Louis Rowitz, PhD, UIC School of Public Health, University of Illinois-Chicago, Mid-America Public Health Leadership Institute, 2121 W. Taylor Street, Chicago, IL 60612, 312-996-9659, lrowitz@uic.edu

Public health leaders have always dealt with crises. Now public health has new crises to face with new skills needed to address these issues. These crises are different from the crises of the past. New threats related to SARS, West Nile Virus, bioterrorism acts, systems violations related to computer hacking, blackouts, work stoppage, compulsory retirements and the loss of institutional memory are critical situations which calls for new skills to manage these crises. All of these crises threaten the health of the public. The new 360 degree public health leader needs experience with crisis planning, collaboration skills, developing people, emotional intelligence, change strategies, community-building strategies, public health informatics, cross-cultural communication skills, and health communication. These new skills will lead to a stronger public health system. In 1994, CDC, PHPPO, sponsored the establishment of the National Public Health Leadership Development Network. Network membership includes academic and practice representatives of state, regional, national, and international public health leadership programs.

Learning Objectives:

• Discuss the skills needed during a public health crisis
• Understand the methodologies and resources used to train people for crisis leadership
• Understand the significance of new skills for adjusting to emergency situations for the public health workforce.

Keywords: Leadership, Planning

Related Web page: www.slu.edu/organizations/nln

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.