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My Arnold School

Office of Public Health Practice and Workforce Development

Mission Statement 

To bridge academia and public health practice by providing and/or connecting students and the existing workforce to training, professional practice experiences, mentorship, and resources to protect and improve the health of all communities.

Goals

  • Manage and build relationships with students, faculty, and community partners
  •  Facilitate, monitor, and evaluate meaningful and applied practice opportunities
  • Manage and build relationships with students, faculty, and community partners
  • Provide professional development opportunities and resources to students and the public health workforce
  •  Conduct and disseminate research on public health workforce trends, needs, challenges, and workforce transitions
  • Develop strategies to address workforce shortages and disparities
  •  Provide educational and professional guidance on career preparation/enhancement, career paths, job placement, and alumni networking
  •  Showcase applied practice and workforce development opportunities and stories
  •  Provide education and technical assistance and support to agencies and organizations to develop and/or enhance public health workforce development training and education initiatives

Workforce Developement Initiatives

In alignment with the Council on Education for Public Health (CEPH) Accreditation Standard for Education and Training, this series provides structured opportunities for current and future public health professionals to enhance their knowledge, skills, and abilities. Our programming is specifically designed to address the Core Competencies for Public Health Professionals, as adopted by the Council on Linkages Between Academia and Public Health Practice. By focusing on these essential competencies, we ensure participants are equipped with the diverse expertise necessary to address the realities and tackle the complex public health challenges.

Furthermore, the series is meticulously crafted to respond to the evolving needs of the public health sector, as identified through direct feedback from professionals who complete the Public Health Workforce Interest and Needs Survey. This data-driven approach ensures that our educational offerings are relevant, timely, and directly address the gaps and areas for growth expressed by those on the front lines of public health practice.

Through these strategic efforts, the Arnold School of Public Health is committed to fostering a workforce that is not only proficient but also prepared to lead and innovate in an ever-changing public health landscape for the enhancement of the health and well-being of communities.

2025 Modules

· Public Health Introduction & History Module: Overview/ Link to Begin

· Health Communications for Public Health Professionals and Partners Module: Overview / Link to Begin

Modules Coming Soon 

  • Budget and Financial Management 
  • Evidence-Based Public Heealth: Program Evaluation 

For any questions about our workforce development series, please contact, Dr. Mary Jones

The Arnold School of Public Health at the University of South Carolina will host "Chat & Chew: Building Public Health Connections," a series of virtual meetings designed to foster collaboration and address critical workforce development needs.

Who: These meetings are open to all stakeholders invested in the public health workforce, including:

· University of SC and Arnold School of Public Health faculty and staff

· Public health employers and professionals from governmental agencies, non-profits, public health higher education programs, and community and faith-based organizations

· Military public health leaders

· Alumni of the Arnold School of Public Health

· Community partners and interested members of the public

What: "Chat & Chew" will be an informal yet structured virtual gathering that includes:

· Networking opportunities: Dedicated time for participants to connect, share experiences, and build professional relationships.

· Brainstorming sessions: Collaborative discussions focused on identifying and addressing current public health workforce needs and gaps, drawing on the collective expertise of attendees.

· Curriculum development input: A platform for stakeholders to contribute ideas for future topics and formats for the Arnold School's Workforce Development Series, ensuring its relevance and effectiveness.

When: The meetings will be held virtually on the fourth Friday of each month at 11:00am, allowing for consistent engagement and ongoing dialogue.

Where: These will be virtual meetings, utilizing an accessible online platform to ensure broad participation from various locations. Specific login details will be provided to registered attendees.

Why: The primary purpose of "Chat & Chew" is multifaceted and directly aligns with the Arnold School of Public Health's mission and commitment to public health excellence:

· Fostering Collaboration and Building Relationships: To strengthen the vital connections between academia and public health practice, enhancing mutual understanding and facilitating synergistic efforts to improve population health. This directly supports the Arnold School's mission of fostering innovative education, research, and practice.

· Addressing Workforce Needs and Gaps: To proactively identify emerging challenges and deficiencies within the public health workforce. By engaging a diverse group of stakeholders, these meetings will leverage real-world insights, particularly those expressed through the Public Health Workforce Interest and Needs Survey (PH WINS), to pinpoint areas requiring targeted training and development. This ensures that the Arnold School's efforts are responsive to the evolving landscape of public health.

· Contributing to Curriculum Ideas for Workforce Development Series: To gather valuable feedback and suggestions for the content and structure of the Arnold School's

Workforce Development Series. This continuous feedback loop is essential for maintaining programs that are highly relevant, practical, and aligned with the Core Competencies for Public Health Professionals adopted by the Council on Linkages Between Academia and Public Health Practice. This also directly supports the CEPH Accreditation Standard for Education and Training, ensuring our offerings meet the highest standards of quality and prepare public health professionals to effectively address current and future public health challenges.

To join, please contact Dr. Mary Jones, Director of Workforce Development.

Email: jonesmary@sc.edu

Phone: 803.777.8980

MPH Professional Development

This resource provides Master of Public Health Students enrolled at the Arnold School of Public Health the opportunity to simulate the job application, and interview process by “applying” to several fictitious yet realistic public health roles. Members of the Office of Public Health Practice and Workforce Development team will role-play as the hiring agency and provide feedback to students on how to improve their application (e.g., resume, cover letter, interview skills, etc.) at the culmination of the mock interview. Several fictitious positions and job descriptions are outlined below in a downloadable PDF. If you want to practice the job application process for one of these positions, click “Apply” next to the position you wish to simulate and follow the prompts. Moreover, this process can be simulated for real-world positions as well. If you have a position that you want to practice applying for, select the “Submit PDF and Mock Application Materials” and follow the prompts. For any questions about this process, contact Dr. Zach Jenkins.

In addition to the Mock Job Application Resource, the Office of Public Health Practice is happy to provide general feedback on job application materials. To receive feedback on one of the following items, select the link below and submit the materials via email. Please indicate if there are specific questions or feedback you would like for each item:

The Public Health Practice and Workforce Development office is seeking student-led proposals to enhance the professional development of MPH students. This tremendous resume-building opportunity normalizes the importance of learning from peers which is an important public health workforce skill. Proposals should be no more than 250 words and should cover the following information:

  •  Facilitator Name(s)
  •  Professional Development Topic
  •  Significance to Public Health Students/Practitioners
  •  Brief description of proposed/event (e.g., panel discussion,interactive workshop, seminar, etc.)

Proposals will be reviewed by the MPH Professional Development Committee. Once approved, the committee will set up a planning meeting to assist the student in developing a timeline and structure for the event. If you need help developing ideas, set up a meeting to brainstorm ideas by emailing Dr. Zach Jenkins.
Potential topics may include but are not limited to: Tips and Strategies for First Year MPH Students, How to Get the Most Out of Your Graduate Assistantship, Effectively Using LinkedIn, Expanding Social Capital During Graduate School, Using Referencing Tools in Microsoft Word, Creating Engaging Presentations, How to Use Canva Effectively, etc.

To submit proposals, email Dr. Zach Jenkins with the subject header “MPH Professional Development Proposal.”

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