D583 Foundations in Public Health
Course Map
Course Instructor Names: Dr. Angelique Stubblefield & Dr. Heidi Langer Atkinson
How to use this course map:
1. First, watch both cohort videos under “explore cohort offerings” in the course
2. Read and complete all the course of study learning to understand the information in this study guide
3. Next, answer all the questions and learn all the definitions in this study guide prior to your first OA attempt
Section 1 - Competency: The learner identifies the history and role of public health.
Notes for Lesson 1: History and Role of Public Health
Essential Questions:
What is the primary focus of public health? encompasses a comprehensive approach to health that goes
beyond individual care to address the broader determinants of health at the population level.
What is a main goal of public health professionals in their mission to improve the health of all people? improve the
health of all people.
What does the term "health disparities" refer to? geographic, occupational, racial, cultural, income, behavioral, or
other factors; examples could include women, people who live in a particular neighborhood, smokers, people with
annual earnings in a specific range, adult Black males, or many other subsets of an overall community.
What is the primary role of public health professionals in addressing health disparities? wide range of activities,
from disease prevention to advocating for policies that promote healthier living conditions.
What does the term "determinants of health" mean in the context of public health? social and environmental factors
What are the goals of public health? promoting and encouraging healthy behaviors, responding to disasters and
assisting communities in recovery ,ensuring the quality and accessibility of health services
How would you define public health? the science of protecting and improving the health of people and their
communities
What are the definitions of primary, secondary, tertiary, and quaternary prevention? Give examples.
primary prevention is to prevent a disease from ever occurring. Thus, its target population is healthy individuals. It
commonly institutes activities that limit risk exposure or increase the immunity of individuals at risk to prevent a
disease from progressing in a susceptible individual to subclinical disease
Secondary prevention emphasizes early disease detection, and its target is healthy-appearing individuals with
subclinical forms of the disease.
Tertiary prevention targets both the clinical and outcome stages of a disease. It is implemented in symptomatic
patients and aims to reduce the severity of the disease as well as any associated sequelae.
quaternary prevention is "action taken to identify patients at risk of overmedicalization”, to protect him from new
medical invasion, and to suggest to him interventions, which are ethically acceptable
How did germ theory contribute to the field of public health? significantly advanced public health by establishing
that microorganisms cause infectious diseases, leading to improved hygiene practices, sanitation, and disease
prevention strategies
public health: a system in which decision-making, coordination, and resource allocation for public health initiatives
are concentrated within a single, overarching authority at the national or central level; in general, employees of a
state lead public health efforts, and the state manages financial matters
preventing epidemics and the spread of disease: one of the main goals of public health, including monitoring health
indicators, implementing vaccination programs, promoting hygiene, and educating the public
protecting against environmental hazards: one of the main goals of public health, including air, water, and food
safety and prevention of exposure to toxic chemicals or radiation
1
, preventing injuries: one of the main goals of public health, including implementing policies and regulations to
reduce risks and prevent accidents
promoting and encouraging healthy behaviors: one of the main goals of public health, including promoting exercise,
healthy diets, and no-smoking programs
responding to disasters and assisting communities in recovery: one of the main goals of public health, including
preparing for and responding to natural disasters, disease outbreaks, and bioterrorism events
ensuring the quality and accessibility of health services: one of the main goals of public health, including providing
access to high-quality health services and advocating for effective policies
federal level, agencies such as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the Food and Drug
Administration (FDA), and the National Institutes of Health (NIH) spearhead national public health initiatives,
research, and regulatory efforts. These agencies provide overarching guidance, funding, and coordination to
address health challenges of national significance, ensuring a unified and strategic approach to public health on a
large scale.
Goals for Public Health
Preventing epidemics and the spread of disease involves monitoring the health of the community to identify health
problems and potential threats. It includes implementing vaccination programs, promoting hand hygiene, and
educating the public about infectious diseases.
Protecting against environmental hazards includes ensuring the safety of air, water, and food supplies. Public
health officials also aim to protect the public from harmful substances and environments, such as exposure to toxic
chemicals or radiation.
Preventing injuries means promoting safety in the workplace, at home, and in public spaces. It involves
implementing policies and regulations to reduce risks and prevent accidents, such as traffic safety laws and
regulations for safe work practices.
