Public Health Physician Specialty Training in Canada and the United States

Abstract

Today's interconnected world has produced a distinct need for physician specialists in public health and preventive medicine. As the industrialized world confronts aging populations, rising health care costs, and a growing epidemic of chronic disease, it is clear that the focus of health care must become more preventive than curative.Although public health and preventive medicine exists in various forms worldwide, the literature has not yet examined different national strategies for postgraduate medical training in this unique specialty. This examination of present-day public health physician training in Canada and the United States represents a first step in addressing this gap.Using a standardized template for review, the authors compare key aspects of public health physician specialty training in both countries, including the definition and scope of the specialty; oversight and location of training; length of postgraduate training; specific clinical, academic, and practicum requirements; residency program funding; availability of residency positions; certification; and the roles of specialists.The authors explore similarities and differences between public health physician specialists in Canada and the United States in an effort to highlight training improvements for incorporation into each country's training program and to identify potential avenues of collaboration and cooperation across the border.

Factors related to the resignation and migration of physicians in public health administration agencies using nationwide survey data in Japan

“…There is a large variety of public health work across countries [ 20 ]. The educational system and jobs of PHPs differ between the United States and Canada [ 21 ], and PHPs in Korea have some clinical work, in contrast to Japanese PHPs [ 11 ]. The results of our study cannot be directly applied to other countries; however, physicians’ clinical careers, especially board certifications, should be considered for PHP recruitment.…”

Stakeholders’ perspectives on Public Health Medicine in South Africa

“…Globally, research on PH personnel and specialists also show unclear roles and insertion in national health systems. [32] An uncertain identity was also found in research from Singapore which found that PHM was “difficult to characterise” due to its intrinsically context-specific focus–improving population health, and multi-disciplinary orientation, with competencies defining professional status and roles. [33] The recognition of the contextual nature and broad scope of PH practice led the UK speciality to incorporate non-medically trained professionals,[34] and it is surprising that a multi-disciplinary speciality has not been adopted elsewhere.…”

Career Paths of Public Health Medicine Specialists in South Africa

“…Although the need for continuing PH education for PH specialists is advocated for the PH workforce globally (40), this was not raised by respondents in our study. It is, however, highlighted in current Australian literature (39), and is required in the USA and Canada (41).…”