Public Health Reimagined: Progressive Approaches to Advancing the Health of Society at the Indiana University School of Public Health-Bloomington

Addressing underdeveloped and underfunded public health infrastructures requires imaginative and progressive approaches to promote optimum health in communities. IU SPH-Bloomington is building upon its history to bring new energy to the traditional concept of a school of public health. Examples: 1 a new MPH concentration in physical activity with a multidisciplinary approach capitalizing upon the scientific traditions of exercise science and physiology, and the basic public health sciences; 2 the Department of Recreation, Park, and Tourism Studies’ core value of recreation and leisure to the health of all people will lead to a new concentration offered online and developed with parks and public lands partners; 3an ingenuity grant added to internal research funds to support new initiatives based on bold ideas, inspired by creativity, facilitated by team science to reward “ingenious” ideas; and 4Public Health & YOU is a free online course to build workforce competency in the core public health areas. Developed with the state health department, the largest network for primary care delivery, and the public health association, this campaign builds the capacity of those whose contribute to the health of their communities. Engaging professionals from youth-serving organizations, fitness centers, park/recreation departments, to faith-based organizations and health departments, the course embodies our approach to acknowledging and developing a reconceptualized public health workforce