American Public Health Association Annual Meeting, November 2010
Message summarized
The American Public Health Association (APHA) 2010 Annual Meeting held in Denver, Colorado was themed “Social Justice: A Public Health Imperative” to convene the public health leaders to address reducing risk factors that cause disease and mortality due to inequities.
Three very distinguished leaders who lead the Summit on Health Reform were Howard Koh, MD, MPH, Assistant Secretary for Health, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services; VADM Regina Benjamin, Surgeon General, Commissioned Corps of the U.S. Public Health Service; and Ileana Arias, PhD, Principal Deputy Director, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The Summit set the stage for public health officials on effective implementation of the new health law, strategically and in phases, focusing on prevention and wellness.
Cornel West, PhD, Professor at Princeton University, and Bill Jenkins, PhD, MPH, with the University of North Carolina, Institute of African American Research, energized the audience during the opening session.
During Dr. Koh’s speech, he commended the public health leaders for making things happen by standing together for public health. He mentioned there are three types of people: those who make things happen; those who watch things happen; and, those who ask what happened. The public health community convened to reenergize the spirit and reaffirm commitment because it is critical to keep strong during this unprecedented time.
He reflected on how our journeys bring us together. His parents journeyed from Korea to live the dream of democracy and freedom. They told him to reach his full potential in life; to live a life of meaning and of higher purpose. His journey included becoming a medical doctor, public health practitioner in Massachusetts, and a researcher at Harvard School of Public Health. Now, he serves the country, alongside others in public health, to help all people to attain their highest attainable standard of health.
He believes it is important for each to achieve this level because health is precious. His questions are: How do we make a life not just a living? and, how do we live a life that is good and not just a good life? The answer is we chose, or had been called to public health. We have seen suffering and tried to heal it, seen pain and tried to prevent it, and seen health inequity and tried to end it. Some of us have wounds, but we decided to turn pain into power, so we are wounded healers. Our field beautifully captures passion (suffer) and compassion (suffer with).
He is committed to implementing the Affordable Care Act (ACA). He states that because of the public health community, the ACA is now the law and will provide coverage to millions, build true systems of care, the highlight the power of prevention to the whole nation, and bring health security to all Americans. He stresses that the implementation is not easy but is a brilliant opportunity, and urges the audience to take the opportunity to support the Act with constancy.
Dr, Howard Koh’s presentation is available at http://www.youtube.com/aphadc .
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HHS, Office of Public Health and Science |