Comprehensive Data Science Training Plans for Public Health

Data Science and Informatics Training

The Public Health Foundation (PHF) supports public health professionals and organizations by making data science and informatics training easy to find and access. This training is available through the TRAIN Learning Network (TRAIN), a national learning network that aggregates training opportunities for public health, healthcare, and preparedness professionals from thousands of training providers.

Ways to easily access training on data science and informatics include tailored course searches and training plans.

Tailored Course Search

A tailored course search is a “live” search and will automatically capture new training as it is added to TRAIN. Access data science and informatics courses in TRAIN using the search tool below:

Data Science and Informatics Training

Training Plans

Training plans provide organized collections of curated courses on specific topics and designed for specific audiences. Access training plans focused on data science and informatics:

Data Science Training Plan 1 – Overview for Public Health Generalists / Non-Data Scientists

This training plan provides curated courses that introduce public health data and the fields of data science and informatics to public health generalists. It offers a comprehensive overview, including an introduction to the Data Life Cycle and the Applied Public Health Informatics Competency Model. This training plan is designed for public health professionals who are not data scientists or informaticians.

Data Science Training Plan 2 – How to Succinctly Explain Data Modernization Initiatives (DMI) to Leaders, for Public Health DMI Leads

This training plan provides curated courses that offer an overview of broad concepts of data modernization, including data infrastructure and interoperability and implications for public health, to help DMI leads in planning and communicating with public health leaders. This training plan is designed for DMI leads.

Data Science Training Plan 3 – Informatics Competencies

This training plan provides curated courses for each of the domains in the Applied Public Health Informatics Competency Model from the Public Health Informatics Institute. This training plan is designed for public health professionals who are new to the field of public health data science and informatics or who would like to grow their skills in each competency.

Data Science Training Plan 4 – Data Life Cycle

This training plan provides curated courses for each stage of the Data Life Cycle. Each stage can be improved and automated by using data science and informatics principles. This training plan is designed for public health professionals who want to improve their data management knowledge and skills to perform data science and informatics work related to one or multiple stages of the Data Life Cycle.

Data Science Training Plan 5 – Special Topics

This training plan provides curated courses on special topics, including artificial intelligence (AI), big data, data equity, electronic health records (EHRs), emergency preparedness, geographic information systems (GIS), HL7, laboratory data, modeling, R, substance use disorders, and syndromic surveillance. This training plan is designed for public health professionals who want to improve their knowledge and skills in specific aspects of data science and informatics or in the application of data science and informatics to specific public health topics.

Data modernization is one of the three focus areas for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC’s) Public Health Infrastructure Grant. One of the five priorities of CDC’s Data Modernization Initiative is developing a state-of-the-art workforce with skills in public health informatics and technology for actionable public health insights. These trainings will help public health professionals develop critical knowledge and skills in data science, accelerating progress in data modernization.

These training plans were curated by PHF through work with subject matter experts and in partnership with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Office of Public Health Data, Surveillance, and Technology (OPHDST). Development of the tailored course search and training plans was supported by Cooperative Agreement CDC-RFA-OT18-1802, Strengthening Public Health Systems and Services through National Partnerships to Improve and Protect the Nation’s Health, Award Number: NU38OT000311.