WHAT IS PUBLIC HEALTH? CIRO V. SUMAYA, MD, MPHTM PROFESSOR, HEALTH POLICY AND MANAGEMENT FOUNDING DEAN ( ), SCHOOL OF RURAL PUBLIC HEALTH COX ENDOWED CHAIR TEXAS A&M HEALTH SCIENCE CENTER

DEFINITION Promotion of health, Protection of health, Prevention of disease Emphasis on community/populations NOT individuals IOM: “…public health is what society does collectively to assure the conditions for people to be healthy….”

DEFINITION (Continued) Assessment, assurance, policy development Ten essential public health services Social determinants of health Enumeration – taxonomy, BLS

CREDITS OF PUBLIC HEALTH Reduced infant mortality and morbidity Innovative infrastructure for advancement in technology to provide immunizations for disease prevention Clean air and Safer workplace Confronting environmental and behavioral problems

10 ESSENTIAL PUBLIC HEALTH SERVICES Monitor health status Diagnose and investigate health problems Inform, educate, and empower people Mobilize community partnerships Develop policies

10 ESSENTIAL PUBLIC HEALTH SERVICES (continued) Enforce laws and regulations Link people to needed health care Assure a competent public and personal health care workforce Evaluate effectiveness, accessibility, and quality of personal and population-based health services Research

EXAMPLE OF PUBLIC HEALTH IN ACTION – HIV/AIDS Epidemiology, Biostatistics/data, Reporting, Surveillance, Social Sciences, Behavioral Interventions, Health Literacy, Community Partnerships Microbiology, Immunology, Clinical Medicine, Medication,

CHANGING HEALTH CARE/HEALTH ENVIRONMENT - REPRESENTATIVE Population demographics Aging Chronic diseases Socio-behavioral problems Costs/Quality/Access

CHANGING HEALTH CARE/HEALTH ENVIRONMENT – REPRESENTATIVE (Continued) Health and Workforce Disparities Interdisciplinary collaborations Health system modeling, reimbursement options Need for PREVENTION orientation Global connectedness