A Public Health Workforce for the Digital Age: Digital Skills and Technologies in Public Health Education and Training

The integration of digital tools in public health is revolutionizing the field by enhancing data access, personalisation, and predictive modeling. However, the adoption of digital transformations within public health services is limited due to gaps in the standard training of public health professionals. The uncertainty surrounding the essential digital competencies for public health education, along with variability in how these skills should be taught, creates significant barriers. Recent advancements call for a collaborative effort between experts in public health and information technology to upskill the current workforce and ensure public health services adapt successfully to the digital age.

This Research Topic aims to consolidate insights into the essential digital competencies that need to be integrated into public health education. It focuses on operationalising these competencies within curricula and showcases innovative digital tools employed in health training programs. The objective is to provide educators and policymakers with a comprehensive understanding to bridge digital skill gaps within public health, leveraging research to suggest effective curriculum models. Furthermore, the Research Topic encourages exploration into labour market trends for digital roles and effective strategies for continuous professional development in the digital era.

This Research Topic encompasses the digital transformation within public health education, addressing integration limitations and opportunities. We welcome articles addressing, but not limited to, the following themes:

• Defining and operationalising public health competencies
• Integrating digital competencies in public health curricula
• Applying digital tools in public health education and training
• Public health labor market and digital transformations
• Continuous professional development in digital public health
• Access to and equity in digital public health education and training.

This Research Topic was launched in collaboration with the 10th Digital Public Health Conference, a world-leading annual interdisciplinary event on research and innovation in digital public health, organized by University College London. We welcome submissions from speakers, attendees and the broader research community.

Keywords: digital skills, digital literacy, public health workforce development, digital public health, public health education

Important note: All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.