Pre-Public Health

What do public health professionals do?
- Public health professionals protect and improve the health of individuals, families, communities and populations locally, nationally and globally. It is the science and art of creating healthy communities through education, research and promotion of healthy lifestyles.
- Public health professionals implement educational programs, develop policies, administer services, conduct research, and regulate health systems to achieve these goals.
- In contrast to the medical model of care which emphases more heavily upon diagnosing and treating illnesses and conditions after they occur, public health professionals focus on health promotion and disease/injury prevention.
- The public health field also confronts global health issues, such as improving access to health care, controlling infectious disease and reducing environmental hazards, violence, substance abuse and injury.