The 2010 APHA Annual Meeting theme “Social Justice: A Public Health Imperative”, captures the essence of a growing trend of seemingly diverse disciplines working together to address “Social Justice.”  The Epidemiology Section is pleased to sponsor several sessions to recognize the importance of social justice in public health:

Epidemiological Criminology I and II

During the 2008 and 2009 APHA conferences, the Epidemiology Section witnessed extraordinary participation and active engagement from Section members around the exciting and relevant topic of epidemiological criminology.  In the spirit of the meeting theme, the Section will sponsor back-to-back sessions to further explore epidemiological criminology.  These two sessions, developed by experts across academia, the CDC and NIH, philanthropy, the faith community, and community-based organizations, are designed to address both the theory and practice of social justice as a public health imperative.  The diversity of presentations and topics include, but are not limited to, violence reduction through policing, youth gang violence prevention strategies, bridging criminological theory across public health, using the tools of informatics for public health and juvenile justice, drug abuse, and examining the histories of incarceration of African American women and HIV testing. 

Social epidemiology applied to understanding health disparities among injecting drug users (IDUS)

Barriers to access to health care -- especially for those most in need and who also may be least capable of securing help, such as injection drug users -- constitute a particularly insidious social injustice.  A growing body of literature suggests that risks for HIV and other drug-related harms may be socially produced, with examples of the "risk environment" operating at the physical level (e.g., places where drug use occurs), social level (e.g., relationship dynamics) and policy level  (e.g., laws, official policies surrounding sterile syringe access) resulting in barriers/lack of access to necessary assistance.  To this end, the Epidemiology Section proudly presents this important session, developed by the National Institute of Drug Abuse's Division of Epidemiology, Services and Prevention Research, that will focus on the social epidemiologic aspects of health care barriers, both internationally and within the United States.

The Program Planning Committee welcomes Epidemiology Section members to the above sessions as well as any of our other 50 scientific sessions.  Regardless of your area(s) of specialization, the Section’s program is certain to have sessions of interest to you!

And don’t forget to attend our special events:

·          3 business meetings to discuss various Section issues.

·          Social hour to meet and greet colleagues.

·          Section awards to honor those who have made significant contributions to the field of epidemiology.

·          Career panel and student awards to introduce students to various professional paths available in epidemiology and to recognize exemplary student performance. 

We look forward to seeing everyone in November!!