Origin Organized as a field in the nineteenth century sanitary reform movement, prompted by repeated cholera epidemics in industrial cities; Edwin Chadwick 1842 report on the sanitary condition of the labouring population and the resulting Public Health Act of 1848 in Britain are commonly cited founding milestones, building on the same era environmental thinking that also produced John Snow epidemiological work.
Public health is the science and practice of protecting and improving the health of whole populations, through disease prevention, sanitation, vaccination programs and policy, rather than treating individual patients one at a time. Its modern institutional form traces to nineteenth century sanitary reform movements responding to industrial urban epidemics, and it now spans epidemic and disaster response, environmental health, immunization campaigns and health education worldwide.
Facts
Origin PeriodOrganized as a field in the nineteenth century sanitary reform movement, prompted by repeated cholera epidemics in industrial cities; Edwin Chadwick 1842 report on the sanitary condition of the labouring population and the resulting Public Health Act of 1848 in Britain are commonly cited founding milestones, building on the same era environmental thinking that also produced John Snow epidemiological work. 2 Classification
Type/ClassificationPublic Health Specialty 1 Public Health
Filter Results14 entries
FAQs
How does public health differ from treating individual patients?
It works on whole populations through prevention, sanitation, vaccination and policy.
Public health protects and improves the health of whole populations through disease prevention, sanitation, vaccination programs and policy, rather than treating individual patients one at a time.
Where does modern public health trace its institutional form?
Nineteenth century sanitary reform movements.
Its modern institutional form traces to nineteenth century sanitary reform movements responding to industrial urban epidemics.
Connections
Associated With
Contact tracing is a core public health disease control technique.
Fluoride therapy is a preventive public health and dental measure.
Isolation of infected patients is a core public health and infection control measure.
Needle and syringe programmes are a public health harm reduction measure.
Quarantine is a core public health disease control measure.
Water fluoridation is a public health measure to reduce dental disease.
Long-Form Articles
Notable Specialists
Source Charles-Edward Amory Winslow (Wikipedia)
Source Encyclopaedia Britannica
Source Elfriede Paul (source article)
Source Johann Christian Senckenberg (Wikipedia)
Source Johann Peter Frank (Wikipedia)
Source Johannes Hegetschweiler (Deutsche Biographie)
Lillian Wald founded public health nursing at the Henry Street Settlement.
Source Luther Terry (Wikipedia)
Source Max Rubner (Wikipedia)
Source Michelle Bachelet (Wikipedia)
Source Rupert Blue (source article)
Source Samuel A. Cartwright (Wikipedia)
Sara Josephine Baker was a pioneering public health physician who reduced infant mortality in New York City.
Source Encyclopaedia Britannica
Source Wilhelm Olbers Focke (Deutsche Biographie)
William Crawford Gorgas led sanitary and mosquito-control public health campaigns for the Panama Canal.
Sources
1. Public Health (Wikipedia)
WikipediaLead section, sentences 1-2Quote, Lead section, sentences 1-2
Public health is "the science of preventing disease, prolonging life and promoting health through the organized efforts and informed choices of society, organizations, public and private, communities and individuals". Analyzing the determinants of health of a population and the threats it faces is the basis for public health.
2. The Greatest Benefit to Mankind: A Medical History of Humanity
Roy Porter, W. W. Norton and Company, 1997
Encyclopaedia Britannica
Luther Terry (Wikipedia)
Notable Specialists: Luther Terry, Lead and career sections [specialist-in]Quote, Notable Specialists: Luther Terry, Lead and career sections [specialist-in]
was an American physician and public health official
Charles-Edward Amory Winslow (Wikipedia)
Notable Specialists: Charles-Edward Amory Winslow, Lead paragraph [specialist-in]Quote, Notable Specialists: Charles-Edward Amory Winslow, Lead paragraph [specialist-in]
an American bacteriologist and public health expert
Max Rubner (Wikipedia)
Notable Specialists: Max Rubner, Article text, specialtyQuote, Notable Specialists: Max Rubner, Article text, specialty
he became a member of the founding board of the German Society for Public Hygiene
Michelle Bachelet (Wikipedia)
Notable Specialists: Michelle Bachelet, Lead paragraph [specialist-in]Quote, Notable Specialists: Michelle Bachelet, Lead paragraph [specialist-in]
completed her medical studies, and subsequently worked in public health and government
Johann Peter Frank (Wikipedia)
Notable Specialists: Johann Peter Frank, Article textQuote, Notable Specialists: Johann Peter Frank, Article text
an important figure in the early history of social medicine and public health
Rupert Blue (source article)
Notable Specialists: Rupert Blue, Rupert Blue 1912-1920 section [specialist-in]Quote, Notable Specialists: Rupert Blue, Rupert Blue 1912-1920 section [specialist-in]
he oversaw rat eradication and urban sanitation programs in San Francisco
Samuel A. Cartwright (Wikipedia)
Notable Specialists: Samuel A. Cartwright, BiographyQuote, Notable Specialists: Samuel A. Cartwright, Biography
He would go on to practice medicine across the south and gained a reputation as having an expertise in cholera prevention.
Johann Christian Senckenberg (Wikipedia)
Notable Specialists: Johann Christian Senckenberg, CareerQuote, Notable Specialists: Johann Christian Senckenberg, Career
from 1755 as "Physicus ordinarius" for the health service in Frankfurt
Elfriede Paul (source article)
Notable Specialists: Elfriede Paul, Entry heading line, birth and deathQuote, Notable Specialists: Elfriede Paul, Entry heading line, birth and death
geb. 14.01.1900 Köln, gest. 30.08.1981 Ahrenshoop
Johannes Hegetschweiler (Deutsche Biographie)
Notable Specialists: Johannes Hegetschweiler, Deutsche Biographie page, biography [specialist-in]Quote, Notable Specialists: Johannes Hegetschweiler, Deutsche Biographie page, biography [specialist-in]
als Präsident des Sanitätsrathes, in der Ausarbeitung und Einführung der neuen Medicinalorganisation
Wilhelm Olbers Focke (Deutsche Biographie)
Notable Specialists: Wilhelm Olbers Focke, Deutsche Biographie page, biographyQuote, Notable Specialists: Wilhelm Olbers Focke, Deutsche Biographie page, biography
Ab 1858 lebte er als Arzt in Bremen und bekleidete dort wichtige leitende Stellungen im öffentlichen Gesundheitswesen
Essays About This Entity (1 essay)
Three Public Health Careers, Each Defined by One Specific Act
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