What I ve discovered is that setting a national health care agenda is a dynamic exercise, with changing tactics and players at every turn. No sooner than you think you have one problem solved, another crops up to take its place. The only things you can count on are constantly changing priorities and demands and a future that rarely follows any predictable path. The good news is that we, in the field of public health, start with a strategic advantage. The health of the nation is on everyone s lips from politicians to everyday citizens who worry about the future of their own health care.
Public health is the success story of the century.
Many of the gaps in our system have been closed. Americans are living longer, healthier lives. Polio, diphtheria, tetanus, rubella are conquered. Infant mortality is down, childhood immunization is steadily moving up, and prevention messages are more popular and widespread than ever. Yet, despite the progress, there are still many challenges that must be faced.