Public Health Informatics & Technology Workforce Development Program (The PHIT Workforce Development Program)

ONC will provide funding in the form of cooperative agreements under the PHIT Workforce Development Program to institutions of higher education (or consortia thereof) to establish or expand public health informatics education programs, creating a diverse and inclusive health information technology (IT) workforce, with a focus on engaging MSIs. Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), Hispanic Serving Institutions (HSIs) and other MSIs often have strong science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) programs, comprised of untapped talent. Over the last two years, ONC and other federal partners across the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), including the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the National Institutes of Health (NIH), and Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) have made a concerted effort to recruit top talent from MSIs. Further investments in developing health IT informatics curricula and programs at these institutions will enrich the talent pipeline for future recruitment by state and local public health organizations, public health-focused non-profits, public health-focused private sector organizations, clinical care providers, and state, local or federal government entities.