# Public Health Workforce Professional Development Analysis: A Human-Systems Integration for Healthy Communities

## TL;DR

This paper presents a systems-based approach to improve public health workforce development through training and collaboration tools.

## Contribution

The study introduces a whole system’s learning approach integrating human factors for public health workforce development.

## Key findings

- A mixed methods analysis of public health training and workforce needs was conducted across five institutions.
- Three interventions were developed and implemented to enhance professional development and stakeholder engagement.
- A systems approach identified leverage points for sustainable improvements in public health capacity.

## Abstract

The healthcare landscape is challenged by emerging and severe public health threats, and fast shifting priorities. There is an urgent need to build public health workforce capacity to enable rapid adaptation and effective responses to these threats. We outline a whole system’s learning approach for analyzing public health systems in collaboration with public health leaders.

The project included: i) a system’s analysis involving a cross-sectional mixed methods approach including a quantitative investigation, interviews and focus groups of leading representatives and students from five higher education institutions providing public health training, 49 managers, and 31 stakeholders from lead public health organizations; ii) develop and implement training interventions, involving human factors tools for evaluating and developing actionable solutions.

We developed and implemented three interventions: 1) An online user interface for public health professional development and collaboration; 2) A Public Health Leadership Academy; and 3) A video outreach to key stakeholders and communities using studies.

A holistic perspective incorporating human factors, and a systems approach provided a comprehensive understanding and approch towards the public health workforce while identifying leverage points for durable improvement.