Promoting and encouraging healthy behaviors through education and community programs includes promoting
physical activity, healthy eating, and tobacco cessation. It also involves addressing social determinants of health,
such as poverty and education.
Responding to disasters and assisting communities in recovery includes preparing for and responding to natural
disasters, disease outbreaks, and bioterrorism events. This effort includes coordinating emergency response efforts
and providing support to communities during recovery.
Ensuring the quality and accessibility of health services means ensuring that all individuals have access to high-
quality health services and advocating for policies that improve healthcare access, quality, and affordability.
What does the term "determinants of health" mean in the context of public health- Determinants of health" refers to
the various social, economic, environmental, and behavioral factors influencing health at the community level.
What is the primary role of public health professionals in addressing health disparities? The primary role of public
health professionals, with respect to addressing health disparities, is to implement interventions at the community
level.
What does the term "health disparities" refer to? Health disparities refer to the differences various populations
experience in their overall health outcomes.
What is a main goal of public health professionals in their mission to improve the health of all people? Public health
professionals work to prevent the spread of diseases and control epidemics through various measures such as
vaccination programs and public education.
What is the primary focus of public health? The main focus of public health in the United States is to prevent
disease—thereby improving health—at the community level.
2
, Notes for Lesson 2: Public Health History and Systems
Essential Questions (answers found in quizzes and section tests):
Which historical period is often considered the starting point of public health practices? The Renaissance (late
1300s to early 1600s) brought great strides in scientific discovery, laying the groundwork for advances in public
health. During the Renaissance, two theories on the origin of epidemics prevailed.
What are the structural types of public health management systems in the United States? centralized,
decentralized, mixed-structure, and shared-structure models
What is a significant contribution of American Indian and Alaska Native tribes to public health in the United States?
Indian Health Service (IHS) serves as the principal federal agency responsible for providing health services to
American Indians and Alaska Natives. Tribal public health is unique in its emphasis on community-based
approaches that integrate traditional knowledge and practices.
Which public health challenge is increasing due to the changing climate? Climate change emerges as an
overarching threat to public health in the coming century. The changing climate contributes to the spread of
infectious diseases, alters ecosystems, affects food production, and exacerbates extreme weather events, leading
to disruptions in healthcare infrastructure.
What distinguishes Healthy People 2030 from its predecessor, Healthy People 2020? Healthy People 2020 to
Healthy People 2030 reflects a shift in public health priorities and strategies.
Healthy People 2030 places a greater emphasis on addressing social determinants of health, advancing health
equity, and integrating a more holistic understanding of well-being.
How do stakeholders and partners interconnect with the public health system? Other stakeholders in U.S. public
health include media, employers, and academia, each contributing to health discourse, education, policies, and
research- Media: Media serves as a valuable partner in public health by playing a pivotal role in public discourse,
health education, and communication.
Which public health measure was put in place at the end of the Middle Ages for the purpose of mitigating the
spread of disease?
What are the structural types of public health management systems in the United States? Centralized,
decentralized, mixed, shared. The primary structural types of public health systems in the United States are
centralized, decentralized, mixed, and shared.
What is a significant contribution of American Indian and Alaska Native tribes to public health in the United States?
Establishment of the Indian Health Service, The Indian Health Service (IHS) is a significant contribution of
American Indian and Alaska Native tribes to public health in the United States. The IHS is a federal agency
responsible for providing healthcare services to Native American and Alaska Native populations, addressing their
unique health needs and promoting community well-being.
Which public health challenge is increasing due to the changing climate? Infectious diseases, Climate change is
contributing to the spread of infectious diseases. Altered temperature and precipitation patterns can affect the
distribution of disease and impact the prevalence of waterborne diseases. This makes infectious diseases a
growing public health challenge associated with climate change.
What distinguishes Healthy People 2030 from its predecessor, Healthy People 2020? Increased emphasis on
social determinants of health, Healthy People 2030 places a greater emphasis on addressing social determinants
of health compared to its predecessor, Healthy People 2020. Healthy People 2030 aims to address these
determinants more comprehensively.
Memorize;
Events that happened in each time period below (Lesson 2.1):
Ancient Greece – Considered the starting point of public health practices
Ancient Greece was indeed the starting point in the history of public health practices, with attention to such issues
as sanitation.
