For those interested in a career in public health, and coming out of a life sciences or clinical program, there are many useful classes you can take while still in and around the university. However, as a manager who conducts interviews, I recommend that candidates consider taking courses that focus on both people skills (leadership development, emotional intelligence, change management, and conflict management) and practice skills (those directly involved in the practice of public health).

Although your competency base should be evident to qualify for certain positions (e.g., health scientist or medical officer), personal development is also critical. In considering applicants with equal competencies, I choose the candidates who recognize their weaknesses, work to improve their emotional intelligence, and show strength in mediating conflict. My recommendation to you is to consider taking courses in leadership development. Developing your strengths as a leader will enable you to stand out in a crowd of recently graduated PhDs or MDs who are competing for the same positions.

If your university has a school of public health, you can take advantage of some of the courses offered and develop critical competencies while in graduate school. Examples of critical competencies include ethics, cultural competencies, public health policy, epidemiology, working with diverse teams, public health program management, statistics, health and human rights, and program evaluation. If these courses are unavailable, or if you would like to view webcasts conducted and archived by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) on various subjects of public health concern, visit http://www.phppo.cdc.gov/phtn/calendar.asp, the public health training network website.

Examples of live webcasts on the CDC training schedule include the following:

• Pandemic Flu Preparedness: What Every Community Should Know
  September 29, 2006; 2:00"3:00 p.m. ET
• Cities Readiness Initiative: A National Priority
  October 19, 2006; 1:00"3:00 p.m. ET
• Mass Antibiotic Dispensing VII
  November 02, 2006; 1:00"2:30 p.m. ET
• Mobilizing Against the HIV/AIDS Crisis Among African-Americans
  November 16, 2006; 1:00"3:00 p.m. ET
• Adult Immunization Update
  December 07, 2006; 12:00 Noon"2:30 p.m. ET

If you decide to enroll in public health or leadership courses, consider adding these courses or webcasts to your r"sum" when you begin applying for positions during your final year of graduate school. Evidence of course completion demonstrates to hiring officials that you are serious about building your competencies within the public health and leadership arenas.