Putting Health Education on the Public Health Map in Canada--The Role of Higher Education

Overview & Synopsis

The health education profession has developed over recent years garnering national and international attention. Canada's evolving health education perspective emphasizing the concept of health literacy within the broader public health system reflects the need for trained, competent and skilled health educators designing, implementing and evaluating health-related programs. Higher education can play an important role in moving forward the health education process bridging research and practice. Capacity building in the health education and promotion workforce requires engagement from university systems, their collaborators, and participating students interested in improving the health of individuals, communities, and nations. This article provides: (1) illustration for the need for health education in higher education to move the practice of public health forward in Canada, (2) rationale for embedding greater emphasis on the health education perspective and process within Canadian academe, and (3) responses for future directions throughout health education practice for health educators entering the public health workforce in Canada and beyond. (Contains 3 tables.)