Navigating the Student to Employee Lifecycle to Enhance Recruitment and Retention in Local Health Departments

Authors

Chelsey Kirkland, Author Affiliations: Researcher, Center for Public Health Systems, School of Public Health, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN (Drs Kirkland, Weiss); Research Assistant, Center for Public Health Systems, School of Public Health, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN (Mss Dahal, Polamreddy); Director of Healthy Futures Impact, ServeMinnesota, Minneapolis, MN (Dr Coetzer-Liversage); Adjunct Assistant Professor, Department of Psychology, University of Rhode Island, Kingston, RI (Dr Coetzer-Liversage); Director of Research, National Association of County & City Health Officials, Washington, DC (Dr McCall); Director of Health Sciences Statistics & Research Courses, Adjunct Associate Professor, Department of Clinical Research and Leadership, The George Washington University, Washington, DC (Dr McCall); Director of Workforce and Leadership Development, National Association of County & City Health Officials, Washington, DC (MS Ashley Edmiston); and Center Director, Division of Health Policy & Management, Center for Public Health Systems, School of Public Health, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN (Dr Leider).
Roshani Dahal
Anthony Coetzer-Liversage
Nicole M. Weiss
Mounika Polamreddy
Timothy C. McCall
Ashley Edmiston
Jonathon P. Leider

Document Type

Journal Article

Publication Date

9-23-2025

Journal

Journal of public health management and practice : JPHMP

DOI

10.1097/PHH.0000000000002192

Keywords

public health workforce; qualitative; recruitment and retention

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: To better understand local health departments' (LHDs) recruitment and retention needs and practices within the employee lifecycle. DESIGN: This research used descriptive qualitative methods, with semistructured interviews and focus groups, with 69 participants from 35 LHDs and 23 schools. Transcripts were analyzed using deductive and inductive coding with descriptive coding and thematic analysis. SETTING: Focus groups with students, career counselors, and new LHD employees and interviews with LHD representatives. PARTICIPANTS: Students, career counselors, and new LHD employees. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE: Outcomes of interest included salient themes within the employee lifecycle stages. RESULTS: Five overarching themes were developed: (1) public health definition discordance; (2) supports needed for student internships and LHD career pathways; (3) the need to leverage partnerships and student career aspirations in LHD recruitment; (4) the need for effective LHD onboarding process; and (5) strategies for addressing retention challenges. CONCLUSIONS: Within the LHD employee lifecycle, connection points between student perceptions, student internships, LHD recruitment, LHD onboarding, and LHD retention are currently faltering and, if fixed, may strengthen public health recruitment and retention amongst students.

APA Citation

Kirkland, Chelsey; Dahal, Roshani; Coetzer-Liversage, Anthony; Weiss, Nicole M.; Polamreddy, Mounika; McCall, Timothy C.; Edmiston, Ashley; and Leider, Jonathon P., "Navigating the Student to Employee Lifecycle to Enhance Recruitment and Retention in Local Health Departments" (2025). GW Authored Works. Paper 7911.
https://hsrc.himmelfarb.gwu.edu/gwhpubs/7911

Department

Clinical Research and Leadership