News

Greetings!

The Council on Linkages Between Academia and Public Health Practice (Council on Linkages) held its second meeting of the year on September 12th. Approximately 120 Council on Linkages members and friends participated in this virtual meeting to discuss current Council on Linkages initiatives. 

In Memoriam: Dr. Lloyd Novick

The Council on Linkages acknowledges with deep respect the passing of Dr. Lloyd Novick. Dr. Novick served as Chair of the Council on Linkages from 1993 to 1996. His visionary leadership helped lay the foundation for The Guide to Community Preventive Services, a landmark resource that continues to shape public health practice today. Dr. Novick’s enduring contributions to the Council on Linkages and the broader public health community reflect a legacy of innovation, dedication, and profound impact.

Rebuilding the Public Health Workforce: Insights from the Association of State and Territorial Health Officials

As one of three Centers for Disease Control and Prevention-funded national partners under the Public Health Infrastructure Grant (PHIG) program, the Association of State and Territorial Health Officials (ASTHO) continues to expand its technical assistance and leadership support for health departments. Dr. Joseph Kanter, ASTHO CEO, joined this Council on Linkages meeting to share perspectives on workforce development within public health, framing the conversation around three key areas—recruitment, retention, and sharing successes. Dr. Kanter highlighted ASTHO’s collaboration with the Public Health Foundation (PHF), particularly around academic health department (AHD) partnerships; efforts to translate Public Health Workforce Interests and Needs Survey (PH WINS) data into actionable strategies; the value ASTHO’s peer networks bring as vital spaces for professional support and issue-specific dialogue; and the importance of communicating public health successes to ensuring sustained support for public health infrastructure. 

New Training Introducing the Core Competencies for Public Health Professionals 

Efforts to raise awareness and support implementation of the Core Competencies for Public Health Professionals (Core Competencies) are ongoing. Most recently, PHF launched a free, self-paced online course, available through the TRAIN Learning Network, that offers a practical introduction to the Core Competencies and their alignment with other key public health frameworks. The Core Competencies were also recently featured at the 2025 National Association of County and City Health Officials (NACCHO) 360 Conference, where the Winnebago Public Health Department (NE) shared its successful use of the framework to foster staff development. During this Council on Linkages meeting, diverse applications of the Core Competencies, from workforce planning and training to academic curricula and leadership development, were discussed, highlighting the role of the Core Competencies in shaping measurable, competency-based public health workforce strategies. For more information about the Core Competencies, please visit the Core Competencies webpage or contact Mayela Arana at marana@phf.org.

New Resources from the Association of University Programs in Health Administration

The Association of University Programs in Health Administration (AUPHA) is a global network of over 300 academic institutions and organizations dedicated to advancing excellence in health administration education. Dr. Erin Seedorf, AUPHA’s Council on Linkages Representative, shared new resources available from AUPHA, including the 2025 Body of Knowledge and Curriculum Guidance, which promotes consistency and innovation in healthcare management education, and the 2023–2024 Environmental Scan and Trends Report, offering insights into emerging trends in the field. Additionally, preparations are underway for AUPHA’s 2026 Annual Conference, which will focus on professional development. 

Advocating for the Public Health Workforce: Updates from the American Public Health Association

The American Public Health Association (APHA) has long supported both academic public health and public health practice, and Dr. Georges Benjamin, APHA Executive Director, shared APHA’s latest efforts in advocating for the public health workforce during this meeting. Particular highlight was given to APHA’s Campaign for the Public’s Health, which aims to unify and mobilize advocacy efforts across the field. Dr. Benjamin also invited participation in the upcoming APHA Annual Meeting & Expo and APHA’s Campaign for the Public’s Health Rally in November.

Resources to Strengthen Academic Health Department Partnerships

With more than 1,400 members nationwide, the Academic Health Department (AHD) Learning Community supports the development, sustainability, and expansion of formal partnerships between health departments and academic institutions. In collaboration with ASTHO, a number of new resources have been developed for those interested in learning more about AHD partnerships. An AHD Partnerships Toolkit has been launched to offer a one-stop shop for accessing a variety of AHD partnership resources. A webinar series is underway, with two webinars held earlier this year and two more planned for October and November 2025. Success stories and blog posts from AHD Learning Community members have showcased successful partnerships. PHF also now offers an environmental scan service to help organizations identify opportunities for partnership development, and the book, Academic Health Department Partnerships: Bridging the Gap Between Town and Gown, is available for purchase. For more information about the AHD Learning Community, please visit the AHD Learning Community webpage or contact Mayela Arana at marana@phf.org.

Supporting Public Health Workforce Retention and Recruitment

The Council on Linkages and PHF continue to support workforce retention and recruitment through the development of practical tools and resources. The Retention and Recruitment (R&R) Toolkit offers strategies to strengthen the public health workforce; improve retention; reduce recruitment needs; and build a diverse, skilled team. The toolkit was developed with guidance from the R&R Workgroup and was recently highlighted during a session at the 2025 NACCHO 360 Conference, attended by more than 70 participants. Suggestions of additional content for the toolkit are welcome. For more information, please visit the Council on Linkages website or contact Mayela Arana at marana@phf.org.

Join the Council on Linkages at Upcoming Events

Council on Linkages initiatives will be featured at two major events this fall to support public health professionals in workforce development efforts.

The 2025 APHA Annual Meeting & Expo, taking place November 2–5 in Washington, DC, will offer innovative and exciting opportunities for attendees to engage with public health experts, collaborate with other advocates, and grow professionally. Council on Linkages initiatives will be featured on Sunday, November 2^nd in back-to-back sessions starting at 2:30pm with The Role of Academic Health Department Partnerships in Responding to Community Needs (Session 2041), followed by Public Health Core Competencies: What’s Working, What’s Not, and What Can Be Improved (Session 2055) at 4:30pm.



Later in November, PHF will host the 2025 Public Health Learning Forum from November 18–21. Offered at no cost, this virtual event will highlight training and tools to support workforce development, quality improvement, and performance management within public health. Registration is available through the TRAIN Learning Network, and all are welcome to attend and share the opportunity with others.

In Other Business…

• The next Council on Linkages meeting has not yet been scheduled. Staff will reach out to members to schedule that meeting in 2026.



Additional information about the meeting, including the agenda and other meeting materials, is available on the meeting webpage.