Revolutionized Public Health Teaching to Equip Medical Students for 21st Century Practice.

Medical graduates increasingly need public health skills to equip them to face the challenges of healthcare practice in the 21st century; however, incorporating public health learning within medical degrees remains a challenge. This paper describes the process and preliminary outcomes of the transformation, between 2016 and 2019, of a 5-week public health module taught within an undergraduate medical degree in New Zealand. The previous course consisted of a research project and standalone lectures on public health topics. The new course takes an active case-based learning approach to engage student interest and stimulate a broadening of perspective from the individual to the population while retaining relevance to students. A combination of individual- and population-level case scenarios aim to help students understand the context of health, think critically about determinants of health and health inequities, and develop skills in disease prevention, health promotion, and system change that are relevant to their future clinical careers. The new module is based on contemporary medical education theory, emphasizes reflective practice, and is integrated with other learning in the degree. It challenges students to understand the relevance of public health to every aspect of medicine and equips them with the skills needed to act to improve population health and reduce inequities as health professionals and leaders of the future.

Every child to thrive, belong and achieve? Time to reflect and act in New Zealand.

New Zealand continues to grapple with poor and inequitable child health and wellbeing outcomes. The associated high economic costs, the long-term impact on adult health and New Zealand's international children's rights obligations provide further grounds for action. Although there have been many different reports offering solutions and some key areas of progress, gains have been limited and there has not been sufficient clarity and agreement on wider actions. The environment is complex and solutions cross agency and disciplinary boundaries. This paper reviews the current situation and proposes a set of actions to improve child health and equity. These include a group of recommendations on high-level leadership and coordination, actions to address social conditions, and a range of specific health and wellbeing actions. Progress will require the will, commitment and courage of many to acknowledge the issues and find a way forward. Preventing suffering and ensuring the wellbeing of our youngest citizens during their formative years is an ethical issue for our nation, an issue of what we value as a society, and the best investment for a highly productive, innovative and resilient nation for the future.