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What is Public Health?

January 5, 2026

In the wake of the COVID pandemic and the politicization of Public Health, the Partnership for Public Health wants to rebuild trust and provide a reliable, trusted source of information for Lancaster County and beyond. Our goal is for the website to serve as a platform for discussing public health issues and controversies. Without trust, our communities face significant challenges in maintaining a sense of shared purpose. We aim to enhance the quality of life in Lancaster County by fostering understanding of each other’s perspectives and goals. Ultimately, our goal is to have a better life for our families, friends, and neighbors.

It is essential to understand what Public Health is and to strive to achieve it. “Public health is the science of protecting and improving the health of people and their communities. This work is achieved by promoting healthy lifestyles, researching disease and injury prevention, and detecting, preventing, and responding to infectious diseases. Overall, public health is concerned with protecting the health of entire populations. These populations can be as small as a local neighborhood, or as big as an entire country or region of the world.”[1]

“When we think about the word ‘health,’ we typically associate it with medical matters, so the definition of public health can seem a little confusing. Unlike the practice of medicine in clinical settings—like a doctor’s office or hospital—public health is not a one-on-one discipline, nor do those in the field practice medicine.”[2]

“Most of us rarely think about public health until a crisis, such as a devastating hurricane or pandemic, captures our attention. But public health officials work daily to keep people healthy and safe, locally and around the world, by preventing disease and injury. In fact, public health initiatives such as vaccinations, food safety regulations, and clean air and water policies increased life expectancy in the U.S. by more than 30 years between 1900 and 2020.”[2]

Public health in action:

1. An environmental health specialist monitors water quality at a beach to ensure it’s safe for swimmers, surfers, and divers. 2. An emergency preparedness coordinator identifies a road that is susceptible to flooding. The coordinator develops a plan to block the road and reroute traffic when heavy rain is predicted. 3. A community health worker conducts home visits in a low-income neighborhood, identifies families with young children who lack access to healthcare, and connects them with local clinics and social services to ensure they receive essential medical care and support. 4. A nutritionist works with a school district to develop healthier school lunch options for kids. 5. An occupational health and safety officer assesses workplace hazards and conducts safety training for employees.

What are the three Ps of public health? The three P’s of public health are prevention, protection, and promotion. These are the core functions of public health. How do you think public health can help you and your community?   1 Source: CDC Foundation Link: "What is Public Health?" 2 Source: Walden University Link: "What is Public Health and Why is it Important?"   Written by Edward Chory Edited by Rihanna Bryce

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