1056: Keeping the Public Health Workforce Strong: What Data, Leadership, and Flexibility Tell Us

What does the public health workforce need to stay engaged, supported, and committed, and how can leaders act on those insights? Heather Krasna, Associate Dean of Career and Professional Development, Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health joins us to break down new research on what younger public health workers value most at work.  She explains why flexible schedules, remote or hybrid options, professional development, student loan repayment, and family-friendly benefits are increasingly important for retention, and how agencies can think creatively when salary increases aren’t always possible. Then, Omar Khalid, Director of Workforce at ASTHO, walks through key findings from the 2024 Public Health Workforce Interests and Needs Survey (PH WINS), the only nationally representative survey of  the governmental public health workforce. He discusses why high turnover, burnout, and loss of institutional knowledge remain urgent concerns, alongside encouraging signs of improved supervisor relationships and workforce commitment. Journal of Public Health Management and PracticeStrengthening Public Health Through Communication: Resources to Get Started - Public Health Infrastructure GrantClimate and Health | ASTHO