PURPOSE:
Public Health and Midwifery are closely connected disciplines that, when integrated, can greatly enhance health outcomes for women, families, and society. Midwives have unique opportunities to engage with individuals during pivotal life stages, acting as trusted health advisors and advocates. Sharing a salutogenic perspective with public health, midwives are, by the nature of their work, applied public health professionals who make a significant impact on a range of health outcomes. The aim of this input is to improve the visibility of the public health role of midwives and to enable leadership through strategic collaboration between public health and midwifery stakeholders.

DISCUSSION:
Numerous large-scale reports and publications recognize the importance of public health topics in midwifery. Areas such as perinatal mental health screening and the evidence generation on midwifery-led care models demonstrate this synergy. In a recent strategy development, the Institute of Midwifery and Reproductive Health at the Zurich University of Applied Sciences (Winterthur, Switzerland) specified that it targets women, their families, and society as a whole, reflecting the holistic approach of public health. Defining "public health midwifery" supports the Institute's strive for excellence in education, research, and leadership, and influences midwifery leadership globally.

EVIDENCE WHERE RELEVANT:
This input offers an overview of public health midwifery and aims to inspire exchange and discussion. Broad awareness and understanding of the public health role in midwifery among both students and professionals are crucial for enabling collaboration. A variety of topics bridge both disciplines and multiple international examples show valuable links between the professions. Learning from these experiences can be highly beneficial for strengthening interprofessional care and leadership for midwifery topics.

KEY MESSAGE:
Midwives are essential applied public health professionals. This presentation invites dialogue on advancing leadership and collaboration between midwifery and public health by providing an overview of the public health impact of midwifery. Poster session 3 (Group B)