The Public Health Leadership Institute of Florida: Training Leaders and Linking Academic Public Health with the Practice Community

Abstract

The Public Health Leadership Institute (PHLI) of Florida was founded in 1994 at the University of South Florida College of Public Health (USF COPH) and funded initially through a cooperative agreement between the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Association of Schools of Public Health. The PHLI contributes to the USF COPH’s statutory mission to educate public health officials and provide leadership in developing academic programs that meet Florida’s needs. The PHLI is: (1) responding to the call for public health leadership development; and (2) meeting the strong need for increased linkages between academic public health and the practice community. The PHLI admitted its first class of scholars in 1996 and in May 2005, admitted its tenth class for year-long study. Approximately 30 scholars are admitted annually through a competitive process. Among other topics, the curriculum includes personality and leadership, personal and organizational vision development, organizational communication, conflict negotiation, emotional intelligence, political effectiveness, systems thinking, team building, risk communication, media relations, crisis leadership, and project planning. Many program graduates have attained leadership positions in the Florida Department of Health and in public health associations elsewhere.