What is public health?

Public health is a vaccine that prevents disease. Public health is a scientist who discovers the source of a salmonella outbreak. Public health is outreach that helps prevent tobacco and drug use. So what is public health? While a doctor treats individuals, public health looks at the health of a community. We research the risk of disease and injury in a population and take action to prevent them before they occur. Our early successes helped stop the spread of infectious diseases by improving housing and sanitation. With a greater scientific understanding of health, well-being, and equity, we introduced prevention and early detection activities that helped increase life expectancy by more than 20 years. Public health is access to prenatal services for healthy babies and moms. Public health is safety advances like seatbelt laws that have saved millions of lives. Public health is access to contraception and education to prevent sexually transmitted diseases. Public health was founded on the principle of social justice As a basic right, everyone should have the opportunity for good health. But today, improvements in life expectancy have slowed and we do not live as long as people in many other countries. Did you know? Only a small amount of what affects our health actually happens in the doctor's office. In fact, our health is mostly determined by the social and physical environments in which we live, learn, work, and play. Forget genetic code. A zip code can mean a difference in 15 or more years in life expectancy even if you live a few miles apart. Nearly half of Americans live in communities with unhealthy levels of air pollution and the Flint, Michigan lead crisis taught us the dangers of our aging water systems. Poverty and poor health go hand in hand. Too many workers are denied a livable wage. They can't escape poverty and their health suffers. On-time high school graduation is a leading indicator of good health but more than 20% of students miss this opportunity. Too many neighborhoods lack healthy affordable food options like fresh fruits and vegetables. Addressing these complex health challenges will require cooperation across many sectors. Thankfully, public health has taken the lead in working with government, community organizations, and businesses. We partner with city planners to design safe communities that encourage physical activity, bike paths, public transportation, and parks. We support Medicare, Medicaid, CHIP, and the Affordable Care Act We advocate common sense measures to reduce gun violence. We can reduce gun deaths in the same way. We partnered with road planners and car engineers to address auto fatalities. So what is public health? It is all of us working together to make sure our communities are safe, prevent disease and injury, and give everyone the opportunity for good health. Join with APHA as we create the healthiest nation in one generation.