---
kind: "section"
citation: "42 U.S.C. § 239l"
title: "42"
title_heading: "The Public Health and Welfare"
number: "239l"
heading: "Establishment"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/42/239l"
units:
  - "Chapter 6A — Public Health Service"
  - "Subchapter I — Administration and Miscellaneous Provisions"
  - "Part D — United States Public Health Sciences Track"
---

# §239l. Establishment

- (a) **United States Public Health Services Track—**
  - (1) **In general—** 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](/usc/42/201.md?p=c), with authority to grant appropriate advanced degrees in a manner that uniquely emphasizes team-based [service](/usc/42/201.md?p=a), 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](/usc/42/201.md?p=p) University of Health Sciences;
    - (B) 100 dental students annually;
    - (C) 250 nursing 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) **Locations—** The Track shall be located at existing and accredited, affiliated health professions education training [programs](/usc/42/274l–1.md?p=4) at academic health centers located in regions of the United States determined appropriate by the [Surgeon General](/usc/42/201.md?p=b), in consultation with the National Health Care Workforce Commission established in [section 294q of this title](/usc/42/294q.md).
- (b) **Number of graduates—** Except as provided in [subsection (a)](#a), the number of persons to be graduated from the Track shall be prescribed by the [Secretary](/usc/42/201.md?p=c). In so prescribing the number of persons to be graduated from the Track, the [Secretary](/usc/42/201.md?p=c) 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) **Development—** The development of the Track may be by such phases as the [Secretary](/usc/42/201.md?p=c) may prescribe subject to the requirements of [subsection (a)](#a).
- (d) **Integrated longitudinal plan—** The [Surgeon General](/usc/42/201.md?p=b) 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) **Faculty development—** The [Surgeon General](/usc/42/201.md?p=b) shall develop faculty development [programs](/usc/42/274l–1.md?p=4) and curricula in decentralized venues of health care, to balance urban, tertiary, and inpatient venues.

## Source credit

(July 1, 1944, ch. 373, title II, § 271, as added Pub. L. 111–148, title V, § 5315, Mar. 23, 2010, 124 Stat. 637.)