The future of public health education: the post Covid-19 era

Abstract

The Covid-19 pandemic revealed once again the unsustainable social inequities that resulted in a disproportionate number of illnesses and deaths among different social groups. Public health must take its leading role in public policy to advance the social determinants that affect the health and well-being of populations. Public policy and the workforce must continue to prioritize population’s wellbeing and health equity by challenging the status quo. Thus, it is a pressing necessity to evolve and transform public health education by developing and integrating the culture of agile change, embracing structural transformations and shifting to a lifelong learning approach. The paradigm shift in public health education should emphasize interprofessional and intersectoral approaches, the development of human and social competencies, a lifelong learning perspective and the implementation of new pedagogical and technological strategies. A holistic curricular approach which highlights the importance of public policy and the right to health and social justice should also be emphasized. This transformation must occur taking into account/considering faculty development, investment in technology, flexibility for accreditation, and collaboration with employers in various sectors. Public health education must evolve in order to remain relevant and adequately prepare and equip the leaders and practitioners that the world requires. The current crisis is an opportunity to renew and redefine public health education.