Enrollment options

Public Health Ethics

Ethical dilemmas are persistent in public health. Decision making processes can be very complex, often with conflicts and competing values and interests. In this training, examine public health ethics and ethical based approaches to decision making. Learn to use ethical frameworks to make decisions confidently and justify decisions with transparency. Practice addressing ethical challenges respectfully in a way that builds trust with communities and stakeholders through simulated case scenarios. Practice identifying ethical dilemmas and the exploration of solutions.

Learning Objectives:

By the end of this training learners will be able to:

  • Describe foundations and theories of moral philosophy and applied ethics.
  • Define public health ethics.
  • Identify key ethical issues in public health.
  • Summarize what is meant by professional ethics (and personal values) for public health professionals.         
  • Utilize guiding principles of good ethical decision making, including ways to integrate ethical considerations into public health decision making.

Format: Self-paced training (work at your own pace, use "save and exit" as needed).

Duration:  ~2 hours

Arranged by: Allison Root, DrPH, RDN, MCHES

Subject Matter Experts: Linda Axtell-Thompson, DBE, MBA; for nursing perspective: Carrie Ann Langley, PhD, DNP, MPH, PMHNP-BC; for dietetic and CHES perspective: Allison Root, DrPH, RDN, MCHES

Narration: This training includes narration generated using AI voice technology (WellSaid)

Target Audience: Public Health Professionals including community health workers, nurses, social workers, dietitians, and health educators.

Created: 9/2022, updated 4/2026

Disclosures:  The planners, reviewers, and authors have no declared conflicts of interest.

CE Available: 

  • Continuing Education Contact Hours for Certified Health Education Specialists (CHES): This program is designated for Certified Health Education Specialists (CHES®) and/or Master Certified Health Education Specialists (MCHES®) to receive up to 2.0 total Category I continuing education contact hours, with 2.0 credits as Advanced (2.0 Continuing Competency Credits). WRPHTC provider number 99036.

  • Continuing Professional Education Units for Dietitians (CPEUs): As a Jointly Accredited Organization, the WRPHTC is approved to offer continuing professional education units by the Commission on Dietetic Registration. The WRPHTC designates this activity for 2.0 contact hour for dietitians. Dietitians should enter activities as type 102 on their Activity Log.
  • 2.0 ANCC credit for Nurses

Accreditation Statements


The WRPHTC is jointly accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME), the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE), and the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC), to provide continuing education for the healthcare team.
 

The WRPHTC is a Designated Multiple Event Provider of Continuing Education Contact Hours (CECH) for Certified Health Education Specialists (CHES) through the National Commission for Health Education Credentialing, Inc.


Language: English
CHES Event ID#: SS99036_PHE26
Category 1 Credits: 2.0
Continuing Competency Credits: 2.0
Advanced Credits: 2.0
RD Total Credits: 2.0 Credits for Registered Dietitians
Level 1: No
Level 2: No
Level 3: No
Nursing Total Credits: 2.0 ANCC Contact Hours
Primary Tier: Tier Two
Secondary Tier: Tier Three
Primary Domain: Leadership and Systems Thinking Skills
Secondary Domain: Policy Development and Program Planning Skills
Tertiary Domain: Health Equity Skills
Self enrollment (Student)
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