Search

PURPOSE AND OBJECTIVES: Low‐ and middle‐income countries (LMICs) have a large burden of noncommunicable diseases and confront leadership capacity challenges and gaps in implementation of proven interventions. To address these issues, we designed the Public Health Leadership and Implementation Academy (PH-LEADER) for noncommunicable diseases. The objective of this program evaluation was to assess the quality and effectiveness of PH-LEADER. INTERVENTION APPROACH: PH-LEADER was directed at midcareer public health professionals, researchers, and government public health workers from LMICs who were involved in prevention and control of noncommunicable diseases. The 1-year program focused on building implementation research and leadership capacity to address noncommunicable diseases and included 3 complementary components: a 2-month online preparation period, a 2-week summer course in the United States, and a 9-month, in-country, mentored project. EVALUATION METHODS: Four trainee groups participated from 2013 through 2016. We collected demographic information on all trainees and monitored project and program outputs. Among the 2015 and 2016 trainees, we assessed program satisfaction and pre–post program changes in leadership practices and the perceived competence of trainees for performing implementation research. RESULTS: Ninety professionals (mean age 38.8 years; 57% male) from 12 countries were trained over 4 years. Of these trainees, 50% were from India and 29% from Mexico. Trainees developed 53 projects and 9 publications. Among 2015 and 2016 trainees who completed evaluation surveys (n = 46 of 55), we saw pre–post training improvements in the frequency with which they acted as role models (Cohen’s d = 0.62, P

Low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) are experiencing a growing burden of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) and confront challenges of leadership, lack of local data and evidence, and gaps in implementation of successful interventions. To address these challenges, we designed an interdisciplinary training program, the Public Health Leadership and Implementation Academy (PH-LEADER) for NCDs. The year-long program has three components; a two-month preparation period; a three-week, in-person summer short course; and an in-country mentored project phase. The training was directed at mid-career, high-potential public health professionals from LMICs who are involved in NCDs prevention and control. We collected demographic data and information about achievements and products attained from participation in the program among trainees. Over four and a half years (2012–2016), 67 NCDs professionals (mean age 38.7 years; 58% male) from 11 countries have been trained. The training program has promoted the design and implementation of 49 projects focused on implementation of programs and policies addressing NCDs; 20 manuscripts submitted for publication; and four abstracts submitted for conference presentations. The PH-LEADER program promotes the design and implementation of evidence-based strategies to address NCDs in LMICs. Impact on trainee implementation research capacity and leadership skills and ultimately on NDCs prevention and control is yet to be assessed.