UNIVERSITY OF LOUISVILLE SCHOOL OF PUBLIC HEALTH AND

INFORMATION SCIENCES

Role of Public HealthPublic health is the science and art of promoting health, preventing disease, and prolonging life in the population through the organized efforts of society.

Through promoting healthy lifestyles, researching disease and injury prevention, and detecting and controlling infectious diseases.

Public health is concerned with protecting and improving the health of entire populations.

As a result of globalization, forces that affect public health can and do come from outside nation boundaries and responding to public health issues now requires attention to cross-border health risks, including access to dangerous products and environmental change.

Adapted from: World Health Organization, “Glossary of Health Promotion,”http://apps.who.int/iris/bitstream/10665/64546/1/WHO_HPR_HEP_98.1.pdf?ua=1

World Health Organization, “Public Health,”http://www.who.int/trade/glossary/story076/en/

CDC Foundation, “What is Public Health?”http://www.cdcfoundation.org/content/what-public-health

Let’s look at examples“What is public health?”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oQkGx6gRGIY

Pick one:

“Ebola: an international emergency”https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gLeCQaS4SUA

“Distracted Driving”https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zfknB9CZiA8

“The Flu Vaccine 101”https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5q8RNbeJTmI

“10 Facts on Health Inequities and Their Causes”https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3huNNDx2Lbg

Theory of Public Health

The distribution of health and disease in the population is not random and We can identify the reasons for the non-randomness.

QuestionHow much of the nearly 40-year increase in life expectancy since 1900 is due to public health, independent of medical care?

A. 10%

B. 25%

C. 40%

D. 55%

E. 85%

Question

What is public health?A. Food safety (Example:

restaurant inspections)B. Laws and policies related to

health (Example: seatbelt laws)

C. Investigating diseases (Example: dealing with a measles outbreak)

D. Diet and exercise promotionE. Environmental protection

What if we told you that public health is all this and more?

5 Core Disciplines for Public Health

• Health promotion and behavior

• Epidemiology• Biostatistics• Environmental health• Health policy and

management

Cross-Cutting Areas

• Teamwork and leadership

• Critical thinking and creativity

• Professionalism• Advocacy• Organizational dynamics

All skills and interests are needed in public health!

What can I do with a degree in public health?

• Careers in Public Health are highly diverse and there is a growing need for professionals“Public Health was named one of 11 hot college majors that

lead to jobs.” – U.S. News and World Report, 2013

• Employment opportunities include positions with the federal, state, and local government… Hospitals, non-profit organizations, universities, health insurance companies . . the possibilities are ENDLESS!

What can I do with a degree in Public Health (cont.)?

• Opportunities to further education for medical, dental, pharmacy, and nursing schools

• Additional career areas in public health include: research, maternal and child health, nutrition, global health, and laboratory work

Public Health At Workfield epidemiologist

health detective

health advocate

community health organizer

legislative aide

EPA environmental health officer

clinic health advisor

public health teacher

public health system manager

ACA-mandated public health analysis officer

public health researcher

IOM, 1988

What are the public health degree requirements?

• 4-year degree– Either a Bachelor of Science or Bachelor of Arts

We’re not your average major!Focus on skills for the rest of your life:• Thinking• Teamwork• Learning

• Use learning techniques based on recent findings from the new science of learning.

• Hands-on, “family-style” of advising and working together.

The BIG THREE that employers and professional schools look for!

When can students begin the public health undergraduate degree

program?

NOW! Have a curious student? Public Health-101

“introduction to Public Health -- SB” is offered every spring and fall (counts as a social-

behavioral general education requirement).

Have an interested student?

Have students email us at publichealth@louisville.edu and put “Advising” in the subject line or call Tammi at 502-262-7210.

Questions