Excellent Marie Lina, Yu Melissa, Hartranft Alexis, Fleming W Oscar, Ahsan Karar Zunaid, Schenck Anna P, Ramaswamy Rohit
Author Affiliations: University of North Carolina (UNC) at Chapel Hill, Gillings School of Global Public Health, Chapel Hill, North Carolina.
J Public Health Manag Pract. 2025;31(4):515-526. doi: 10.1097/PHH.0000000000002123. Epub 2025 Apr 15.
The COVID-19 pandemic highlighted the critical need for competent leadership in public health to address emergent health challenges and restore trust in health institutions. Emphasizing leadership training in public health education programs is key to preparing leaders for these challenges. This study aimed to (1) explore how public health professionals practice leadership and (2) identify gaps between current training practices and emergent needs.
A literature review spanning from 2012 to 2022 informed the development of an interview guide. 48 experienced public health leaders, including 35 alumni from a prominent public health school in the United States as well as 13 established leaders with degrees from other schools, were selected through snowball sampling and agreed to participate in interviews. Thematic analysis of interview transcripts using NVivo software revealed multifaceted aspects of public health leadership, emphasizing collaboration, communication, and experiential learning.
Participants described leadership in public health as the ability to influence change in population health while nurturing the development of future professionals. They highlighted the importance of self-reflection and personal experiences in shaping their leadership styles, illustrating how the principles of public health extend beyond professional realms into daily life. Key qualities of effective leadership included listening actively, valuing diverse perspectives, and providing mentorship. Participants emphasized the transformative role of mentorship and professional development experiences, particularly within master of public health (MPH) programs, in shaping their leadership practices. Looking forward, participants identified several areas for improvement in leadership training, including interdisciplinary collaboration, community-centered strategies, and proficiency in grant writing and financial management. They also stressed the importance of embracing technological advancements, such as artificial intelligence (AI), in public health practices.
This study underscores the significance of leadership training in public health education. It highlights the value of leaders' reflective practice and the opportunity for leadership programs to enhance training related to interdisciplinary collaboration and communication. Experiential learning opportunities are crucial for nurturing this development and preparing leaders to navigate complex challenges in the field of public health.
新冠疫情凸显了公共卫生领域具备胜任能力的领导力对于应对突发卫生挑战以及恢复公众对卫生机构信任的迫切需求。在公共卫生教育项目中强调领导力培训是培养领导者应对这些挑战的关键。本研究旨在：（1）探究公共卫生专业人员如何践行领导力；（2）识别当前培训实践与新出现需求之间的差距。
一项涵盖2012年至2022年的文献综述为访谈指南的制定提供了参考。通过滚雪球抽样法选取了48位经验丰富的公共卫生领导者，其中包括来自美国一所著名公共卫生学院的35位校友以及13位毕业于其他院校的资深领导者，他们均同意参与访谈。使用NVivo软件对访谈转录文本进行主题分析，揭示了公共卫生领导力的多方面内容，强调了协作、沟通和体验式学习。
参与者将公共卫生领域的领导力描述为在促进未来专业人员发展的同时影响人群健康变化的能力。他们强调自我反思和个人经历在塑造其领导风格方面的重要性，阐明了公共卫生原则如何从专业领域延伸到日常生活中。有效领导力的关键品质包括积极倾听、重视不同观点以及提供指导。参与者强调了指导和专业发展经历，特别是在公共卫生硕士（MPH）项目中的经历，在塑造其领导实践方面的变革性作用。展望未来，参与者指出了领导力培训中几个需要改进的领域，包括跨学科协作、以社区为中心的策略以及撰写资助申请和财务管理方面的能力。他们还强调了在公共卫生实践中采用人工智能（AI）等技术进步的重要性。
本研究强调了公共卫生教育中领导力培训的重要性。它突出了领导者反思性实践的价值以及领导力项目加强跨学科协作和沟通相关培训的机会。体验式学习机会对于促进这种发展以及培养领导者应对公共卫生领域复杂挑战至关重要。
