Public Health Professionals Meet in D.C.

Dr Julie Gerberding, Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, officially opened the APHA conference on Sunday, November 3, 2007. She addressed public health challenges and opportunities in the 21st century and the role of health protection in transforming our nation’s health system. Dr. Gerberding also highlighted the four health protection goals that guide CDC as it works to improve people’s lives by accelerating health impact and integrating health equity in all areas of public health.

More than 13,000 national and international public health professionals have gathered in Washington, DC, for the American Public Health Association (APHA) Annual Meeting & Exposition. The conference, held this year from November 3 through 7, is the oldest and largest gathering of public health practitioners, administrators, researchers, and educators.

Attendees, who include physicians, administrators, nurses, educators, researchers, epidemiologists, and related health specialists, come to the conference to hear about cutting edge research and best practices, to discover the latest public health products and services, and to share public health experience with their peers.

Attendees have a broad range of learning opportunities at the conference. Over 4,000 scientific papers will be presented during more than 900 different scientific sessions, roundtable workshops, panel discussions, and poster presentations.

Sunday’s other keynote speaker was Laurie Garrett, an award-winning science and medical writer and the Senior Fellow for Global Health at the Council on Foreign Relations. Ms. Garrett is an expert on global health, focusing on newly emerging and re-emerging diseases, public health, and their effects on foreign policy and national security.

CDC’s exhibit is organized by the four overarching health protection goals:

• Healthy People in Every Stage of Life;

• Healthy People in Healthy Places;

• People Prepared for Emerging Health Threats; and

• Healthy People in a Healthy World

During the conference, several CDC representatives will present scientific papers and lead discussions on topics. A sample of CDC presentations include:

• Lead Exposure Among Women of Childbearing Age—United States, 2004

• Public Health Implications of Sickle Cell Disease

• Gender Differences in Occupational and Non-Occupational Injuries in the U.S. Army

• Effects of Re-Injury on Military Discharge from the US Army

• Health Issues in Vulnerable Populations

• Expanding the Public Health Toolkit with Health Marketing

• Pregnancy Hospitalizations with a Diagnosis of Illicit Stimulant Abuse in the United States, 1998-2004

• Prevalence of Self-reported Diabetes and Exposure to Organochlorine Pesticides among Mexican-Americans: Hispanic Health and Nutrition Examination Survey

• Elevated Fall-related Mortality Rates—New Mexico, 1999–2004

• CDC's Program to Promote Science-based Approaches to Teen Pregnancy Prevention: Creativity, Capacity and Partnerships

• Adaptation Guidelines for Adolescent Pregnancy and STD/HIV Prevention Programs

Visit CDC Interactive Booth

Conference attendees are encouraged to visit CDC’s booth # 812, which offers an interactive table where visitors can participate in new media activities, including sending an e-card, subscribing to a podcast series and downloading materials from CDC’s Web site. Attendees also have the opportunity to visit the CDC’s Vision Dome, an immersive display presenting "The New Era of Preparedness."

For more information, see

• American Public Health Association Annual Meeting