3
Course Map
Course Instructor Names: Dr. Angelique Stubblefield & Dr. Heidi Langer Atkinson
How to use this course map:
1. First, watch both cohort videos under “explore cohort offerings” in the course
2. Read and complete all the course of study learning to understand the information in this study guide
3. Next, answer all the questions and learn all the definitions in this study guide prior to your first OA attempt
Section 1 - Competency: The learner identifies the history and role of public health.
Notes for Lesson 1: History and Role of Public Health
Essential Questions:
What is the primary focus of public health? encompasses a comprehensive approach to health that goes
beyond individual care to address the broader determinants of health at the population level.
What is a main goal of public health professionals in their mission to improve the health of all people? improve the
health of all people.
What does the term "health disparities" refer to? geographic, occupational, racial, cultural, income, behavioral, or
other factors; examples could include women, people who live in a particular neighborhood, smokers, people with
annual earnings in a specific range, adult Black males, or many other subsets of an overall community.
What is the primary role of public health professionals in addressing health disparities? wide range of activities,
from disease prevention to advocating for policies that promote healthier living conditions.
What does the term "determinants of health" mean in the context of public health? social and environmental factors
What are the goals of public health? promoting and encouraging healthy behaviors, responding to disasters and
assisting communities in recovery ,ensuring the quality and accessibility of health services
How would you define public health? the science of protecting and improving the health of people and their
communities
What are the definitions of primary, secondary, tertiary, and quaternary prevention? Give examples.
primary prevention is to prevent a disease from ever occurring. Thus, its target population is healthy individuals. It
commonly institutes activities that limit risk exposure or increase the immunity of individuals at risk to prevent a
disease from progressing in a susceptible individual to subclinical disease
Secondary prevention emphasizes early disease detection, and its target is healthy-appearing individuals with
subclinical forms of the disease.
Tertiary prevention targets both the clinical and outcome stages of a disease. It is implemented in symptomatic
patients and aims to reduce the severity of the disease as well as any associated sequelae.
quaternary prevention is "action taken to identify patients at risk of overmedicalization”, to protect him from new
medical invasion, and to suggest to him interventions, which are ethically acceptable
How did germ theory contribute to the field of public health? significantly advanced public health by establishing
that microorganisms cause infectious diseases, leading to improved hygiene practices, sanitation, and disease
prevention strategies
public health: a system in which decision-making, coordination, and resource allocation for public health initiatives
are concentrated within a single, overarching authority at the national or central level; in general, employees of a
state lead public health efforts, and the state manages financial matters
preventing epidemics and the spread of disease: one of the main goals of public health, including monitoring health
indicators, implementing vaccination programs, promoting hygiene, and educating the public
protecting against environmental hazards: one of the main goals of public health, including air, water, and food
safety and prevention of exposure to toxic chemicals or radiation
1
, preventing injuries: one of the main goals of public health, including implementing policies and regulations to
reduce risks and prevent accidents
promoting and encouraging healthy behaviors: one of the main goals of public health, including promoting exercise,
healthy diets, and no-smoking programs
responding to disasters and assisting communities in recovery: one of the main goals of public health, including
preparing for and responding to natural disasters, disease outbreaks, and bioterrorism events
ensuring the quality and accessibility of health services: one of the main goals of public health, including providing
access to high-quality health services and advocating for effective policies
federal level, agencies such as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the Food and Drug
Administration (FDA), and the National Institutes of Health (NIH) spearhead national public health initiatives,
research, and regulatory efforts. These agencies provide overarching guidance, funding, and coordination to
address health challenges of national significance, ensuring a unified and strategic approach to public health on a
large scale.
Goals for Public Health
Preventing epidemics and the spread of disease involves monitoring the health of the community to identify health
problems and potential threats. It includes implementing vaccination programs, promoting hand hygiene, and
educating the public about infectious diseases.
Protecting against environmental hazards includes ensuring the safety of air, water, and food supplies. Public
health officials also aim to protect the public from harmful substances and environments, such as exposure to toxic
chemicals or radiation.
Preventing injuries means promoting safety in the workplace, at home, and in public spaces. It involves
implementing policies and regulations to reduce risks and prevent accidents, such as traffic safety laws and
regulations for safe work practices.
