bloomberg school of public health

bloomberg school of public health

Importance of Public Health Education

1. Introduction

Public health is a very broad field. It encompasses a wide range of aspects. It can be related to the air we breathe, the science behind what we eat, and the state of our mind and mental health. Evidence of public health is available from the earliest civilizations. It has been proved that an effective public health system is essential in order to have a healthy society. It is evident in more developed countries that their citizens have longer life expectancies. However, in today’s globalized society, the spread of disease is another great threat to the health and well-being of people across the entire world. With that in mind, as members of today’s society, we are also responsible for the health and well-being of future generations. Therefore, it is important that efforts are made to educate society to achieve an effective system to safeguard public health, now and in the future.

2. The Role of Bloomberg School of Public Health

Without understanding the role of a school of public health, the importance of public health education may be lost. The “public health approach” in health and healthcare is recognized universally. It is how populations are viewed: their health and the care provided in the attempt to improve health. It looks at the bigger picture rather than treating individual patients. These populations can range from a local neighborhood to an entire nation or region of the world. Public health considers the health of the entire population and the ways in which to improve the health of a community as a whole. This is an obvious and ideal vehicle for the delivery of health-promoting and disease-preventing strategies on a higher global level. This is where the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health comes into play. This is undoubtedly the leading institution of public health research and teaching in the world. It has set the standard for public health in many respects and is a model for other institutions. Therefore, it is the key for future development of public health education across the globe. By training students of different cultures, nationalities, and socioeconomic backgrounds who will then go on to work in a variety of fields, it is catering to a diverse audience. These students will be public health leaders of tomorrow, and it is vital that they have a clear understanding of the “public health approach” and a deep knowledge of the ways to prevent illness and promote health, drawing from the best research and practice. This can only be achieved with an education in public health from an institution such as the Bloomberg School.

3. Curriculum and Programs Offered

In conclusion, health education degree programs are designed to provide students with the best learning experiences and training, and it is apparent that the curriculum and programs offered demonstrate this. The Health Education Competencies begin the foundation upon which educators make decisions about their curriculum. These competencies frame the criteria for curriculum development whether it be at the undergraduate or graduate level to ensure that students are provided with the best learning experiences to prepare them for their professional career. Steps required to attain the Health Education Certificate guide the students towards becoming health education specialists, which they can reflect back on this chart to assess when capable of applying and testing for the examination. And the CHES Recommendation/Rating Chart provides skills and professional development alternative for nurses or other candidates, and delineates the specific roles of entry-level health educators who are candidates for the CHES. This ensures that a quality health education curriculum is being taught to future professional health educators.

To ensure faculty are competent, the CHES Recommendation/Rating Chart may be used for health education faculty. A graduate degree or greater is preferred, but not required. A minimum of one year teaching experience in health education at the post-secondary level. A recommendation by health education faculty and a past or present health education supervisor. The chart will demonstrate the various categories of recommended faculty skills on the left, divided into degree of competency and subjective rating levels. Degree of competency levels progress from level 1 marked with an individual demonstrating potential, to level 2 marked by a competent individual, level 3 signifying effective ability, and level 4 indicating exemplary ability and potential on the right. Dimensions and descriptive terminology provide an in-depth rating of health educator competency.

At the advanced level, health education degree students continue with coursework in the foundation area, emphasis area, and area of study. Each of these levels builds on the previous level to enhance the students’ learning in a systematic way. They complete this practical experience in a community health education setting or the equivalent. Steps required to attain a Health Education Certificate include a minimum of a bachelor’s degree, effective performance on an examination, and success in an interview.

Students entering a health education degree program will begin with the basic core courses. These include health care delivery and health education methods that take into account the psychological and sociological perspectives in developing interventions to enhance the health of a community. Other required courses may include history of health education, a course on community health which also involves field work, and behavioral sciences. These courses are designed to provide the basic knowledge on which students will build advanced knowledge and skills throughout the degree program.

4. Impact of Public Health Education

Decreased rate of disease development – The outcomes of public health education initiatives on rates of diabetes, heart disease, high blood pressure, and other chronic diseases are astounding. Chronic diseases are a preventable but prevalent part of the Canadian healthcare burden. Human and monetary costs associated with those diseases are avoidable through health promotion and disease prevention. In fact, many major public health organizations now have special programs focused on the reduction of disease bearing a considerable burden. Examples include the Heart and Stroke Foundation’s Nutrition and Healthy Living program, and the Canadian Diabetes Association’s various awareness and education initiatives.

More cost-effective use of health resources – Studies have shown that preventive care practices are much less expensive than the costs of treating a sickness that has grown more severe. The financial benefits of public health education and preventive care methods have been widely proven, as well as the high return on investment of implementing these practices.

There are, in fact, quantifiable ways to measure the success and impact of public health education. The following are but a few examples:

5. Conclusion

Actually, health is very expensive. To be healthy, a person needs a consumption of healthy foods, regular exercise, routine medical checkup, and vaccination. But, to get a healthy life, it must begin with a healthy environment. And for a healthy environment, it must start with public health. Step by step, start from ourselves, family, community, and environment. So, to make it happen and make every people aware that health is really important, it is necessary to have good and continuous public health education.

There can be no safety, cleanliness, neatness, and order if there is no educated society. And public health needs a lot of support. With the current condition of public health education, we cannot hope for a better change because the knowledge of how important public health is not owned by the people. It is a very unfortunate thing as our country is a developing country where public health is a very important thing. Furthermore, if compared with the current health condition, we are increasingly far behind compared with developed countries. A lot of differences happen, and the lessons are still not visible.