Implementation Science: an Essential Tool for Advancing DrPH Practice

This commentary describes how implementation science (IS) complements and adds value to public health decision making, applied research, and practice. The commentary then presents opportunities for integrating IS into public health, with a specific focus on engagement of Doctors of Public Health (DrPHs) in IS research and a call for advanced training in IS for DrPHs. IS can advance public health by improving the translation of research into practice and policy and by addressing health inequities. IS has an increasing focus on incorporating health equity into its frameworks, enhancing community and stakeholder engagement in IS, studying the implementation of multilevel interventions, as well as policy implementation science. IS examines and influences how we move evidence into practice; therefore, it is essential to have practitioners engaged in the field. There is an obvious role for IS to augment foundational DrPH training. Specifically for DrPHs, expertise in IS would elevate leadership and applied research competencies, facilitating evidence-based decision making in policy and practice. In order to achieve this goal, greater awareness of opportunities to build IS capacity and engage in IS research is needed.