MPH education for the 21st century: Motivation, rationale, and key principles for the New Columbia public health curriculum

Abstract

Public health is at a watershed moment. The world's health needs are changing, and complex problems require interdisciplinary approaches and systems-based solutions. Our longer lives and changing environments necessitate life-course and structural approaches to prevention. This argues strongly for public health graduate education that adequately prepares trainees to tackle emerging challenges and to lead now and in the future. Nearly a century of scholarship and scientific advances may offer a blueprint for training the next generation of public health leaders. We articulate a case for change; discuss some of the foundational principles that should guide public health education; and discuss what suchachangemightlooklike building on prior scholarship, on the examples set by other disciplines, andonour own experience.