Message from the Chair

Hello to all - 2009 is half done, and that may be the good news!  Much good news is occurring in the area of protecting the environment & public environmental health.  What are lacking are the funds to carry out some of the projects, particularly for local & state governments.  On the plus side, new projects focusing on sustainable communities, green chemistry, energy & fuel efficiency along with climate change initiatives are popping up, and the U.S Environmental Protection Agency is soon to unveil a revitalized environmental justice perspective.  On the negative side, we may be losing professionals who can work toward realizing the good results of related projects due to public sector and private organizational budget cuts with resultant job losses.  And who will be the environmental health professionals of the future?  Can we ensure that new professionals are being trained, soon ready to begin work? 

I recently met with public environmental health professionals from Australia, Canada, Germany and Sweden – all countries that have national health/medical care programs.  What was interesting was the strength of their public health programs.  Lesson to be learned?  A strong national health/medical program could result in strong governmental public environmental health programs, and that would be welcome and necessary for us to continue to monitor and enhance the health of communities.  Of course, what is important now is for public health to be a full partner in shaping a national health/medical care program – so please do your part by advocating for a national program that provides medical care to all coupled with robust public and public environmental health programs.

Perhaps you are looking for Section updates.  The Annual Meeting Program is focused and packed with good sessions, thanks to Kacee Deener and Yolanda Sanchez.  Yolanda has also been making sure our Web page is populated with pertinent information.  Check it at: http://www.apha.org/membergroups/sections/aphasections/env/

Rebecca Love has dutifully provided us with meeting summary notes and produced this newsletter edition.  John Balbus has contributed regarding Policy and Climate Change.  We also have many others who contributed: Liam O’Fallon & our Chair-elect, Sacoby Wilson for Environmental Justice; Barbara Glenn for Membership; Leon Vinci & Nsedu Obot Witherspoon for Awards; Peter Ashley & Tony DeLucia for the Built Environment; Roni Neff & Rebecca Klein for the Food & Environment Workgroup; Laureen Burton & Allen Dearry for 2011 Anniversary Planning; Nsedu Obot Witherspoon & Rebecca Gluskin for Student Involvement and Pat Bohan for Budget. 

We have also strong representation on APHA’s Executive Board with Susan West Marmagas recently elected to serve on that group and Nsedu Obot Witherspoon, chair of the Intersectional Council, serving as an ex-officio member on the same body.

Many others work on Section activities and are members of the committees – and YOU can be one of them.  No contribution of assistance is too small…or too big – join today!  You can contact any of the chairs listed above or send me an e-mail and I’ll get you connected. 

Let’s all continue to support the Section’s work and the work of public environmental health.
 
As Mary McLeod Bethune said: “Never lose your zeal for building a better world.”

 
Best, Rebecca Head
rebecca_head@monroemi.org