1169: PHIG Impact Report: Building a Stronger Public Health Workforce in New Mexico

A resilient public health system starts with investing in the people who make it work. In this PHIG Impact Report, director for the Office of Training and Development at the New Mexico Department of Health, Shadee Lauer, discusses how Public Health Infrastructure Grant (PHIG) funding is helping the state recruit, retain, and develop its workforce through data-driven strategies and innovative professional development programs. Lauer shares how New Mexico used employee survey data to shape initiatives including paid internships, tuition reimbursement, leadership academies, recruitment and retention toolkits, and a train-the-trainer model that strengthens both the workforce and the communities it serves. She also explains how these investments are creating long-term organizational capacity while helping public health professionals build rewarding careers that benefit New Mexicans for years to come. This work is supported by funds made available from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), National Center for STLT Public Health Infrastructure and Workforce, through OE⁠⁠22-2203⁠⁠: Strengthening U.S. Public Health Infrastructure, Workforce, and Data Systems grant. The contents are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily represent the official views of, nor an endorsement, by CDC/HHS, or the U.S. Government.Public Health Infrastructure Grant: Resources & Impact - PHIG