Navigating the Future of Public Health: How Tufts Prepares You to Lead

March 22, 2025

Second installment of Tufts MPH’s blog series on the present and future of public health. Hear from the Program Director.

Public health faces mounting challenges, from shifting political landscapes to funding uncertainties. For prospective and current MPH students, this raises critical questions about their future in the field. While change can be daunting, it also underscores the growing need for dedicated professionals ready to address pressing issues, from infectious disease outbreaks to health disparities and environmental threats.

In the second installment of our blog series, we explore how Tufts is preparing students to navigate these challenges. By providing both the academic foundation and practical experiences needed to lead effectively in public health, students graduate ready to address both current challenges and future opportunities.

Kimberly Dong Breen, DrPH, MS, RD, LDN, Associate Professor and Program Director

The Future of Public Health Needs Leaders—Are You Ready?

Public health is evolving rapidly, and with it, the need for strong, adaptable leaders has never been greater. At Tufts University’s Master of Public Health (MPH) program, we believe leadership is not just about expertise—it’s about the ability to apply knowledge, advocate for change, and navigate complex challenges with resilience and compassion. As the director of the program, I have seen firsthand how we equip our students with the skills, experiences, and networks they need to make a real impact in public health.

Preparing for Leadership in a Changing Landscape

At Tufts, we focus on developing successful leaders by integrating leadership training into our curriculum, particularly through our STEP course sequence, which helps students build essential professional skills.

A strong public health leader is also deeply committed to their community. Students enter the field for various reasons—some have witnessed the impact of health disparities in their own communities, others are driven by the desire to prevent health issues that have affected their families, and many simply feel a profound responsibility to make a difference. Whatever motivates you, one thing is clear: with passion, commitment, and collaboration, you can go far in public health.

Our faculty bring diverse experience from government agencies, nonprofits, healthcare organizations, and industry into the classroom. They use rigorous mixed methods in their public health work. This wealth of knowledge helps students develop the flexibility and foresight needed to navigate an ever-changing public health landscape.

Leadership Through Applied Learning

What sets our MPH program apart is our commitment to applied learning. Students don’t just study public health concepts—they gain hands-on experience applying them.

From the very first semester, coursework is designed to reflect the real work of public health professionals. Faculty bring their field experience into the classroom, sharing real-world case studies and examples. Assignments mimic public health reports, communication strategies, and policy briefs, so that when students graduate, they’re not just familiar with public health principles—they’ve already practiced them.

This emphasis on applied learning extends beyond coursework. Our Applied Practice Experience (APE) and Integrative Learning Experience (ILE) ensure that students engage in real projects with organizations across the public health sector. When they walk into a job interview, they don’t just say, I studied this—they say, I did this, and here’s the work to prove it.

An Inter-Disciplinary Approach

At Tufts, we ensure our MPH students stay at the forefront of global health by integrating current events and emerging trends into the curriculum, helping them understand how these issues intersect with public health policies and strategies. Our interdisciplinary approach highlights key skills across areas like epidemiology, law, environmental science, and nutrition. Methods related to data collection and analysis, program planning, program evaluation, and implementation science, , prepare students to tackle complex global health challenges.

Additionally, by encouraging students to take electives across concentrations, we broaden their expertise and ensure they graduate with a well-rounded skillset, ready to lead and adapt to the evolving needs of public health.

A Faculty That Invests in You

One of the biggest strengths of Tufts is our faculty and mentorship culture. Our faculty don’t just teach—they mentor, guide, and collaborate with students. Many of us bring students into our research, introduce them to our networks, and help them connect with public health professionals. This helps our students to have a deeper understanding of the experiences of our communities. We encourage our students to come to office hours to share their professional interests and learn more about how we can help them with their public health journey.

We believe public health is about relationships—not just between professionals and the communities they serve, but also among those working in the field. That’s why our faculty take the time to get to know students personally, offering individualized career guidance and writing strong letters of recommendation for those pursuing jobs, fellowships, or further education.

Looking Ahead

What defines a successful public health leader? Passion, adaptability, collaborating with communities, partnering with multiple sectors, and a commitment to improving health equity. At Tufts, we help students develop these qualities through applied experience, faculty mentorship, and a curriculum designed to build real-world skills.

If you’re ready to become a public health leader, we’re here to support you every step of the way.

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