Better Health for All – Inaugural FPH President’s Blog

Welcome to the first blog of this new series from the President of the UK Faculty of Public Health.

I am so pleased to be able to communicate with you through this medium and hope to use it to share updates on the Faculty’s work, my thoughts on current public health issues, and to engage with our members and the wider public. It is so important that the Faculty remains a strong and credible advocate for the public’s health; a champion for impactful public health programmes; and a thought leader on the current and future challenges and opportunities for our profession.

But first, let me take this opportunity to thank our FPH members and our wider public health colleagues for your dedication and continued hard work through very challenging times. Public health professionals are at the forefront of protecting and improving the health of our communities and play a vital role in preventing disease, promoting health, and reducing inequalities. I am inspired by your dedication and continued accomplishments at home and abroad as you work to make meaningful and positive differences in the lives of others.

As we emerge from the acute phase of the COVID-19 pandemic whilst adapting to health system transformations and grappling with the cost-of-living crisis, we face significant challenges in all domains of public health practice – from responding to prevalent and emerging infectious diseases, to dealing with the rising tide of NCDs, responding to widening inequalities, rebuilding community-centred approaches to improving health, tackling climate change, and encouraging a greater health system and cross-governmental focus on prevention and population health. There is much work to be done, and working alongside our partners, we will relentlessly champion better, well-funded public health policies and programmes with a laser focus on improving health and reducing inequalities.

As I approach the mid-way point of my Presidency, I am proud to reflect on what we have achieved together so far. As part of our revamped FPH priorities, the Board has identified 11 priority focus areas aligned to 5 strategic priorities. These priorities align with, and build upon, the FPH’s 2020-2025 Strategy and provide an opportunity to engage and mobilise all our members as we work to raise the profile of public health and the vital work that public health professionals perform.

First, we are committed to supporting the development of a high quality, resilient, diverse and inclusive public health workforce. A workforce that is fit for the future, clear and confident in our training and career development pathways. A workforce where our wellbeing and work-life balance is supported and prioritised. We will continue to advocate for the wellbeing of our members; provide support to members who are struggling; and work with employers to support the wellbeing of their public health staff. We are redefining and streamlining career development opportunities for our members and in the past year, we have conducted a review into fair training culture; developed a new curriculum and CPD diary, and launched a new workstream on membership wellbeing. In the year ahead, we will continue to work to ensure that public health training is fair and inclusive and harmonise the Faculty’s Membership and Fellowship accreditation.

Second, the Faculty is revamping our approach to strategic partnerships, prioritising deeper collaboration with UK public health bodies and Royal Colleges while developing new relationships with organisations allied to public health. Over the past 18 months we have launched a new collaborative membership offer with the Chartered Institute for Environmental Health; developed a new dual accreditation programme with the Royal College of General Practitioners; and have actively built on joint learning and development opportunities with the UK Health Security Agency, the Local Government Association, and Public Health Scotland. Our ambition is to both broaden and strengthen the public health family whilst identifying innovative areas for collaboration and impact.

Third, the Faculty will be a clear and unequivocal advocate for the public’s health, at a time when so many are struggling with poorer health, economic insecurity, and increasing societal polarisation. Over the past year we have championed the public health role within ICSs; supported intersecting policies on health, sustainability and climate change; advocated for stronger policy action to support the public’s health; developed new programmes on poverty and the cost-of-living crisis, including advocacy on child nutrition, and have continued our strong advocacy on climate change, anti-racism, drug policy, tobacco control and many other areas. In the next year, we will advocate for robust, evidence-informed public health policies and programmes, raise the profile of public health and the vital work of public health professionals, and build partnerships with other organisations to amplify our voice.

Fourth, we have launched new FPH programmes focused on raising the profile of public health professionals as well as connecting conversations on the future of public health. The world is changing rapidly, and public health needs to not only keep up, but be a step ahead. I am so proud to have launched the Faculty’s new ‘The Future of Public Health’ distinguished lecture series and new SIGs on Digital Health and Artificial Intelligence among others. Our new ‘What is Public Health’ multi-year campaign launched in September 2023 aims to increase the understanding and visibility of the critical work performed by health professionals, promoting the vital and varied contributions of the public health workforce. All of this is supported by a stronger digital and social media presence, a new membership portal, and refreshed FPH website coming in November, all geared towards improving the experience of how members engage with FPH to support their career journeys.

Fifth, I am proud of the work that the FPH does internationally – through our various Special Interest Groups and in partnership with other organisations. I see this as an important part of the FPH’s contribution to global public health and we are expanding the Faculty’s activities in this arena. In the past year, we have signed an international MOU with IAPH; led work with WHO to support global public health system capacity; and launched a new disasters and humanitarian response SIG to support both domestic and international efforts in emergency settings. There is more to do with our global public health partners as we share our expertise and knowledge with public health professionals in other countries and support the training, development and accreditation of public health professionals globally.

Finally, one of the highlights of my first year has been the increasing involvement of our members in the work of the Faculty with so many colleagues agreeing to serve in various roles. This is a positive sign of the vibrancy and visibility of the FPH and I want to encourage more of our members to become involved by joining one of our Special Interest Groups (SIGs); serving on one of our many committees; volunteering to be an FPH examiner, or mentoring and coaching to help support the current and next generation of public health practitioners.

Without doubt, serving as the President of the Faculty of Public Health is one of the most exciting and humbling opportunities I have had in my career. I am keen for others to join me in ‘paying it forward’ and giving back to the profession that we love and are passionate about. I am confident that together, we will continue to make a real difference to the health of our communities and look forward to working with you to build a better future for all.

Professor Kevin Fenton CBE FFPH
FPH President