PUBLIC-HEALTH PRACTITIONER INCUBATION PLIGHT - FOLLOWING THE MONEY TRAIL

Schools of public health have a proud history of educating personnel f or leadership roles in the field of practice. Such personnel have play ed key roles in developing public health. Over the years, however, the missions of the schools of public health have become blurred. To a si gnificant degree, a focus on health care has displaced public health a s schools have followed the money trail. Often research takes preceden ce over teaching, so that, ironically, research findings are not disse minated to those who will practice public health. Educating personnel for practitioner leadership roles in environmental health and protecti on is inadequate. These and other trends have serious, long-term ramif ications for public health practice. This article offers suggestions f or improving the situation, including making use of practitioners in s chools of public health, encouraging partnerships between practitioner s and academics for research and funding support, developing paid stud ent practica, developing a market for MPH graduates, and changing the accreditation requirements of the Council on Education for Public Heal th.