Title: Recruitment Challenges in Local Public Health: One Strategy that Works
Author:
Section/SPIG: Epidemiology
Issue Date:
Recruiting future public health leaders is a challenge, given the resource constraints typically experienced at the local level. Health departments must create new and innovative ways to entice the best and brightest from schools of public health. One way that the DeKalb County (Georgia) Board of Health (DCBOH) overcomes this challenge is by partnering with the Rollins School of Public Health at Emory University through the Student Outreach and Response Team (SORT).
The need for SORT arose following the 2001 anthrax cases and the “white powder” incidents that occurred in our community. The DCBOH’s epidemiologists struggled to respond to these threats. This experience made it clear that if there were a significant health threat, such as an emerging or re-emerging disease or intentional event, having a system in place for epidemiological surge capacity would improve our ability to respond efficiently. We drew on the experience of the Bloomberg School of Public Health of Johns Hopkins University, which had a program in place called “Student Outbreak and Response Team.” This graduate student-run organization assists local and state public health agencies in conducting outbreak investigations. In 2002, the DCBOH’s Center for Public Health Preparedness and key Rollins staff, along with several graduate students, developed a pilot project.
Since 2002, the SORT program’s scope and purpose have changed dramatically. The changes reflect the need not only to develop epidemiological surge capacity but to recruit future professionals from all program areas into local public health practice. SORT’s mission is: “To promote future public health leadership by providing students with hands-on experiences that contribute to improved community health.”
The SORT program has a significant impact on students. They gain valuable insights and perspectives about the public health system and have opportunities to network with experienced public health officials. In addition, they contribute to improved community health by participating in outbreak investigations and community events such as influenza immunization clinics. The DCBOH’s primary benefit is that we have a means to identify and recruit public health workers. We hope that by presenting a wide variety of activities and experiences for the students to participate in, they will find their niche and choose a career with our organization upon graduation.
Interest in the SORT program is increasing. For example, the program received second place in the 2005 Linkage Awards. Presented annually by the Council on Linkages Between Academia and Public Health Practice, the awards recognize exemplary community-based collaborative activities between public health practice agencies and academic institutions. Our hope is that programs like SORT are replicated in communities like yours. This will help ensure a cadre of well-trained public health personnel and increase your ability to recruit talented staff.
For more information about the SORT program, contact the Center for Public Health Preparedness, DeKalb County Board of Health by phone at (404) 294-3866 or via e-mail at <cphp@gdph.state.ga.us>. For help in getting a SORT program started, visit <http://www.dekalbhealth.net/cphp/products.htm>.