Introduction to Public Health: Promises and Practice

The only public health text to incorporate new Affordable Care Act legislation

Praise for the first edition:
More than just another preliminary textbook, this comprehensive introduction for those who are new to the field of public health weaves together its values, goals, and practices into a lucid introductory text."

Sally Guttmacher, PhD
Professor, Director, Master’s in Community Public Health Program
New York University

This second edition of Introduction to Public Health is the only text to encompass the new legislation implemented by the Affordable Care Act, with its focus on prevention and its increase in funding for prevention research. Updated and thoroughly revised, this foundational resource surveys all major topics related to the U.S. public health system, including organization on local and national levels, financing, workforce, goals, initiatives, accountability, and metrics. The text is unique in combining the perspectives of both academicians and public health officials, and examines new job opportunities and the growing interest in the public health field.

Comprehensive and accessible, the text discusses a variety of new trends in public health, particularly regarding primary care and public health partnerships. The second edition also includes information about new accountability initiatives and workforce requirements to contribute to health services research and clinical outcomes research in medical care. The text stresses the increasing emphasis on efficiency, effectiveness, and equity in achieving population health improvements, and goes beyond merely presenting information to analyze the question of whether the practice of public health achieves its promise. Each chapter includes objectives, review questions, and case studies. Also included are an instructor’s manual with test questions (covering every major public health improvement initiative and introducing every major data system sponsored by the U.S. public health system) and PowerPoint slides. The book’s nine chapters address the history of U.S. public health from its inception and offer a sweeping examination of topics in organization and financing, infectious disease control, injury and noninfectious diseases, system performance, system improvement, public health leadership, building healthy communities, and the future of public health.

New to the Second Edition:

• Completely updated and revised
• Addresses changes brought about by Obamacare
• Discusses building healthy communities and the determinants of health
• Adds new chapter on public health leadership
• Covers new developments in treating Lyme disease, West Nile virus, and other illnesses
• Investigates intentional injuries such as suicide, homicide, and war

Key Features:

• Provides information that is holistic, comprehensive, and accessible
• Covers all major topics of organization, financing, leadership, goals, initiatives, accountability, and metrics
• Relates current public health practice to the field’s history and mission
• Analyzes successful and unsuccessful aspects of health care delivery

Raymond L. Goldsteen, DrPH, is professor emeritus of Family, Population & Preventive Medicine, at the Health Sciences Center, Stony Brook University, where he was founding director of the Master of Public Health (MPH) program.

Karen Goldsteen, PhD, MPH, is affiliated research associate professor of Family, Population & Preventive Medicine at the Health Sciences Center, Stony Brook University.

Terry L. Dwelle, MD, MPHTM, CPH, was appointed to the North Dakota Office of State Health Officer by Governor John Hoeven in October 2001, and previously served as Chief Medical Officer for the department.