This one-year planning grant would enable Xi’an to develop a new model for advanced public health professional leaders, a doctorate of public health (DrPH) degree in China. The advanced degree will prepare professionals with enhanced competencies, including global health perspectives, to serve as leaders in public health practice. The program is designed to train doctoral students to be research leaders, public health policy-makers and public health practitioners, and prepare graduates for leadership positions in all aspects of public health. A symposium will be held to discuss the necessity the training, the required curriculum, and possibly inter-university collaboration. A study tour will visit international universities to learn about their training experiences, problems, and challenges in offering this same degree. The findings will be summarized and and submitted to CMB for possible additional funding for pilot implementation.