Rob Simmons, DrPH, MPH, CHES, CPH
Director, Master of Public Health (MPH) Program
Jefferson School of Population Health
The American Public Health Association (APHA) annual meeting was held a couple of weeks ago with the theme of 'Social Justice: A Public Health Imperative.' A pall hung over the large amphitheater as APHA celebrated its annual meeting. Reeling from the national midterm elections and fear that the priority and resources in federal revenues for public health prevention and health promotion gained over the previous 18 months would be lost with the new Congress in January, the conference theme of “social justice” seemed most appropriate for the over 10,000 public health professionals and students who gathered in Denver.
The opening speeches by public health dignitaries resounded in their vigor to rally participants to work hard to support public health and conduct and report on research evidence showing that prevention and an investment of federal resources for the public health infrastructure will improve the nation’s health and save millions in reduced health care costs.
Howard Koh, Assistant Secretary for the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), provided much of that evidence and encouraged participants to continue their passionate involvement in the process. Cornell West, of the Center for African American Studies and Department of Religion at Princeton University, delivered an incredible sermon summarizing our history of social injustices and necessary actions at all levels of society to achieve equal opportunity for all. These talks set the stage for three days of meetings to plan to do just that.
Some of the significant trends among the many sessions I attended included:
• A growing interest in the creation of health literacy policy and program initiatives in the healthcare and community health environments
• The burgeoning movement in undergraduate public health education, the creation of undergraduate public health majors and minors and infusion of a public health framework in undergraduate liberal arts education
• Increasing interest in global health education, service and research and its implications for our work in the School of Population Health
Finally, I had the pleasure of attending presentations on important public health issues made by two current Jefferson MPH students and two recent MPH alumni. They certainly made us proud.