Mentorship and competencies for applied chronic disease epidemiology.
To understand the potential and establish a framework for mentoring as a method to develop professional competencies of state-level applied chronic disease epidemiologists, model mentorship programs were reviewed, specific competencies were identified, and competencies were then matched to essential public health services. Although few existing mentorship programs in public health were identified, common themes in other professional mentorship programs support the potential of mentoring as an effective means to develop capacity for applied chronic disease epidemiology. Proposed competencies for chronic disease epidemiologists in a mentorship program include planning, analysis, communication, basic public health, informatics and computer knowledge, and cultural diversity. Mentoring may constitute a viable strategy to build chronic disease epidemiology capacity, especially in public health agencies where resource and personnel system constraints limit opportunities to recruit and hire new staff.
Lengerich
Eugene J
EJ
Department of Health Evaluation Sciences, Pennsylvania State College of Medicine, MS 210, Suite 2200, 600 Centerview Drive, Hershey, PA 17033, USA.
Siedlecki
Jennifer C
JC
Brownson
Ross
R
Aldrich
Tim E
TE
Hedberg
Katrina
K
Remington
Patrick
P
Siegel
Paul Z
PZ
D002908:Chronic Disease / Q000453:epidemiology*; D004496:Education, Continuing; D040381:Education, Public Health Professional; D004813:Epidemiology / Q000193:education; D006801:Humans; D008611:Mentors; D017145:Models, Educational; D020380:Needs Assessment; D011159:Population Surveillance; D011361:Professional Competence; D011635:Public Health Administration / Q000193:education*; D013192:Staff Development; D013219:State Government; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology