Closing the gap between the leadership and management demands of public health systems and how students are prepared to face them

Proven health interventions that save lives are known and are key components of public health education.  However, these simple and cost-effective practices often do not reach those in need.  A key constraint to bringing these interventions to scale to save thousands of lives is a lack of effective management and leadership.  These competencies are also essential for achieving a motivated and supported workforce.  Effective management and leadership practices exist that enable the scale up of proven public health interventions.  What is needed now is a connection between the public health and leadership and management effective practices that is made during public health education.  Too often management and leadership preparation is missing from public health pre-service programs.  A Public Health degree is the most frequent requirement for management positions in health; however, because Public Health programs are often modular, it is possible to receive a degree without taking a single class in management.[1]
This presentation will describe successful examples of integrating management and leadership practices into the curricula of schools of public health.  These programs have evolved toward an action-learning approach that works with teams, such as the integration of leadership and management into the Makerere University School of Public Health, Uganda.
This presentation will demonstrate how public health programs have combined improved management and leadership with proven public health practices to overcome challenges and achieve significant results.  The governor of Ceará, Brazil required that all public servants participate in a leadership development program in order to be considered for promotions to leadership positions.  In the Secretariat of Health, this change contributed to significant improvements in health outcomes.  70% of the 37 municipalities in the state succeeded in decreasing infant mortality, some by as much as 50%.

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[1] Managing the Health Millennium Development Goals.  Making Health Systems Work: Working Paper No. 8.  WHO/HSS/healthsystems/2001.1. 

Learning Objectives: 1. Make the connection between leadership and management and improving health outcomes 2. Discover action-based, practical approaches to build leadership and management skills at all levels of the health sector and in public health education

Sub-Theme: Core public health competencies

See more of: Core Public Health Competencies
See more of: Public Health Education for the 21st Century

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