The Kansas Public Health Leadership Institute (KPHLI) is a year-long leadership training program for workers inpublic health and allied fields. The program’s curriculum is based upon the Institute of Medicine’s Ecological Model and includes specific modules based on competencies developed by the National Public Health Leadership Development Network.
The KPHLI provides an opportunity for participants to develop their leadership knowledge, skills, and competencies in order to strengthen organizational effectiveness and positively impact the public health system in Kansas. The vision of the KPHLI is to improve leadership competencies of the public health workforce in order to improve the public health infrastructure and reduce health disparities in Kansas in the 21st century.
The KPHLI's inaugural class was introduced on September 24, 2003. At present, the leadership institute is in its seventh training cycle.
Cycle VII Scholars
Program participants are currently progressing through a curriculum that includes training in the Ecological Model, systems thinking, risk communication, public health ethics, and collaborative leadership. Training occurs through four 1 ½ day in-person sessions in Wichita, Kansas. Between sessions, they complete reading and writing assignments and consult with their mentors, volunteers who are themselves public health leaders.
The culmination of the KPHLI cycle is the development and presentation of a capstone project. The capstone is designed to serve as the demonstration of proficiency in the KPHLI curriculum. Participants are required to synthesize and integrate knowledge gained in the Institute and apply theory and principles to a program or activity they are currently undertaking in their professional practice or agency work. Upon completion of the capstone and other program requirements, they graduate from the KPHLI and become members of the newly formed Kansas Public Health Leadership Academy.
The KPHLI is made possible by the generous support of several sponsors, including the Kansas Health Foundation, the WALD Center, the University of Kansas School of Medicine-Wichita (KUSM-W), and the Kansas Department of Health & Environment (KDHE).
“Satisfactory human relations are built upon expressions of compassion, of understanding, of willingness to help, and upon the recognition of the fact that we are all interrelated as human beings.” Lillian Wald
