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What is Public Health?

What is Public Health?. Katie Brown, MPH Epidemiology Section Memphis and Shelby County Health Department. What is Public Health?.

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What is Public Health?

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  1. What is Public Health? Katie Brown, MPH Epidemiology Section Memphis and Shelby County Health Department

  2. What is Public Health? • The science and art of protecting and improving the health of communities through education, promotion of healthy lifestyles, and research for disease and injury prevention

  3. Public Health vs. Clinical Medicine

  4. Dynamic, multi-disciplinary field Biology Sociology Mathematics Anthropology Public policy Medicine Education Psychology Computer science Business Engineering Public Health

  5. Public Health Professionals • Prevent problems from happening or re-occurring • Implementing educational programs • Developing policies • Administering services • Conducting research

  6. Impact of Public Health • Increase in life expectancy • World wide reduction in infant and child mortality • Elimination or reduction of many communicable diseases

  7. Increased life expectancy • Since 1900, the average American’s life span has increased by 30 years • Clinical medicine 5 years • Public health 25 years

  8. Drop in Infant and Child Mortality

  9. 20th Century’s Top 10 Achievements in Public Health • Vaccination • Motor vehicle safety • Safer workplaces • Control of infectious disease • Decline in deaths from CHD and stroke

  10. 20th Century’s Top 10 Achievements in Public Health • Safer and healthier foods • Healthier mothers and babies • Family planning • Fluoridation of drinking water • Recognition of tobacco as a health hazard

  11. Functions of Public Health • Prevent epidemics and spread of disease • Protect against environmental hazards • Prevent injuries • Promote and encourage healthy behaviors • Respond to disasters and assists communities in recovery • Assures the quality and accessibility of health services

  12. Core Functions and Ten Essential Services

  13. Assessment • Assess community health needs • Investigate health hazards and effects • Analyze health factors

  14. Policy Development • Advocate for community needs and issues • Prioritize health needs • Plan and develop policies

  15. Assurance • Manage resources • Implement programs • Evaluate programs • Inform the public

  16. Why pursue a career in public health? • Exciting and growing field of study • Diverse dynamic field • Field geared toward serving others • Rewarding

  17. How can a graduate degree in public health enhance career opportunities? • Gain knowledge of factors that influence local, national and global legislature and social policies • Apply broad-based qualitative and quantitative skills for problem solving • Multidisciplinary and collaborative strategies for solving health problems • Leadership role in health promotion and disease prevention

  18. Schools of Public Health

  19. Additional Information • Association of Schools of Public Health www.asph.org • American Public Health Association www.apha.org • Centers for Disease Control and Prevention www.cdc.gov

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