Professionalizing public health education in the Eastern Mediterranean Region

Bibliographic Data

ID22087570
AuthorsElsheikh Badr (0000-0003-1053-7429, Ras al-Khaimah Medical and Health Sciences University, corresponding author), Sara Ali (0000-0001-9717-1962, Eastern Mediterranean Public Health Network), Zainah Assaf (Ras al-Khaimah Medical and Health Sciences University), Abdelmounim Belalia (University of Hassan II Casablanca), Iman Nuwayhid (0000-0002-5192-5324, American University of Beirut), J Middleton (0000-0002-0247-1207, University of Wolverhampton), Katarzyna Czabanowska (0000-0002-3934-5589, Jagiellonian University), Neil Squires (UK Health Security Agency), Rajaa Al‐Raddadi (0000-0002-8921-9628, King Abdulaziz University), Rajaa Al-Raddadi, Yousef Khader (0000-0002-7830-6857, Jordan University of Science and Technology)
Year2025
Volume13
Pages1656182-1656182
Publication date2025-09-12
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueFrontiers in Public Health (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 2296-2565 • E-ISSN: 2296-2565
PublisherFrontiers Media SA (PUBLISHER • CH)
DOI10.3389/fpubh.2025.1656182
PMID41018787
OpenAlexW4414261858
LanguageEN
Citations received1
References cited11

During the eighth EMPHNET Regional Conference, a roundtable session gathered eight public health leaders and academics from the Eastern Mediterranean Region (EMR) and Europe to discuss the professionalization of public health education with a focus on the EMR. The discussion reviewed the achievements, challenges, and prospects of public health education in the EMR and identified the tenets and strategies for professionalizing public health education and the public health workforce to better address health systems challenges. It also introduced the best practices and innovative approaches of public health professional education, and proposed strategies and interventions to strengthen public health education in the EMR toward professional and competency-based approaches. The findings highlighted that public health is not seen as an attractive career in the EMR due to the lack of clear career pathways and limited recognition. This has significant implications for education in the region, emphasizing the need to professionalize the public health workforce by leveraging international and regional experiences to address local challenges. The findings also underscored the importance of adopting competency-based approaches and pursuing professional recognition, credentialing, and regulation. In response, panelists recommended mapping and reviewing existing educational programs to develop competency-based frameworks and curricula tailored to the region’s context. They also stressed the importance of fostering partnerships between academia and public health organizations to provide experiential training and education in public health

Curriculum · Health education · Health promotion · International health · Professionalization · Public health · Workforce · Health Promotion and Cardiovascular Prevention · Primary Care and Health Outcomes · Public Health Policies and Education · Health Policy