[Public health education in France: challenges and future perspectives].

Public health difers from other fields of health education by its vast scope and by the diversity of its target populations. University training in public health is currently ensured in France by more than 300 permanent lecturers with significant research activity. Graduates find employment in hospitals and other public institutions. Public-sector managerial staff are educated by the National School of Public health. Currently, university training is poorly organized and coordinated in France. The creation of the Ecole des Hautes Etudes en Santo Publique provides an opportunity to reorganize the training infrastructure and calls for a reassessment of the place of universities in public health education.