Program Information

The Public Health Leadership Institute of Florida, at the University of South Florida College of Public Health, provides a year-long study of leadership and public health concepts and issues.

The focus of the program is to provide public health professionals in various functions the opportunity to develop their leadership skills regardless of role, level, or area of specialization.

Program Objectives:

To increase the leadership abilities and effectiveness of individuals working to improve public health in Florida. To improve the health of Floridians by enhancing the leadership skills of state and local health professionals and community leaders, including skills that can be applied during crises. To assist communities to become healthier through the development of more effective local health leaders who will use public-private collaborative approaches to meet local health needs. To strengthen the linkages between public health practice and the State's academic institutions, particularly the University of South Florida College of Public Health. To improve the management skills of those working to improve public health in Florida. To serve as a statewide and national resource for public health leadership information and issues.

The Program Year:

The PHLIF program takes place over the course of a year, beginning in the summer and continuing through the following summer. The program opens with a two-day meeting of new and graduating scholars that coincides with the Florida Public Health Association (FPHA) Annual Educational Conference. Other meetings include: a week-long seminar in October of intense educational and training activities; a three-day Crisis Leadership and Emergency Preparedness session held in January; a three-day meeting in Tallahassee held during the Florida legislative session in March; a two-day meeting in May on planning for the future of public health; and a concluding session held the following summer in conjunction with the FPHA Conference.

Each of the six sessions is designed to build upon the concepts of the previous meetings:

Self-Knowledge, Emotional Intelligence, and Leadership Skills
Creating and Sharing a Vision, Systems Thinking, Analyzing Organizational Effectiveness, and Team Development
Risk Communication and Media Effectiveness in Times of Crisis, Developing and Communicating Your Message, and Conflict Management
Advocacy and Political Effectiveness
Planning for the Future of Public Health
Long Term Application of Projects and Graduation Ceremony

The Public Health Leadership Institute of Florida is designed to:

Encourage the personal realization of the scholar’s impact on the greater systems in which they function – their team, their department, their networks, and their contribution to their agency and the health and safety of the people of Florida. Provide scholars with an opportunity to demonstrate excellence and achieve professional and personal growth, allow new leaders to emerge and improve existing leadership knowledge and skills through training, education, networking, and experience. Encourage scholars to advocate and promote public health and its issues to audiences ranging from coworkers to the community, from the media to political representatives. Create an awareness and understanding of best practices through membership in the national leadership network, including core competencies and essential services that can be employed at the state level. Provide an effective balance of theory and practice in leadership which can be immediately applied to confronting and resolving urgent public health issues in Florida.

After the Leadership Year:

Graduates of the program may maintain an active role with the Institute through participation in meetings and workshops, participating in web-based communication, and joining the Institute's alumni network.