Honoring Population Health Heroes for National Public Health Week

By Kirstin Q. Siemering, DrPH, RD

Each year, the first week in April marks National Public Health Week (NPHW). NPHW was created in 1995 with a proclamation by President Bill Clinton who called upon “all Federal, State, and local public health agencies to join with appropriate private organizations and educational institutions in celebrating this occasion with activities to promote healthy lifestyles and to heighten awareness of the many benefits good health brings.”

 The NPHW proclamation underscores a major theme of this blog: that health for all remains a key challenge of our times, despite rapid advancement of healthcare technologies. Efforts to “build healthy communities, meet the needs of our diverse population, plan appropriate responses to natural disasters, educate individuals about workplace hazards, and encourage responsible behavior in all that we do” are as critical for this 16^th annual NPHW as they were for the first.

This year’s calendar of events reveals an impressive array of educational and celebratory activities from coast to coast (and Hawaii) to mark this year’s “Safety is No Accident” theme. While scanning the week’s planned video series, essay contests, and health fairs, we noticed a couple of interesting efforts to leverage the energy of NPHW to expand the spotlight beyond governmental public health.

 The Michigan Department of Community Health (MDCH) annually recognizes “Hometown Health Heroes” and “Public Policy Champions.” Contributions from last year’s heroes ranged from establishing and operating free clinics to spearheading the development of a 48-mile nature trail in the Upper Peninsula. Policy champions were lauded for their leadership in passing smoke-free air legislation.

Elsewhere, both Multnomah and Clackamas Counties in Oregon honor public health heroes. Criteria for nomination include individuals or organizations that:

• Make a significant difference in the lives of the people served
• Build on individual and community strengths and assets
• Mobilize individuals and community groups to work in collaboration and cooperation
• Are unique, innovative or fill an identified gap in a specific community
• Are characterized by social justice and a celebration of diversity

In Multnomah County, awards are given in different categories, for community and policy leaders, county employees, businesses, community-based organizations, and youth or youth groups. 2010 Public Health Heroes include a former Pulitzer Prize-nominated newspaper columnist and domestic violence advocate, a program director at the Oregon Environmental Council, the Director of Health Centers Operations, the Multnomah Youth Commission, the Coalition for a Livable Future, and the Oregon Museum of Science and Industry.

As we work to improve awareness of local-level health needs and unacceptable disparities, we applaud strategic and creative efforts to foster the sense that we each have a vital role to play in building healthy communities. So, in honor of 2011 National Public Health Week, we tip our hats to sung (and unsung) “Population Health Heroes” in every state, county, and sector – who are yours?

Kirstin Q. Siemering, DrPH, RD is a Researcher with the University of Wisconsin Population Health Institute.