Amber Banducci is an MPH candidate at the Colorado School of Public Health. Banducci is interested in health care policy, particularly when it affects hospital administration operations, and the resulting health outcomes of patients. Banducci is attending the Symposium as part of its Symposium University program.
Three engaging speakers with important public health messages started off the second day of the Symposium. The focus shifted from medical care yesterday to prevention today. As a young public health professional, these were the messages I was craving to hear. Improved medical care is an important part of improving the health of our nation, but as emphasized by Larry Cohen from the Prevention Institute, behavioral and environmental factors play a significantly larger role in determining health. Prevention through behavioral and environmental change to improve health, extend life, and improve quality of life is at the heart of public health.
Kelly Brownell from the Yale Rudd Center for Food Policy and Obesity brought up several critical points for effecting widespread change that will improve the health of many. Within the scope of the obesity epidemic in the United States, Brownell highlighted that current mechanisms to address health problems have had minimal impact on improved health outcomes. He stressed that legislation that creates new and improved "defaults" before the individual's decision-making process will lead to a healthier environment and help individuals make better choices, specifically when it comes to diet and obesity.
Larry Cohen echoed and expanded on those ideas. Educating people on the benefits of exercising, healthy diet and other healthy behaviors is ineffective without an environment that is conducive to engagement in healthy behaviors. Changes such as building sidewalks for safe walking, building parks for exercise, and zoning for increased access to healthy foods are necessary for people to engage in safe and healthy behaviors. Will Allen, the founder and CEO of Growing Power Inc. shared his efforts that coincide with the methods and goals Cohen and Brownell highlighted. Allen's inspirational story of engaging children in farming for healthier eating, increased activity and increased sense of responsibility led to a standing ovation.
As a current MPH student and an aspiring physician, Dr. Joe Greer Jr., assistant dean for Academic Affairs and chair of the Humanities, Health and Society at Florida International University, gave an inspirational speech that particularly resonated with me. I plan on attending medical school in the near future, and people often ask me why I am earning an MPH degree. I would give me best answer and reply that I want to understand the complex health system in which I will be practicing, understand the big picture of health to be a better physician, and participate in local public health policy. After today's discussion, I am even more confident in my decision to obtain an MPH. A hot word today was "integrate" — integrating public health principles and evidence into the practice of medicine is a necessary step in improving our nation's health. Dr. Greer asserted that fundamental changes in American medical student education must occur so students can learn to practice with compassion and address the social determinants of health.
As Dr. Greer put it, the audience and speakers today are truly "led by passion and guided by their intellect". The presentations today inspired the audience and stimulated honest discussion that will hopefully inform their public health and medical care practice. I am ecstatic that health professionals understand public health's many opportunities to significantly improve our nation's health. There are a couple take-home messages from today's discussion. First, prevention, particularly through legislation and policy, is critical in making significant improvements to our nation's health. Second, better integration of public health into medical education will develop physicians with a broader scope of health knowledge that they can use to practice with compassion and a deeper understanding of the social determinants of health. I am leaving today inspired and confident that I can be part of the solution.
How do you feel about the emphasis on public health in improving our nation's health? How do we take these stories of success and inspiration and apply them in practice?
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