Learning Institutes
To support professional workforce development, the Penn Center for Public Health offers in-person Learning Institutes open to the public health community.
For more than a decade, the Center has provided high-quality, skill-based trainings that strengthen the capacity of public health professionals and organizations. Now, with the launch of the Public Health Impact Hub, the Center expands its offerings with additional in-depth institutes and courses across a variety of critical areas.
Our 2025-2026 institutes:
Geographic Information Systems (GIS)
Mixed Methods Research
Program Planning and Evaluation
Grant Writing and Funding Strategies
Communications and Marketing
Grant Writing Institute
November 6-7, 2025
Course Director: Wendy Voet, MPH
This fast-paced, intensive is designed as a deep dive into the art and practice of grant writing—packing a wealth of content, tools, and strategies into a focused two- day program. Participants will strengthen their skills in developing competitive proposals, building funder relationships, and sustaining public health programs through effective resource development.
For the full agenda and registration information please email PennCPH@pennmedicine.upenn.edu.
GIS and Public Health
Course Director: Vicky Tam MA
This institute introduces a broad range of ways that Geographic Information Systems (GIS) can be applied to public health research, practice, and public policy. By the end of the institute, participants will be able to critically analyze maps and research results developed using GIS, learn how to create and analyze thematic maps, geocode addresses, and conduct basic queries, implement a variety of field data collection methods used in GIS such as handheld GPS technology, and develop individual research agendas which incorporate GIS methods.
For the full agenda and registration information please email PennCPH@pennmedicine.upenn.edu.
Communications and Marketing
Course Director: Charlotte Lapsansky, PhD
The Communications & Public Health Institute is a two-day, in-person program designed to strengthen how public health organizations communicate with and engage their communities. Participants build practical communications and marketing skills to create effective, equity-focused communication plans tailored for their public health organization’s needs. The institute emphasizes real-world application through interactive workshops, case studies, and provides attendees with a take-home digital toolkit.
For the full agenda and registration information please email PennCPH@pennmedicine.upenn.edu.
“I can’t underscore enough how much I appreciated what each presenter brought to the day’s class. I learned so much from each person because each person had their own expertise and application for the software. I particularly liked the real world applications and how each example was related to public health.”
GIS Institute Participant
Fall 2024
The Mixed Methods Institute
Course Director: Andrea Bilger, MPH
The Mixed-Methods Institute is a 2-day program designed to develop skills for qualitative and quantitative research. It’s purpose is to help participants study design and mixed-methods approaches, find ways to analyze data with an introduction to software Dedoose, and learn how to utilize mixed-methods skills in their own organizations.
This course is designed and hosted by the Penn Center for Public Health and the Mixed-Methods Research Lab in the Department of Family Medicine and Community Health at the University of Pennsylvania.
This particular event has a unique focus for community-based and non-profit organizations who would like to expand their mixed-methods research skills.
Program Planning and Evaluation
Course Director, Samantha Matlin, PhD
The Program Planning and Evaluation Institute is a two-day, in-person program designed to strengthen how public health organizations design, implement, and measure the impact of their programs. Participants build practical skills in developing evidence-based plans, creating logic models, and using data to inform decision-making and demonstrate outcomes.
For the full agenda and registration information please email PennCPH@pennmedicine.upenn.edu.
Extremely informative opportunity to actually understand the importance and application of the different tools for Qualitative Research. Didn’t realize the power of qualitative work in everyday interactions especially with the community based participatory research.
Mixed Methods Institute Participant
Fall 2024