Education for the Public Health Profession: A New Look at the Roemer Proposal

• Published in: Public health reports (1974) Vol. 123; no. 2_suppl; pp. 18 - 26
• Main Authors: Gebbie, Kristine M., Potter, Margaret A., Quill, Beth, Tilson, Hugh
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Los Angeles, CA Association of Schools of Public Health 01.01.2008; SAGE Publications; SAGE PUBLICATIONS, INC
• Subjects: Communities; Competency-Based Education; Curricula; Curriculum; Education; Education, Graduate; Education, Public Health Professional; Epidemiology; Health care policy; Health education; Humans; Medical education; Medical personnel; Medical practice; Models, Educational; Nursing education; Nursing students; Physicians; Profession; Professional education; Professional schools; Professionalism; Public health; Public health education; United States; VIEWPOINT; United States
• ISSN: 0033-3549; 1468-2877
• DOI: 10.1177/00333549081230S204

Demands for a high level of professionalism in public health practice, and concomitant strengthening of public health education to match 21st-century community challenges provide an opportunity to reconsider the current paradigm for professional degrees in public health. In this article, we consider whether the currently typical public health education meets the requirements of a professional education, examine the current state of public health education, and provide a rationale for renewed emphasis on the doctor of public health (DrPH) degree. We also present one potential three-year DrPH curriculum to stimulate further discussion, while acknowledging the multiple challenges that face any school of public health moving to implement such an education.