ABSTRACT
Objective: The objective of this study was to clarify the learning processes of expert public health physicians.<br>Research questions: The research questions were as follows. 1） What kind of learning experiences do public health physicians have? What do they learn from these experiences? 2） What kind of thoughts do they have? How do they form these thoughts?<br>Methods: Ten expert public health physicians, who had worked as public servants for more than 10 years, had worked in an administrative position, and had been recommended by colleague public health physicians, were interviewed with a semistructured interview form. The data were analyzed on the basis of the Grounded Theory Approach.<br>Results: Regarding these physicians’ learning experiences, during medical school and residency they learned the importance of public health from senior public health physicians, as hospital physicians they learned about primary care from patients with psychiatric illnesses and intractable illnesses, and as public servants they learned lessons in 11 categories though events in 13 categories.<br> Regarding thoughts about public health, 4 categories were found; self-related thoughts, patient-related thoughts, social-related thoughts, and organization-related thoughts. The social-related thoughts were of central importance.<br>Conclusions: The learning experiences of expert public health physicians were clarified. Theoretical implications are considered on the basis of theories of achieving expertise and learning experiences.
