The Future of the Public’s Health from the Perspective of Public Health Experts

Abstract

In this chapter, reputable academicians and practitioners of public health, who have been teaching and practicing for an average of 20 years in local and state government and public and private academic institutions, offer their view about public health education and practice today. Specifically, these professionals offer their insight into the greatest challenges they encounter in preparing the future public health workforce, recommendations for assuring competence in public health knowledge and skills, key lessons they think those who have chosen a public health career could benefit from knowing, as well as where limited public health resources should be directed. These key stakeholders completed a questionnaire which was comprised of 13 questions that took 15–30 min to complete. The questionnaire was approved by the University of New Hampshire’s Institutional Review Board. The participants’ responses to selected questions are summarized in an aggregate manner herein.