Public Health Profession Headlines

While the compulsive hand-washing and mask-wearing public wrung their hands and anticipated Armageddon, public health workers got down to the business of trying to prevent a world-wide health crisis. From the epidemiologists tracking the sources and spread of H1N1, to the policy-makers determining which at-risk groups to prioritize for vaccination, the officials reminding us all to wash our hands, cough into our sleeves and keep our sick children home from school—public health professionals had a hand in each phase of the response to H1N1.

Although the pandemic may not be over yet, so far, H1N1 has not been the disaster that many feared. Much of this is due to the fact that the virus hasn't mutated into something more deadly, but public health workers certainly deserve credit for moving quickly to protect our health.

The devastating earthquake in Haiti in early 2010 demonstrates the need for public health efforts. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, the Centers for Disease Control, as well as other public health organizations from around the world, worked together to provide clean water, food, shelter and medical care to disaster victims.

But responding to the crisis is only part of public health professionals' mandate. Weak infrastructure not only contributed to the severity of the damage, but it significantly slowed the relief efforts. This is why advocating for strong building codes and promoting awareness about how to prepare for disasters are also part of public health officials' job descriptions.

The battle over the recent health care bill is hard to forget. The debate lasted the better part of a year and provoked extreme reactions on both sides of the issue. But love it or hate it, the recent health care reform bill was a public health issue.

In a public health job, your focus will be to improve the overall health and safety of your community. If the newly passed bill succeeds in providing more Americans with affordable health insurance, and therefore more access to medical care, it will be a big public health win.

The explosion at the Upper Big Branch Mine in April, 2010 was the worst coal mining disaster in the U.S. in 40 years, according to the Associated Press. It's a tragedy that brings the need for safety regulations in the workplace into focus.

While public health workers can boast about the progress we've made in workplace safety in the last century, events such as this mine explosion remind us that there is work yet to be done. Public health organizations are sure to be among the forefront of groups advocating for improved working conditions and regulations to prevent further disasters.