WHO/Europe and the Italian National Institute of Health (ISS) are launching the first-ever WHO European Public Health Leadership Course to equip public health professionals with the skills and competencies they need to tackle today's and tomorrow's public health challenges.
The European Programme of Work 2020–2025 – “United Action for Better Health in Europe” clearly underscores the need for better-prepared future public health leaders. Backed by this vision and lessons learned from the COVID-19 pandemic, WHO/Europe and ISS have joined forces to support countries in the southern and eastern parts of the WHO European Region through this one-of-a-kind course.
About the Leadership Course
The European Public Health Leadership Course has been designed to support and strengthen the capacity of future leaders in public health by consolidating knowledge from a broad spectrum of experts and activities.
The hybrid programme will take place over 3 weeks, from 7 to 25 November 2022. The first and last week will be conducted online, while the second week will be in person in Rome. It will equip participants with the tools needed to advance the public health agenda through dedicated personal development workshops and a component of personal coaching.
Public health experts with various backgrounds and perspectives will share their experiences and successful public health strategies, and provide participants with insights into innovative solutions to public health challenges.
Throughout the Leadership Course, participants will have access to an online platform with course materials, lectures and quizzes. The platform also includes a discussion forum to facilitate the exchange of ideas and information.
Why a course on public health leadership?
With the rising complexity and volume of public health challenges globally, future leaders need to develop new competencies to prevent crises and, when they do happen, to minimize their impact.
The COVID-19 pandemic has underscored gaps in public health system resilience and preparedness, and the need to strengthen sustainability. Along with existing social and commercial determinants of health, the pandemic has also increased health inequities.
To tackle these growing challenges, public health leaders need to be collaborative, accountable, transparent and visible, and able to build trust with the public, policy-makers, peers, organizations and other authorities.
Continuing education, self-reflection and development are also required in this evolving field. It is, therefore, crucial to gain tools to assess and improve actions as a leader to address current and future public health challenges.
Who is the Leadership Course for?
The Leadership Course is designed for junior public health professionals and trainees in regional public health departments and hospital medical directorates.
This first iteration will include more than 40 participants from the southern and eastern parts of the WHO European Region. Upon completion of the Leadership Course, they will receive continuing medical education credits and a certificate from the institutions involved.