Special Interest Groups
"As a trainee, joining the poverty SIG has been a really valuable experience. It has provided the opportunity to contribute to a collective national voice on this important issue alongside a range of partners, as well as helping develop the skills, knowledge and confidence to better advocate for the health of those affected by poverty in our local areas."
- Trainee member of the FPH Poverty SIG
Why join a SIG?
As part of your membership with FPH, you are eligible to join one of our Special Interest Groups (SIGs) convened to tackle some of the most pressing issues facing the public’s health today and to provide FPH members with a platform to speak out in one voice on a particular topic. SIGs enable members from across the UK and globally to network with other public health professionals working in their field and provide FPH with an invaluable source of expertise and support across all areas of our work.
We have a wide range of different SIGs covering diverse topics, such as film, food, active transport, and global violence prevention. Whether you’re looking to fulfil some training requirements, learn something new or do a discrete piece of research, one of our SIGs should provide you with a space to achieve whatever you’re after. See the list below to find out what SIGs we offer, how you can join, and what SIGs are currently focused on.
Testimonies from members
Maria Van-Hove, Co-Chair of FPH Sustainable Development SIG: "The SIGs are a brilliant way of engaging with topics that are not a core part of public health training. They offer the opportunity to engage more deeply with a topic of your choice, build a professional network and contribute to the development of that area within public health practice.”
Adam Holland and Jason Horsley, Co-Chairs of the FPH Drugs SIG: "As Co-Chair of the Drugs SIG I’ve gained valuable experience developing strategies and chairing meetings whilst working closely with high-level stakeholders both inside and outside of FPH. I’ve co-authored journal articles, spoken in the House of Commons, been interviewed by journalists, and led work that featured in print and online newspapers. If you’re passionate about a subject, or you want to explore one, I can’t recommend taking an active role in a Special Interest Group highly enough."
Kristin Bash, Chair of the Food SIG: "The Food SIG is a unique opportunity for public health professionals to share and develop knowledge and experience across a broad range of food policy issues. Members are involved in many ways, including developing and writing position statements, consultation responses, or discussion papers on food topics they’re passionate about. It is an excellent way to build a portfolio, explore an interest in food policy, and learn from other members and guest speakers."
Find a Special Interest Group
Special Interest Groups reporting lines
Each Special Interest Group (SIG) reports to one of the main FPH policy committees, as illustrated by the diagram below.
All SIG-Chair Meeting
On Monday 8 March 2024, the Faculty held a meeting for all SIG Chairs. A number of Special Interest Groups (SIGs) presented on their work, including how they have engaged with FPH members, other SIGs and external partners. This recording features an introduction to the day from Professor Kevin Fenton and presentation from the Faculty of Public Health, as well as presentations from the following SIGs:
- Children and Young People SIG (BACAPH)
- Sexual and Reproductive Health SIG
- Academic Public Health SIG
- Sustainable Development SIG
- Africa
- AI and Digital Public Health
- Health Protection (Education & Training)
The slide deck from the day can be found here.
