Retooling the Workforce for Collaboration

Centering Collective Efficacy in Public Health and Primary Care Leadership Development

Bibliographic Data

ID11036735
AuthorsJanelle Zamora Martelino (0000-0002-1133-7608, Janelle Z. Martelino was with the School of Nursing, University of Washington, Seattle, at the time of this study. Betty Bekemeier is with the Department of Child, Family and Population Health, School of Nursing, and the Northwest Center for Public Health Practice, School of Public Health, both at the University of Washington, Seattle.), Betty Bekemeier (0000-0002-9034-2746, Janelle Z. Martelino was with the School of Nursing, University of Washington, Seattle, at the time of this study. Betty Bekemeier is with the Department of Child, Family and Population Health, School of Nursing, and the Northwest Center for Public Health Practice, School of Public Health, both at the University of Washington, Seattle.)
Year2025
Volume115
Issue12
Pages2006-2014
Publication date2025-12-01
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessNo
TypeARTICLE
VenueAmerican Journal of Public Health (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0090-0036 • E-ISSN: 1541-0048
PublisherAmerican Public Health Association (PUBLISHER • US)
DOI10.2105/ajph.2025.308216
PMID41042355
OpenAlexW4414786188
LanguageEN
References cited31

Enhanced integration of public health and primary care sectors is necessary to advance population health equity. Integration requires engagement from leaders adept at working collaboratively, yet barriers persist. While leadership development has been a promising means to address interpersonal obstacles, traditional approaches typically focus on teaching discipline-based cognitive skills while underplaying communication, relational, and affective skills that leaders need to excel in increasingly networked and collaborative organizations. Building on previous efforts to foster collaborative leadership in public health, we propose a framework to support the intentional development of collective leadership among public health and primary care professionals. The framework emphasizes collaborative leader behaviors, collective efficacy, and collective performance, and it acknowledges the critical interactions among team members with diverse expertise. It also conceptualizes leadership as a dynamic, shared process among members rather than focusing on a defined person. We offer recommendations for incorporating this framework into intersectoral leadership development programs to strengthen the collective abilities of the workforce and accelerate integration across sectors. ( Am J Public Health. 2025;115(12): 2006–2014. https://doi.org/10.2105/AJPH.2025.308216 )

Collaborative leadership · Collective leadership · Health care · Interpersonal communication · Population health · Public health · Shared leadership · Workforce · Workforce development · Health Policy Implementation Science · Interprofessional Education and Collaboration · Public Health Policies and Education

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