The population-based approach to health that distinguishes public health from medicine generally refers to large-scale efforts such as ensuring safe drinking water, preventing pollution, and eradicating or controlling infectious diseases. But public health’s mission to promote the conditions in which people can be healthy also refers to smaller groups—the disabled, the homeless, farm workers, children, the elderly, gays and lesbians—which often pose unique public health challenges. This issue of Northwest Public Health provides an excellent look at some of these groups in our region and how we in public health are working to identify and solve their problems.

At the UW School of Public Health and Community Medicine, much of our research is aimed at these special communities or populations. Although there are far too many projects to describe here, a look at the list of our centers and institutes (http://sphcm.washington.edu/research/centers.asp) offers a quick overview of a few of our areas of expertise.

One such focus is on children. In addition to our degree programs in Maternal and Child Health, we have a Center for Child Environmental Health Risks Research, which studies the mechanisms that define children’s susceptibility to pesticides and identifies the implications for children’s development and learning. Our Child Health Institute focuses on health care for children: access, cost-effectiveness, quality, and outcomes.

The UW Exploratory Center for Obesity Research concentrates specifically on a group found in increasing numbers, at all ages, throughout our population—the obese. This center is bringing interdisciplinary teams together—scientific, clinical, and public health researchers, schools, public health agencies, and community groups—to translate research results into evidence-based strategies for obesity prevention and treatment. Another center housed in our Nutritional Sciences Program, the Center for Public Health Nutrition, coordinates research, teaching, and outreach activities in public health nutrition and provides technical assistance to government agencies and community groups.

An overarching goal of public health is health promotion for all, and our center by that name—the Health Promotion Research Center—is pioneering fitness programs specifically for older adults, built on solid science and proven results. One of the center’s hallmark programs, EnhanceFitness, combines a socially stimulating class with exercises that safely enhance strength, endurance, flexibility, and balance. The goal is to enrich lives through physical independence—at any age.

Every population—regardless of its size, age, or composition—has health concerns and risks of disease and injury. Public health—whether working in communities, educating practitioners, performing research, or formulating policy—has as its goal to improve and enhance the quality of life for all of our citizens. I hope you enjoy reading about a few of those efforts in our region in this issue of Northwest Public Health.

Table of Contents

Patricia Wahl, Dean
School of Public Health and Community Medicine