Education Highlight –  The College of Public Health is dedicated to assuring that our existing public health workforce has the skills and resources necessary to protect and promote the public’s health.  Over the past year, the COPH delivered more than 140 professional development opportunities for governmental and nonprofit public health workers, emergency responders, clinicians, community members, and many others.  Even more impressive than the number of opportunities is the number of individuals who were impacted by the programs.  In 2014, over 500 individuals throughout the state and region participated in the COPH’s professional development programs on topics including emergency preparedness, health policy, health disparities, agricultural safety, change management, and leadership.  The opportunities were supported by a number of offices and centers in the COPH, including the Center for Biosecurity, Biopreparedness, & Emerging Infectious Diseases; the Center for Health Policy; the Center for Reducing Health Disparities;  Central States Center for Agriculture Safety and Health; and the Office of Public Health Practice.  The professional development trainings are delivered using a mix of in-person workshops and online learning modules.  It is imperative that the COPH continues offering these types of continuing education programs since it both strengthens the state’s public health infrastructure and enhances the COPH’s important partnerships.  Without these partnerships and a capable and qualified public health workforce, it will be virtually impossible for Nebraska to become the healthiest state in the nation.