Promoting and encouraging healthy behaviors through education and community programs includes promoting
physical activity, healthy eating, and tobacco cessation. It also involves addressing social determinants of health,
such as poverty and education.
Responding to disasters and assisting communities in recovery includes preparing for and responding to natural
disasters, disease outbreaks, and bioterrorism events. This effort includes coordinating emergency response efforts
and providing support to communities during recovery.
Ensuring the quality and accessibility of health services means ensuring that all individuals have access to high-
quality health services and advocating for policies that improve healthcare access, quality, and affordability.
What does the term "determinants of health" mean in the context of public health- Determinants of health" refers to
the various social, economic, environmental, and behavioral factors influencing health at the community level.
What is the primary role of public health professionals in addressing health disparities? The primary role of public
health professionals, with respect to addressing health disparities, is to implement interventions at the community
level.
What does the term "health disparities" refer to? Health disparities refer to the differences various populations
experience in their overall health outcomes.
What is a main goal of public health professionals in their mission to improve the health of all people? Public health
professionals work to prevent the spread of diseases and control epidemics through various measures such as
vaccination programs and public education.
What is the primary focus of public health? The main focus of public health in the United States is to prevent
disease—thereby improving health—at the community level.
2
, Notes for Lesson 2: Public Health History and Systems
Essential Questions (answers found in quizzes and section tests):
Which historical period is often considered the starting point of public health practices? The Renaissance (late
1300s to early 1600s) brought great strides in scientific discovery, laying the groundwork for advances in public
health. During the Renaissance, two theories on the origin of epidemics prevailed.
What are the structural types of public health management systems in the United States? centralized,
decentralized, mixed-structure, and shared-structure models
What is a significant contribution of American Indian and Alaska Native tribes to public health in the United States?
Indian Health Service (IHS) serves as the principal federal agency responsible for providing health services to
American Indians and Alaska Natives. Tribal public health is unique in its emphasis on community-based
approaches that integrate traditional knowledge and practices.
Which public health challenge is increasing due to the changing climate? Climate change emerges as an
overarching threat to public health in the coming century. The changing climate contributes to the spread of
infectious diseases, alters ecosystems, affects food production, and exacerbates extreme weather events, leading
to disruptions in healthcare infrastructure.
What distinguishes Healthy People 2030 from its predecessor, Healthy People 2020? Healthy People 2020 to
Healthy People 2030 reflects a shift in public health priorities and strategies.
Healthy People 2030 places a greater emphasis on addressing social determinants of health, advancing health
equity, and integrating a more holistic understanding of well-being.
How do stakeholders and partners interconnect with the public health system? Other stakeholders in U.S. public
health include media, employers, and academia, each contributing to health discourse, education, policies, and
research- Media: Media serves as a valuable partner in public health by playing a pivotal role in public discourse,
health education, and communication.
Which public health measure was put in place at the end of the Middle Ages for the purpose of mitigating the
spread of disease?
What are the structural types of public health management systems in the United States? Centralized,
decentralized, mixed, shared. The primary structural types of public health systems in the United States are
centralized, decentralized, mixed, and shared.
What is a significant contribution of American Indian and Alaska Native tribes to public health in the United States?
Establishment of the Indian Health Service, The Indian Health Service (IHS) is a significant contribution of
American Indian and Alaska Native tribes to public health in the United States. The IHS is a federal agency
responsible for providing healthcare services to Native American and Alaska Native populations, addressing their
unique health needs and promoting community well-being.
Which public health challenge is increasing due to the changing climate? Infectious diseases, Climate change is
contributing to the spread of infectious diseases. Altered temperature and precipitation patterns can affect the
distribution of disease and impact the prevalence of waterborne diseases. This makes infectious diseases a
growing public health challenge associated with climate change.
What distinguishes Healthy People 2030 from its predecessor, Healthy People 2020? Increased emphasis on
social determinants of health, Healthy People 2030 places a greater emphasis on addressing social determinants
of health compared to its predecessor, Healthy People 2020. Healthy People 2030 aims to address these
determinants more comprehensively.
Memorize;
Events that happened in each time period below (Lesson 2.1):
Ancient Greece – Considered the starting point of public health practices
Ancient Greece was indeed the starting point in the history of public health practices, with attention to such issues
as sanitation.
3
