Public Health: An Introduction

Public health draws on the talents of a variety of professional disciplines to address collectively the changing threats to health of the community. Public health practitioners work with community leaders to problem-solve and to implement workable interventions or programs. The vision of public health is simply stated but inspiring: "Healthy People in Healthy Communities."

Public health uses population-based approaches to prevent disease, injury, and disability and to improve the health of people and their communities. These approaches include: assessing health risks, providing education and encouraging healthier lifestyles, developing health policies to protect the community, and assuring that needed services are available. Notably, research has indicated that public health action strategies have been responsible for increasing average life expectancy by 25 years over the past century. Additionally, it has been shown that 70% of premature deaths in the United States are preventable by attention to behavioral choices and environmental stressors. Public health practitioners and agencies also reach out to those individuals and groups at higher risk who do not have access to primary care, and assure that services are available when needed.

 

Contact the Department of Nutrition

1215 W. Cumberland Ave.
229 Jessie Harris Building
Knoxville, TN 37996-1920

Brenda Hart
bhart57@utk.edu

Phone: (865) 974-5445
Fax: (865) 974-3491