How Kentucky Is Using Academic Partnerships to Build a Future-Ready Public Health Workforce

The Kentucky Department for Public Health (KDPH) is leveraging academic partnerships to ensure its workers have the training and skills needed to do their jobs well – and these partnerships were made possible through the Public Health Infrastructure Grant (PHIG). In this video, Deena Bell, Human Services Program Supervisor at the Kentucky Department for Public Health, shares how PHIG funding has transformed workforce development across her state. With 13 formal academic partnerships now in place, Kentucky can offer public health learning pathways to high schoolers, college students, and established public health professionals seeking to upskill and learn the latest research. 53 staff members have participated in the tuition assistance program, with 8 earning degrees and 1 receiving a leadership certificate. Health department workers are growing their expertise in biostatistics, epidemiology, disease tracking, informatics, and cybersecurity — all critical skill sets to protect and promote the health of Kentucky communities while keeping personal health data secure. This level of investment in public health professionals hasn't been seen in over 10 years. But as Deena points out, it's bigger than workforce development. The people showing up to serve Kentucky citizens every day are also Kentuckians themselves. Supporting them in reaching their full potential isn't a side benefit of KDPH's mission – it’s THE mission.