Where is health in social work education?

Background: Despite the increasing complexity of the U.S. healthcare system, the education of social workers equipped to practice within healthcare continues to lag. While there have been great strides in highlighting need and providing training in geriatric social work, promotion of adequate training of social workers in non-aging health care tracks requires development. Methods: A systematic review of all accredited MSW programs was undertaken. School's websites were utilized to extract whether: (1) concentration year had a “health” option, (2) if no concentration, specialization option; (3) if no concentration or specialization, were there health-related courses, and (4) presence of a MSW/MPH option. Univariate and bivariate analyses were undertaken. Results: Forty-nine programs (24.5%) listed health; of these 34 (17%) had a dedicated health-related concentration. Only 13 (6.5%) offered a specific health concentration. Twenty-nine (59%) schools were on a campus with an academic medical center and 41 with a MPH program; only 19 (39%) offered a joint MSW/MPH. There is a weak (r= .25; p<0.01) relationship with presence of a medical center and a moderate relationship (r= .48; p<0.01) with presence of a MPH. Discussion: There is a substantial gap between the demand for public health social workers and health specific MSW training. Despite a growing number of universities offering an MPH, only one-third take advantage of this critical workforce development opportunity with dual MSW/MPH degrees. It is imperative that social work education works to develop health specific educational tracks to meet the demographic and ambulatory care provision challenges of our nation's health.