The ASTHO Leadership Institute (ALI) is a premier cohort-based program designed to provide professional development that supports executive level, governmental public health leaders drive meaningful change in their organizations and communities through enhanced leadership development.
ASTHO’s flagship leadership development program works with experts in executive leadership, nationally recognized public health professionals, and alumni members to offer a customized learning program. Participants benefit by gaining access to:
- A supportive learning environment that encourages reflection, innovation and brave leadership.
- Expert-led training sessions that blend cutting-edge leadership frameworks with real-world public health applications.
- Opportunities to elevate their careers while advancing the mission of public health.
The Cohort Experience
State and Territorial Health Officials and their executive leadership teams will have the opportunity to participate in a curriculum-focused program designed with the goal of enhancing leadership knowledge, building essential skills, and developing a leadership mindset that inspires leaders to lead teams with purpose, creating an environment of trust, collaboration and high performance. By the end of the program, cohort participants will be able to:
- Apply evidence-based strategies and actionable skills directly to their public health practices.
- Build a dynamic network of peer leaders to exchange insights and foster high level collaboration.
- Lead transformative public health initiatives and inspire organizational excellence.
Previous workshops and training have included topics such as Emotional Intelligence, Organizational Change Management, Leader and Workplace Wellbeing, Building Trust and Strategic Communications.
Eligibility Criteria
Participants are carefully chosen through a competitive selection process to ensure a rich, high quality learning experience. To be eligible, candidates must hold an executive leadership position within a state or territory public health agency. Cohort participants will be required to attend two in-person retreats, monthly virtual workshops and participate in experiential learning exercises, action-oriented learning tasks and implement actionable key takeaways. Executive leadership roles include:
- Senior Deputies
- Chief Financial Officers
- Human Resources and Workforce Development Directors
- State Legislative Liaisons
- Public Health Lawyers
- Informatics Directors
Timeline and Commitment
ASTHO Leadership Institute (ALI) activities will begin in April 2025 and conclude in October 2025. Applicants will be notified of acceptance via email in early March and will be asked to confirm participation. Participants will complete a pre-assessment to identify current capacity and areas for growth at the start of the cohort experience. Here’s a snapshot of how participants will invest their time throughout the program:
- 1.5-hour virtual Program Orientation on April 2, 2025
- Attend a 2-hour virtual learning workshop each month
- Four, 1-hour executive coaching sessions to be scheduled at your convenience
- 1 hour a month of self-guided work in between virtual sessions
- 2 in-person leadership development retreats:
- June 26-27, 2025 (Atlanta, Georgia)
- October (Date and Time, TBD)
Program Format
Individual Executive Coaching
Our program matches participants with an executive coach—to provide participants with a resource when they need support navigating tough decisions, developing resilience, and elevating their executive presence.
In-Person Retreats
Participants meet in person for engaging, intensive retreats designed to inspire and reinvigorate executive leaders with in-depth conversations. Timely conversations around:
- Strategic Leadership
- Public Health Leadership
- Adaptive Leadership
Asynchronous Learning
On-Demand Learning Modules
State and territorial health officials and senior deputies will have access to additional resources in ASTHO’s e-Learning Center. The e-Learning Center provides continuous access to curated, on-demand learning modules, articles, tools, podcasts, videos, and blog posts on relevant leadership topics.
For more information, contact our Leadership Development team at LeadershipDevelopment@astho.org.
The application cycle has ended; we encourage you to stay connected for future opportunities and updates.
ASTHO Leadership Institute is generously funded with support from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and PHIG:
