trust and motivate others; and use evidence-based strategies to enhance essential public health services.

  • Communicate an organization’s mission, shared vision, and values to stakeholders.
  • Develop teams for implementing health initiatives.
  • Collaborate with diverse groups.
  • Influence others to achieve high standards of performance and accountability.
  • Guide organizational decision-making and planning based on internal and external environmental research.
  • Prepare professional plans incorporating lifelong learning, mentoring, and continued career progression strategies.
  • Create a shared vision.
  • Develop capacity-building strategies at the individual, organizational, and community level.
  • Demonstrate a commitment to personal and professional values.
• Management

  The ability to provide fiscally responsible strategic and operational guidance within both public and private health organizations for achieving individual and community health and wellness.

  • Implement strategic planning processes.
  • Apply principles of human resource management.
  • Use informatics principles in the design and implementation of information systems.
  • Align policies and procedures with regulatory and statutory requirements.
  • Deploy quality improvement methods.
  • Organize the work environment with defined lines of responsibility, authority, communication, and governance.
  • Develop financial and business plans for health programs and services.
  • Establish a network of relationships, including internal and external collaborators.
  • Evaluate organizational performance in relation to strategic and defined goals.
• Professionalism and Ethics

  The ability to identify and analyze an ethical issue; balance the claims of personal liberty with the responsibility to protect and improve the health of the population; and act on the ethical concepts of social justice and human rights in public health research and practice.

  • Manage potential conflicts of interest encountered by practitioners, researchers, and organizations.
  • Differentiate among the administrative, legal, ethical, and quality assurance dimensions of research and practice.
  • Design strategies for resolving ethical concerns in research, law, and regulations.
  • Develop tools that protect the privacy of individuals and communities involved in health programs, policies, and research.
  • Prepare criteria for which the protection of the public welfare may transcend the right to individual autonomy.
  • Assess ethical considerations in developing communications and promotional initiatives.
  • Demonstrate cultural sensitivity in ethical discourse and analysis.

   

Full Educational Model and Report

DrPH Model (2 MB)

Related Articles and Resources

Core Competencies for Doctoral Education in Public Health