Area of Responsibility: Area VII: Leadership and Management Subcompetencies: 7.2 Prepare others to provide health education and promotion., 7.2.4 Plan training, including technical assistance and support. Research or Practice: Practice
At the end of this session, participants will be able to:
Identify key leadership competencies that are essential for addressing unique health challenges in rural communities.
Analyze strategies for integrating leadership and advocacy training into public health curricula to prepare students for leadership roles in rural health settings.
Identify example rural public health learning competencies appropriate for graduate training.
Brief Abstract Summary: Discover how embedding leadership and advocacy into rural public health education equips future public health professionals to meet the unique challenges of rural communities. Learn about the essential skills developed through Michigan State University MPH program's new Rural Health Concentration, which focus on building leadership skills through advocacy and effective communication within a dynamic political landscape, and the process to launch this new concentration.
Detailed abstract description: Launched in 2024, the Rural Public Health concentration within Michigan State University's MPH program equips students to lead and advocate effectively within rural health settings. Through a focused curriculum, including Foundations of Rural Public Health, Drivers of Rural Health, and Rural Health Policy and Advocacy, students develop competencies essential for serving rural communities.
Designed with a deep understanding of the unique social, cultural, and economic challenges faced by rural communities, the program integrates leadership principles and advocacy skills to prepare students to make meaningful impacts in these settings.This presentation will showcase how the concentration intentionally builds critical leadership skills in communication, systems thinking, and policy advocacy. Attendees will learn adaptable strategies for embedding leadership training into public health education, preparing future professionals to champion health equity and create sustainable solutions in rural communities.
