Fellowships: One strategy to recruit and retain the public health workforce

With new emerging threats, conversion of acute ailments to chronic conditions, and natural disasters, our Nation relies on the public health workforce to research, educate, and monitor these and various other events that influence our health. To provide for a strong public health infrastructure, the workforce should be continually expanding and professionals need to be trained and retrained to address such concerns. Recent reports suggest that recruitment and retention practices of public health workers need to be enhanced in order to minimize the projected workforce shortage. Post graduate fellowship opportunities are one strategy in which emerging public health professionals are exposed to public health careers at the Federal level. The Association of Schools of Public Health (ASPH) supports a variety of fellowship training opportunities for new graduates and early professionals. Under this program, students have received training at the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and the Department of Transportation (DOT). Fellowships afford young professionals insight into the federal process and allow for professional growth in public health issues, management and leadership. Such exposure increases the likelihood for early professionals to practice in the field. Data collected on post fellowship employment will highlight the various opportunities that former fellows have pursued.