University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, USA.
Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA.
Health Promot Pract. 2024 May;25(3):313-316. doi: 10.1177/15248399231160144. Epub 2023 Mar 6.
Interest in and awareness of public health in the United States has grown due to COVID-19; however, state and local health departments have seen a mass exodus of leadership since the beginning of the pandemic. Based on the results of the de Beaumont Foundation's most recent Public Health Workforce Interests and Needs Survey (PH WINS), nearly one in three public health employees say they are considering leaving the profession due to stress, burnout, and low pay. One viable strategy for ensuring a diverse and competent public health workforce is the national network of Public Health Training Centers (PHTCs). This commentary describes the Public Health Training Center Network, with a specific focus on Region IV, and discusses challenges and opportunities for advancing the public health agenda in the United States. The national PHTC Network continues to provide invaluable services in terms of training, professional development, and experiential learning for the current and future public health workforce. However, increased funding would allow PHTCs to have a greater impact and reach through bridge programs for public health workers and others, additional field placement experiences, and expanded outreach to non-public health professionals in training activities. PHTCs have shown great adaptability over time and can once again pivot to meet the needs of a rapidly changing public health landscape demonstrating that PHTCs are truly more relevant than ever.
由于 COVID-19，美国公众对公共卫生的兴趣和意识有所增强；然而，自疫情开始以来，州和地方卫生部门的领导层大量流失。根据德博蒙特基金会（de Beaumont Foundation）最近的公共卫生劳动力兴趣和需求调查（PH WINS）的结果，近三分之一的公共卫生工作者表示，由于压力、倦怠和低工资，他们正在考虑离开这个行业。确保公共卫生劳动力多样化和有能力的一个可行策略是建立全国公共卫生培训中心网络（PHTC）。本评论描述了公共卫生培训中心网络，特别关注第四区域，并讨论了推进美国公共卫生议程的挑战和机遇。国家 PHTC 网络继续为当前和未来的公共卫生劳动力提供宝贵的培训、专业发展和实践学习服务。然而，增加资金将使 PHTC 能够通过公共卫生工作者和其他人的桥梁计划、更多的实地实习经验以及扩大对培训活动中非公共卫生专业人员的宣传，产生更大的影响和覆盖面。随着时间的推移，PHTC 已经表现出很强的适应性，它可以再次转变以满足快速变化的公共卫生领域的需求，这表明 PHTC 确实比以往任何时候都更加重要。
