We're past the anticipations, celebrations, and the hype about January 1, 2000 and are settling into our lives as citizens of the twenty-first century. Now seems a good time for a considered look at the trends and forces that will shape the course of the public's health and public health work in this first decade of the new century.
This issue of Washington Public Health addresses such fundamental social forces as economics, politics, and demographics. It ranges into the revolutionary trends whose impacts challenge the imagination: sequencing of the human genome, globalization of economies and societies, the explosion of information technology. It looks at the downside issues at the turn of the century—the market turmoil tearing at the health care system, concerns over continuing environmental degradation, and the lamentable need to prepare for potential acts of bioterrorism. It also examines the upside gains in scientific knowledge that are deepening understanding of infectious causes of some chronic diseases. And to close the issue, several articles focus on collaborative programs that are assisting public health organizations move forward to more effectively meet the challenges shaping our field at the beginning of the twenty-first century.
As Dean Pat Wahl notes in her introductory message, the 2000 calendar transitions also coincide with the School of Public Health's strategic planning initiative. This process calls attention to new opportunities for out-reach, training, service, and research in the Northwest region and beyond, building on the School's strong base in Washington State. As part of that vision, Washington Public Health will reach out to encompass the challenges and accomplishments of public health practice throughout the region, including the states of Alaska, Idaho, Montana, Oregon, and Wyoming. The publication has been a mainstay in the evolving relationships between academia and the practice community, with an editorial board of representatives from both the School and the Washington State Department of Health (see left column). We intend to build on the high professional standards they have set for the publication as we transform the board into a regional body that is integral to the School's strategic efforts.
So what can you expect from this publication in the near future? First, we will be recruiting members for a new editorial board that represents the diversity of the Northwest region. Second, we will rename the journal to reflect the regional focus—our working title is Northwest Public Health. We intend to publish two issues annually, the first in spring 2001.
What do we need from you? We need your comments about the new vision and what you would like this publication to do for you. Contact Aaron at 206-616-5227 with suggestions. We hope you enjoy this final issue under the banner of Washington Public Health and we look forward to introducing you to the new journal in 2001.
Aaron Katz, Editor
Director, UW Health Policy Analysis Program
Sandy Marvinney
Managing Editor