State Health Official Career Advancement and Sustainability Evaluation-Description of the Methods Used in the SHO-CASE Study.

State health officials (SHOs) lead state governmental public health agencies, playing an important role in their states. However, little comprehensive research has examined SHOs or characteristics of these leaders, limiting evidence about ways to improve SHO selection and subsequent performance. This brief describes the methods of the SHO-CASE study focused on current and former SHOs in state public health agencies.

Public Health Senior Deputy's Perceptions of State Health Officials' Success Factors: Professional Characteristics, Personal Attributes, and Signs of Derailment.

Context: Senior deputies work closely with state health officials (SHOs) in state public health agencies and are a valuable resource for understanding their roles, responsibilities, and characteristics.

Objective: Examine senior deputies' perceptions of SHO success factors.

Design: Qualitative study including nominal group technique focus groups, a small expert focus group, and interviews.