Description

How does one define the field of public health administration? If you think about it, there are some professions that are fairly easy to define. Examples might be a carpenter, attorney, auto mechanic, registered nurse, dentist, physician, secretary, etc. Granted, the specifics of those jobs (and most others) can vary widely but if one says the title, most people would have a basic understanding of what the job means. But what if I tell someone I am a public health administrator? Would they know what I do?

You may have already noted that your text is entitled "Principles of Public Health Practice." You should note that it doesn't necessarily focus on administration or leadership when discussing a topic. Thus, as you move forward in this course, I would like you to try to view the topics in the lectures/text from the point of the public health administrator or leader rather than from the point of the public health practitioner.