Investment in health is imperative as health is a cornerstone of human capital and a critical component of economic growth. In anticipation of the need for trained faculty for the institutes of public health, The Public Health Foundation of India (PHFI) instituted its Future Faculty Programme scholarships in May 2006 to develop a pool of faculty members for its upcoming institutions in India. This initiative involved sourcing of potential faculty from all over India with broad based field experience in health programs and projects in rural areas. The first round of the programme was completed successfully and 13 candidates who were selected in the programe are now pursuing higher education in Public Health in over 10 leading institutions in the US and the UK.