AMERICAN ASSOCIATION OF PUBLIC HEALTH PHYSICIANS

The American Association of Public Health Physicians (AAPHP) was founded in 1954 as an organization of physician-directors of state and local health departments. Its initial purpose was to serve as the voice of these physicians and bring their concerns to the attention of the American Medical Association (AMA), the American College of Preventive Medicine (ACPM), other public health organizations, the news media, government agencies, and the general public. The term "public health physician" is defined by AAPHP as a physician interested in the pursuit of group or community health goals. Group members are primarily public health physicians that are Board Certified in public health or preventive medicine. However, such certification is not a prerequisite for membership.

The AAPHP has maintained its mission as an advocate for public health issues and services, and for improved education and scholarship. In comparison to other public health and physician organizations, the AAPHP focuses on tobacco control, injury prevention, public health surveillance, and job market issues, in addition to a wide range of other policy concerns. The AAPHP also offers a more substantial opportunity for rank and file members to participate directly in national public health and prevention-related policy deliberations. Over 80 percent of the AAPHP's 200 members are also members of the AMA, the ACPM, the American Public Health Association (APHA), and other public health and physician-related organizations.

During the early 1990s, the AAPHP broadened its mission and scope to serve as the voice of public health physicians in public and private settings, academia, and private medical practice. It also developed an advocacy role on behalf of public health and preventive medicine physicians, wherever they are employed, in response to changes in the public health physician job market. This advocacy is intended to create an environment in which physicians contemplating a career in public health can anticipate a range of job opportunities that offer both stability of employment and portability of retirement benefits.

The Board of Directors meets ten times per year, by conference telephone call, and the General Membership meets twice a year—in the spring at the annual Prevention meeting, and in the fall at the annual meeting of the American Public Health Association. AAHP publishes a Bulletin, by both mail and e-mail, four to six times per year, and hosts an Internet site.

Joel Nitzkin

(see also: American Medical Association; American Public Health Association; Preventive Medicine )

Bibliography

Nitzkin, J. L.; Falcao, P.; Janusz, N.; and Arraiano, J. "Report of Two Preventative Medicine Job Market Surveys." American Journal of Preventative Medicine (forthcoming).