University classrooms
are back in swing, PhD students are arriving to aspirations of new discoveries,
MPH students are arriving at the 14 public health schools in Canada, and other graduate students entering programs
in science of epidemiology, health administration or other related public
health fields. New residents in public health and preventive medicine have been
at the books for a couple of months in the 13 Canadian programs. Nearly 1000
future physicians are showing up for their first classes of training in 17
schools, while twenty times this number are entering nursing programs. Innunmerable other health professional
programs are integral to and contribute to the multidisciplinary world of public
health training.
The health
care business is booming and the training of the workforce is an integral part
of investing in our future.
The number one
question most students ask – is will there be a job for me?
The demand
for health services is not contracting.
Public health opportunities wax and wane with the economy and political stripes,
more so than treatment or continuing care services where demand continues to
increase. Hence fluctuations in public
health opportunities are to be expected, however lots of promise remains.
The past
fifty years have seen smoking rates plummet, infant mortality rates approaching
theoretical minimums, disease rates for most diseases consistently dropping,
injury rates going down… . In fact most
measures of public health would suggest that the heavy lifting has been
done. (Essentially for physical ailments only rates for diabetes and alcohol
related deaths have gone up with early signs diabetes is peaking).
Mental health
is finally getting a level of attention that it deserves and an area deserving even
more focused public health attention.
Societal issues
such as poverty, inequity, violence, social supports, resilience amongst a slew
of health promotion and wellness related spinoffs receive at least rhetorical attention.
Risk
behaviours including inactivity, poor nutrition and mood altering substances
are receiving more attention and remain a focus of those incriminating personal
choice.
Despite, or
in spite, of our efforts, the future for children has is not rosy. Childhood vulnerability at school start has increased
in just the past ten years.
The point
of the last five paragraphs being that while disease specific work has been
highly successful and something that public health should celebrate as the
major contributor to reductions, there is plenty of work to do in realms that
are under-serviced currently.
A favourite
quote from DrPHeatlh. The four reasons
why we are assured continued public health work in the face of such success:
·
Bugs evolve faster than humans – control of communicable diseases
while the greatest success of public health, will remain central to public health
work.
·
Humans are smart – they invent new technologies
which present new public health problems.
From current issues like e-cigarettes to transportation and recreation
technologies like cars, skateboards and skis to drivers of sedentary lifestyles
in computers, television, and gaming. The
human mind is filled with inventions that bring value and may have negative
health consequences
·
Humans are not always smart, they make less than healthy
choices that contribute to poorer health.
Whether using substances, gambling, fast foods or risky recreational
activities – there is room to alleviate the pain and suffering associated with
unhealthier lifestyles.
·
Humans are animals. Darwin was right with the survival
of the fittest. In the human context
while socially we tend to our needy far more than most species, it is still a
dog eat dog world with winners and losers that engage in war, measure success
in wealth, and put “self” before others in seeking dominance.
So, for all
those new students to the vocation of public health, a true heart felt welcome. There is a whole world of opportunity ahead,
filled with things we can see and an exciting menu of issues that we can’t even
imagine today.
Good luck and hold true to the values that brought you to where you are today.
DrP
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