The Public’s Health

“Annie, what does the term Public Health mean?” “It’s the science of protecting and improving society’s health. That’s a good question LJ since we’ve been relying on those experts to get us through the Coronavirus pandemic. So if a medical doctor is devoted to preventing and treating disease in an individual, a public health scientist is dedicated to preventing and treating disease in populations.

There are several disciplines within this profession. For example, Anthony Fauci, the Director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, is a medical doctor/Immunologist who studies problems of the immune system. Epidemiologists investigate patterns and causes of disease. Biostatisticians collects, dissects, and summarizes information about health and disease.”

“Are these specialists part of a pandemic team?” “Yes, a pandemic team consists of agencies who come together to respond to a global disease threat such as Ebola in 2014. Specifically, such a team will include Environmental Health specialists who study the environment affecting humans and Biologists who analyze living organisms and their evolution. During a pandemic, the biologist will train the locals on how to collect specimens related to the disease safely. The team also has Healthcare Administrators trained on how healthcare delivery systems operate and Public Policy experts, responsible for policies that support a…