Building Capacity for Public Health Assessments Through a Web-Based Training Curriculum

In this column, the authors describe the development of the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry’s (ATSDR) Public Health Assessment Training (PHAT) Curriculum, a comprehensive web-based platform designed to strengthen workforce capacity for conducting public health assessments (PHAs) at hazardous waste sites. Recognizing the increasing complexity of environmental exposures, contaminant mixtures, and data analysis, ATSDR created the PHAT website as a centralized hub for training, guidance, tools, and continuing education resources. Organized around 10 core professional competencies, the curriculum supports learners at varying levels of expertise through introductory modules, topic-specific resources, webinars, and advanced technical materials. The platform integrates more than 100 training resources and offers continuing education opportunities to support professional development and certification requirements. By improving access to standardized, science-based training and practical tools, the PHAT curriculum enhances workforce competency, promotes consistency and rigor in environmental health assessments, and supports more effective public health actions to protect communities from environmental exposures and associated health risks.