“Moving into 2019 public health efforts and for that matter, public health leaders will need to expand their skills and competencies fundamental to public health leadership.”
AUTHOR: Sandra Melstad, CEO/Public Health Consultant, SLM Consulting
With 2018 wrapping and it is important to reflect on the breadth of efforts taking place across the nation to address population focused on improving the health of individuals where they live, work, learn, and play. SLM Consulting, LLC has had the opportunity highlight public health professionals in Public Health Beat who are making an impact across the Midwest and New York. The breath of efforts occurring highlight the important diverse, cross-sector work necessary to improve population health, include:
1. Support for older adults through livable communities
2. Improving the food environment to reduce food insecurity through partnerships
3. Building research capacity in tribes through education and engagement
4. Using social neighborhoods to enhance community health
5. Statewide efforts to address Alzheimer’s Disease in South Dakota
6. Improving maternal-fetal outcomes through community
7. Addressing antibiotic resistance through local partnerships in Rochester, New Yok
8. Statewide legislation to prevent tobacco use in adolescents; and
9. Prevention and detection of Cervical Cancer
Throughout the past year, I have had the opportunity to expand my reach to improve population health by establishing and building relationships with new partners, professionals, and persons on the ground by addressing the health of families and individuals through a statewide needs assessment, understanding the growing opioid epidemic and risk factors through data, and identifying opportunities to support future public health professionals.
As you might have now guessed, a common theme to these efforts in “partnerships” and “community”. Efforts to conduct the breadth of work highlighted above centers on fostering relationships to ensure partnerships and community. Moving into 2019 public health efforts and for that matter, public health leaders, will need to expand their skills and competencies fundamental to public health leadership including creating the opportunity and the necessity for public health leaders to expand their relationships beyond the traditional sphere.[1]
SLM Consulting will be further exploring these skills and competencies through 2019, as well as highlighting more of the important public health work happening in Public Health Beat. We look forward to some exciting new adventures and opportunities to expand partnerships and relationships to work collectively to improve population health and support the next generation of public health professionals. Stay tuned!
Happy Holidays and Best Wishes in 2019!
[1] Yphantides, N., Escoboza, S., & Macchione, N. (2015, February). Leadership in Public Health: New Competencies for the Future. Frontiers in Public Health, 3 (24). Retrieved from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4341427/