Voorhees

Ronald E. Voorhees, MD, MPH

Chief, Office of Epidemiology and Biostatistics
Allegheny County Health Department

How would you define Public Health?

There are two definitions that would best describe public health. The first definition is this: Public Health is the effort to create an environment in which people can be healthy. In public health, we don’t make people be healthy – we make it easier for them be healthy. The second definition is this: Public Health is the continual redefinition of the unacceptable. For example, in the 1950s people getting polio was normal and accepted. However public health’s response to polio was no, this is unacceptable, and prompted the use of a vaccine to prevent polio.

What do you do as an epidemiologist do?

Epidemiologists gather information and try to uncover the causes of disease in order to stop the disease from harming more people. For example, if people are getting sick after eating at a restaurant, we try to find the root of the problem and make sure this does not make more people sick. The work to be done depends on the problem of the day. Issues can range from a food borne illness or an influenza outbreak, to widespread maternal and child health issues.

What can an everyday person do to promote public health?

Care: In a word, care. We should care about other people staying healthy. If you care about your health, it will help you to stay healthy. If you also care about your neighbor’s health, everyone will stay healthy.

Get Active: One way to care is to get involved. Care about the health care system and health reform. Think about a system that you would want to have. Ask yourself some important questions when thinking about health reform and let policymakers know.