Public Health Management Certificate

The Public Health Management Certificate is a year-long program that helps public health professionals develop core management skills.

Scholars learn to facilitate change in their organization, lead and supervise staff equitably, evaluate and improve programs, and much more.

Quick Facts

Focus: Scholars will increase inclusion, effectiveness, and accountability at their workplace by developing core management functions—planning, organizing, budgeting, and analyzing performance.

When: August 19, 2024 – July 31, 2025 (on-site in Seattle begins August 19, webinars begin in September)

Format: One four-day kick-off in Seattle plus weekly webinars (Wednesdays at 10:00 a.m. Pacific)

Who Should Apply: Public health professionals who manage teams or programs, or are ready to step into a management role. Younger professionals, people of color, and other groups frequently underrepresented in leadership and management roles are strongly encouraged to apply.

Application Period: The application period for this year’s cohort is now closed.

Cost: $4,500 per person when you register by April 12, 2024. $5000 per person after April 12. Fees cover faculty, staff, facilities, program resources, and access to distance learning technologies. Limited scholarships are available, see the application for eligibility details.

Questions: For more information, contact Christine Ector.

Click here to view our informational webinar

Intended Audience

Public health professionals in a management position or preparing to make a transition into management

Learning Goals and Formats

The program curriculum covers core competencies developed by the Council on Linkages Between Academia and Public Health Practice. Learning takes place through the following activities.

• Program kick-off. The program begins with a one-hour orientation webinar on June 26, 2024. Further orientation and initial instruction are provided during the on-site session in Seattle. This in-person time allows scholars to meet each other, which is important for the group activities and engagement throughout the program.
• Core courses. The core curriculum blocks are presented through a series of online courses and weekly webinars. For more information, review the course summaries.
• Self-reflection. A workshop on positionality and a Skillscope Assessment help scholars reflect on how identity and biases manifest in management roles and how to effectively lead and supervise a diverse team.
• Integrated project. The integrated project ensures new skills aren’t just learned—they’re applied. Each scholar chooses a project that is timely and relevant to their current job, ideally something they already have on their workplan. They receive coaching from a seasoned public health leader to work through project challenges.

Time Commitment

The Public Health Management Certificate is designed to take participants beyond a simple awareness level of new skills and topics. As such, scholars are expected to invest a significant amount of time each week in their coursework. Scholars typically spend 6–8 hours per week on webinars, assignments, and readings.

For more information, review the sample Organizational Systems Block schedule from a previous offering of the program.

Schedule

View the program schedule for more details.

Application Checklist

To apply you must submit an online application along with the following documents:

1. CV/résumé
2. Letter of support from agency director
3. Program requirements document signed by applicant and immediate supervisor
4. Payment (request for payment will be sent once your are accepted into the program)

Diversity Statement

Diverse backgrounds, embodiments, and experiences are essential to the critical thinking endeavor at the heart of education. NWCPHP brings this to all of our programs and trainings. As such, scholars are expected:

1. To respect individual differences, which may include but are not limited to, age, cultural background, disability, ethnicity, family status, gender, immigration status, national origin, race, religion, sex, sexual orientation, socioeconomic status and veteran status.
2. To engage respectfully in the discussion of diverse worldviews and ideologies embedded in course readings, presentations, and artifacts, including course materials that are at odds with personal beliefs and values.
3. To talk to their instructor, coach, or the Program Director when they have concerns about program climate.

What’s the difference between NWCPHP’s Public Health Management Certificate and the Leadership Institute?

The Public Health Management Certificate focuses on skills that provide structure and consistency within an organization. Some of these skills include budgeting, planning, staffing, conflict negotiation, and interpersonal understanding. The Leadership Institute focuses on skills designed to lead organizations through change or move organizations in a new direction. Some of these skills include visioning, self-understanding, motivating and inspiring others, and aligning people. Both sets of skills are needed for a successful organization.

Faculty and Staff

Janell Blackmer

Program Director, Instructor
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Christine Ector

Program Manager
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Mary Kay Chess, PhD

Instructor
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Grace Gorenflo, MPH, RN

Instructor
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Jim Reid, MPA

Instructor
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Nicole Sadow-Hasenberg, MPH

Instructor & Coach
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Mary Kushion, MSA

Coach
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Bud Nicola, MD, MHSA, FACPM

Coach
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Nick Pinkham

Technical Support
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Megan Rogers, MS

Evaluation
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Katie McDowell, MPH

Evaluation Specialist
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