Title 42 — The Public Health and WelfareRelease 119-73not60

§239l Establishment

Title 42 › Chapter 6A— PUBLIC HEALTH SERVICE › Subchapter I— ADMINISTRATION AND MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS › Part D— United States Public Health Sciences Track › § 239l

Last updated Apr 5, 2026|Official source

Summary

Creates a U.S. Public Health Sciences Track that can award advanced degrees focused on teamwork, public health, epidemiology, and emergency response. The Secretary will pick sites at existing accredited academic health centers in regions the Surgeon General (with the National Health Care Workforce Commission) approves. Each year the Track must graduate at least 150 medical students (10 with studentships to the Uniformed Services University of Health Sciences), 100 dental, 250 nursing, 100 public health, 100 behavioral/mental health, 100 physician assistant or nurse practitioner, and 50 pharmacy students. The Secretary sets any other graduate numbers, must maximize first-year enrollment within site capacity and national need, and may phase development. The Surgeon General must make a long-term continuing education plan that stresses patient-centered, team-based care, care coordination, emergency response experience, and faculty training for nonhospital care.

Full Legal Text

Title 42, §239l

The Public Health and Welfare — Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)(1)There is hereby authorized to be established a United States Public Health Sciences Track (referred to in this part as the “Track”), at sites to be selected by the Secretary, with authority to grant appropriate advanced degrees in a manner that uniquely emphasizes team-based service, public health, epidemiology, and emergency preparedness and response. It shall be so organized as to graduate not less than—

(A)150 medical students annually, 10 of whom shall be awarded studentships to the Uniformed Services University of Health Sciences;

(B)100 dental students annually;

(D)100 public health students annually;

(E)100 behavioral and mental health professional students annually;

(F)100 physician assistant or nurse practitioner students annually; and

(G)50 pharmacy students annually.

(2)The Track shall be located at existing and accredited, affiliated health professions education training programs at academic health centers located in regions of the United States determined appropriate by the Surgeon General, in consultation with the National Health Care Workforce Commission established in section 294q of this title.

(b)Except as provided in subsection (a), the number of persons to be graduated from the Track shall be prescribed by the Secretary. In so prescribing the number of persons to be graduated from the Track, the Secretary shall institute actions necessary to ensure the maximum number of first-year enrollments in the Track consistent with the academic capacity of the affiliated sites and the needs of the United States for medical, dental, and nursing personnel.

(c)The development of the Track may be by such phases as the Secretary may prescribe subject to the requirements of subsection (a).

(d)The Surgeon General shall develop an integrated longitudinal plan for health professions continuing education throughout the continuum of health-related education, training, and practice. Training under such plan shall emphasize patient-centered, interdisciplinary, and care coordination skills. Experience with deployment of emergency response teams shall be included during the clinical experiences.

(e)The Surgeon General shall develop faculty development programs and curricula in decentralized venues of health care, to balance urban, tertiary, and inpatient venues.

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

42 U.S.C. § 239l

Title 42 — The Public Health and Welfare

Last Updated

Apr 5, 2026

Release point: 119-73not60