The extent to which we are able to address the complex challenges of the 21st century and make additional improvements in the health of the public depends, in large part, upon the quality and preparedness of our public health workforce, which, in turn, is dependent upon the relevance and quality of public health education and training.

The IOM report examines the education of public health professionals, who are an essential component of the public health workforce. Report recommendations range from establishing partnerships between schools of public health and other academic disciplines, local and state health departments and community organizations, to calling for the addition of public health training to medical and nursing school curricula and increasing federal funding for public health research.