[tr?id=437834886654549&ev=PageView&noscript=1] AMERICAN PUBLIC HEALTH ASSOCIATION * About APHA * Join * Renew * Annual Meeting * Careers * Contact Us * Store ____________________ Submit * LOGIN IFRAME: /login-panel * What is Public Health? + Generation Public Health + Creating Healthy Communities * Topics & Issues + Climate Change + Environmental Health + Gun Violence + Health Equity + Health Reform + Immigrant Health + Tobacco + Vaccines + All Topics and Issues * Policy & Advocacy + Advocacy for Public Health + Policy Statements * Publications & Periodicals + American Journal of Public Health + The Nation's Health + Books + Fact Sheets + Reports and Issue Briefs + Advertising + Public Health Buyers Guide + Publications Contacts * Professional Development + Continuing Education + Public Health CareerMart + Internships & Fellowships + Careers at APHA * Events & Meetings + Annual Meeting + Policy Action Institute + National Public Health Week + APHA Calendar + Webinars * News & Media + Newsroom + News Releases + Social Media + Multimedia * APHA Communities + APHA Connect + Affiliates + Member Sections + Student Assembly + SPIGs + Forums + Caucuses * APHA Membership + Member Perks + Special Member Savings + Membership Types and Rates + Student Membership + Schools/Programs Student Membership + Early-Career Professional Membership + Agency Membership + Frequently Asked Questions + Member Directory * APHA > * What is Public Health * Print Print * Share Share What is Public Health? * What is Public Health? * Generation Public Health * Creating Healthy Communities Public health promotes and protects the health of people and the communities where they live, learn, work and play. While a doctor treats people who are sick, those of us working in public health try to prevent people from getting sick or injured in the first place. We also promote wellness by encouraging healthy behaviors. From conducting scientific research to educating about health, people in the field of public health work to assure the conditions in which people can be healthy. That can mean vaccinating children and adults to prevent the spread of disease. Or educating people about the risks of alcohol and tobacco. Public health sets safety standards to protect workers and develops school nutrition programs to ensure kids have access to healthy food. Public health works to track disease outbreaks, prevent injuries and shed light on why some of us are more likely to suffer from poor health than others. The many facets of public health include speaking out for laws that promote smoke-free indoor air and seatbelts, spreading the word about ways to stay healthy and giving science-based solutions to problems. Public health saves money, improves our quality of life, helps children thrive and reduces human suffering. Public Health is... IFRAME: //www.youtube.com/embed/XkSnp9jQYSc Some examples of the many fields of public health: * First responders * Restaurant inspectors * Health educators * Scientists and researchers * Nutritionists * Community planners * Social workers * Epidemiologists * Public health physicians * Public health nurses * Occupational health and safety professionals * Public policymakers * Sanitarians Become a Member > Donate Now > Newsletter Sign Up > Public Health Code of Ethics cover of Public Health Code of Ethics Speak for Health Read our Public Health Q & As! See what today's public health leaders are saying about the hottest topics in the field. * Facebook Facebook + “Alone we can do so little, together we can do so much.” Create a team for the #APHABillionSteps Challenge and get started today! http://www.nphw.org/get-involv… + New FDA policy on flavored e-cigarettes fails to protect youth, APHA says: "If we truly want to reduce the growing number of youth who are using e-cigarettes, w… + The call for abstracts is open for #APHA2020. This is your chance to share your work with thousands of public health professionals. Submit today! https://aph… + "Ongoing political attacks on the ACA are a true recipe for disaster,” says APHA's Benjamin in the wake of yesterday's appeals court ruling. "By failing to upho… + APHA welcomes key public health funding increases in final fiscal year 2020 spending bill https://www.apha.org/news-and-media/news-releases/apha-news-re leases/… + It’s almost time! The #APHA2020 call for abstracts opens this Friday, Dec. 20. https://apha.confex.com/apha/2020/cfp.cgi + APHA and other public health partners praise historic win for gun safety as Congress allocates $25 million for gun violence research at CDC, NIH https://giffor… + Still need health insurance? Open enrollment through the federal marketplace has been extended to 3AM ET, Wednesday, Dec. 18! Don't miss your chance to get cove… + Latest issue of AJPH looks at HIV in America. Listen to the journal's new podcast with HHS' Brett Giroir now: https://am.ajph.link/POD_January2020 + Watch live on 12/5 as experts — including APHA's Dr. Benjamin — discuss public health progress & challenges of the past three decades to celebrate America’s Hea… + Join us on Facebook * Twitter Twitter + The #APHABillionSteps Challenge has begun! Sign up and start tracking your steps and activity:… https://t.co/3hUvXaL6me + RT @AMJPublicHealth: Japan introduced the "Zone 30" multisectoral traffic calming policy in September 2011, and by December 2016 an estimat… + Update: Flu activity is HIGH in 34 states. CDC estimates there have been at least 6.4M flu illnesses, 55K hospitali… https://t.co/dmRuBcCw9y + Winter is here! Make sure you’re safe and prepared for winter storms and weather extremes with these tips from APHA… https://t.co/i1q688oeQk + Flu activity is now widespread in 48 states, CDC says. Here's what to do if you or someone you're caring for gets s… https://t.co/xcqDWRbhgC + RT @NIDDKgov: January is #ThyroidAwarenessMonth—educate patients about #ThyroidDisease with this fact sheet, available in English and Spani… + How does your health department use social media? It's a vital part of engaging your community, says… https://t.co/OylsSSX14E + 👏👏👏 https://t.co/tibjhkTW5L + RT @AMJPublicHealth: Helping state and local health departments in the PNW incorporate adaptation to #climatechange into their work: A prop… + RT @APHAAnnualMtg: It’s time to register for the APHA Policy Action Institute! Engage in policy change with expert key note speakers and pa… + Follow us on Twitter * pixel PH Jobs + Public Health Director | Guilford County Government + Assistant/ Associate/ Full Professor in Environmental Health | UConn Health + Public Health Director | Klickitat County, Washington + Environmental Health Postdoctoral Fellow | Colorado State University + Field Project Manager-Clean Energy and Health in Rwanda | Colorado State University + Assistant Professor - Biostatistics / Applied Public Health Statistics | California State University Fullerton + Health Educator II | Inland Empire Health Plan (IEHP) + Research Fellow | Public Policy Institute of California + Associate Dean for Research | Teachers College, Columbia University + Director, Center for Behavioral and Preventive Medicine | Brown University * SUPPORT PUBLIC HEALTH DONATE TO APHA Public health improves quality of life, extends life expectancy, reduces human suffering and saves resources over the long term. 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