American Public Health Association (APHA)

Overview:

Profession(s): General Health, Public Health
Member Type(s): Physician, Nurse, Academians, Public Health Professionals
Scope: National - United States
Formed: 1872
Members: 50,000
Address: 800 I Street, NW, Washington, DC, 20001-3710, USA
Phone: (202) 777-APHA
Fax: (202) 777-2534
Email: comments@apha.org
Website: www.apha.org

Description:

The American Public Health Association (APHA) is a non-partisan, non-profit professional membership association. One of the oldest and largest organizations of public health professionals in the world, APHA represents more than 50,000 members from over 50 occupations of public health. Since 1872, APHA has been influencing policies and setting priorities in public health.

APHA brings together researchers, health service providers, administrators, teachers and other health workers in a unique, multidisciplinary environment of professional exchange, study and action. The Association is concerned with a broad set of issues affecting personal and environmental health. Its top priorities include improving access to care, improving the public health infrastructure and eliminating racial and ethnic health disparities.

Mission/Aims:

APHA is an association of individuals and organizations working to improve the public's health and to achieve equity in health status for all. It promotes the scientific and professional foundation of public health practices and policy, advocates the conditions for a healthy global society, emphasizes prevention, and enhances the ability of members to promote and protect environmental and community health.

Principal Activities:

Annual Meeting - More than 13,000 public health professionals attend the APHA Annual Meeting, which is the largest public health conference in the world. At the meeting, more than a thousand sessions provide the latest in public health science and practice and over 600 exhibits display public health state-of-the-art products and services. Future meetings are in Boston, MA, Nov. 4-8, 2006; Washington, DC, Nov. 3-7, 2007; and San Diego, Ca., Oct. 25-29, 2008.

American Journal of Public Health - APHA's journal is the No. 1 publication dedicated to original work in research, research methods and program evaluation in the field of public health. This prestigious, peer-reviewed journal also regularly publishes authoritative editorials and commentaries and serves as a forum for the analysis of health policy.

The Nation's Health - As the official newspaper of APHA, The Nation's Health reaches more than 30,000 readers each month. The Nation's Health focuses on public health issues at the federal, state and local level, delivering the latest news to public health professionals, legislators and the public.

Books - As one of the foremost publishers on public health topics, APHA maintains a substantial book development and publishing function. Its more than 50 titles include many that promulgate national and international public health standards, such as Standard Methods for the Examination of Dairy Products and Standard Methods for the Examination of Water and Wastewater. Control of Communicable Diseases Manual is the world's most widely recognized resource on infectious disease.

APHA's Public Health CareerMart - APHA'spublic health career resource center allows users to find or post a job online. Employers can place their employee search to fill openings with their organizations while job seekers can post their resumes and search for available positions within the field of public health

Advocacy - APHA monitors and evaluates the dynamic social, political, scientific and global environment of public health for its members and the public they serve. The Association is the preeminent advocate on behalf of sound policy and effective practice in public health.

Continuing Education - To stay abreast of professional developments, public health professionals can receive accredited continuing education in seven disciplines through the Annual Meeting or APHA's Journal-Based Education program.

Member Benefits:

APHA members enjoy a wealth of benefits and services at every level and in every chosen field. They get the latest news, employment information, and tap into a lot of information via the APHA Web site. APHA also provides numerous venues for professional growth. The national Annual Meeting and over 30 discipline-based groups are ideal places to present papers, share ideas, get up-to-the-minute information and just keep in touch. In addition, APHA offers its members and the public health profession information on the latest trends, research, legislation, advocacy and policy issues through multiple publications and periodicals; meetings; expert commentary; networking opportunities and awards.

All APHA members receive a subscription to The Nation's Health and a print and/or online subscription to the American Journal of Public Health.

Training/Licensing/Certification:

APHA provides continuing education opportunities through its Annual Meeting and other opportunities.

Affiliations:

Associations to which we are a member:
World Federation of Public Health Associations (WFPHA)