Success Stories
See firsthand stories of impact from the PHIG grant. From small wins to transformative changes, PHIG is fostering widespread innovation in public health systems and structures.
Jamie Means, workforce development director for the Metro Public Health Department of Nashville and Davidson County, explains how they have used Public Health Infrastructure Grant dollars to fund a public health residency…
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PHIG funding has improved the Metro Public Health Department of Nashville and Davidson County’s (MPHD) ability to recruit a strong public health workforce. It has allowed MPHD to hire a second recruiter, streamlining outreach and sourcing while improving application response times. This change has brought a measurable decrease in the time-to-hire metric and has allowed MPHD to expand recruitment outreach, including posting on the ASTHO Public Health Careers page. Additionally, PHIG funds have allowed MPHD to invest in targeted advertising to recruit for hard-to-fill positions, such as a Veterinarian for the Metro Animal Care and Control facility.
PHIG funding is helping modernize the Metro Public Health Department of Nashville and Davidson County’s (MPHD) main conference rooms at the Lentz Public Health Center, where the infrastructure and equipment—now 14 years old—have exceeded their expected service life. The upgrades will include new teleconferencing capabilities and improvements to support ADA compliance, ensuring these spaces are more accessible and functional. Beyond the conference rooms, PHIG is also supporting investments in digital touch-driven, multi-language display kiosks in MPHD facilities to meet the growing demand for linguistic capability and educate the public about MPHD’s services.
Metro Public Health Department of Nashville and Davidson County uses PHIG funding to cover continuing education to enhance maternal and child health services. PHIG covers the cost of key certifications for employees, including education for Certified Lactation Counselors, International Board-Certified Lactation Consultants, Dieticians, and Certified Medical Interpreters. The funding also covers multiple nursing licenses for Registered Nurses, Nurse Practitioners, Licensed Practical Nurses, and Advanced Practice Registered Nurse/Family Nurse Practitioners. These certifications and trainings elevate the ability of the department to serve the families in its community with exceptional care.
The Shelby County Health Department of Tennessee, in partnership with the University of Memphis School of Public Health, has leveraged PHIG funding to offer high school students a comprehensive Experiential Learning Program with all activities supported by the grant. This initiative equips students with vital public health knowledge and skills by guiding them through public health projects and the college-level public health classes that lead to an undergraduate Certificate in Public Health. Following the launch, the program had the opportunity to provide students with a hands-on global public health education through participation in the Model WHO at the WHO headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland, in October 2024. The Experiential Learning Program is expected to enhance students' future career interests in public health, creating a significant community and educational impact.
Tennessee's Department of Health has modernized its recruitment processes with vital support from PHIG funding, resulting in a 136% increase in qualified applicants and allowing for faster filling of positions, especially in rural areas. This funding has enabled the hiring of external recruiters, expanding the candidate pool to include recent public health graduates and enhancing the state's competitiveness with private sector hiring practices. Additionally, PHIG funding has facilitated partnerships with every public health school in Tennessee, increasing internship and experiential learning opportunities as well as connecting academic training directly to public health practice. Through this initiative, the department can ensure timely healthcare services for underserved communities.
