New Book Offers Best Practices for Teaching Public Health

Edited collection examines how to educate the next generation of public health professionals in an era of heightened challenges.

Apr. 17, 2026 at 4:08am

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

An abstract, impressionistic photograph of a university classroom scene, with blurred figures and soft, warm lighting creating a dreamlike, introspective mood.The second volume of "Teaching Public Health" offers practical strategies for engaging students and supporting diverse learning needs in public health education.Boston Today

A new book, "Teaching Public Health, Vol. 2," brings together a distinguished group of public health educators to explore best practices for teaching the field in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic and other pressing issues. Editors Lisa M. Sullivan and Sandro Galea have compiled insights on topics ranging from racial justice and science communication to data literacy and systems thinking, providing practical strategies for engaging students, fostering community partnerships, and supporting diverse learning needs.

Why it matters

As the public health field faces heightened scrutiny and demand, the responsibility of preparing the next generation of scholars has never been more critical. This book offers a timely and essential contribution, illuminating a bold path forward for public health education that is contemporary, relevant, and inclusive.

The details

The second volume of "Teaching Public Health" builds on the success of the first, addressing core themes such as racial justice, science communication, law, data literacy, advocacy, and systems thinking. Contributors share approaches to supporting wellness, preventing burnout, and preparing educators across the academic lifecycle. The book also explores the changing culture of classrooms, rethinking assessment, reimagining attendance, and redefining academic integrity, as well as the institutional structures that shape how teaching is supported, rewarded, and sustained.

  • The book was published on April 7, 2026.

The players

Lisa M. Sullivan

A professor of biostatistics and the associate dean for education at Boston University's School of Public Health. She is the author of "Essentials of Biostatistics in Public Health."

Sandro Galea

The Margaret C. Ryan Dean of the School of Public Health at Washington University in St. Louis. He is the author of "Healthier: Fifty Thoughts on the Foundations of Population Health."

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“Sullivan and Galea 'bring it' with this second volume of 'Teaching Public Health.' For a contemporary understanding of academic public health, this course staple is a masterfully edited must-read.”

— Linda Alexander, Association of Schools and Programs of Public Health

“In an era when both higher education and public health are under intense scrutiny, the responsibility of preparing the next generation of scholars has never been more critical. … This book offers a rich collection of reflections and innovative approaches that illuminate a bold path forward-advancing a contemporary, relevant, and inclusive vision for public health education…”

— Perry N. Halkitis, author of "Humanizing Public Health: How Disease-Centered Approaches Have Failed Us"

The takeaway

This book provides a timely and essential resource for public health educators, administrators, and institutions committed to ensuring that public health teaching remains dynamic, inclusive, and responsive to the world it serves, particularly in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic and other pressing challenges.