The 130th Annual Meeting of APHA
Session: Calver Lecture: The Complex Relationship Between Poverty, Pollution, and Health Status
3156.0: Monday, November 11, 2002: 12:30 PM-2:00 PM
Panel Discussion
Calver Lecture: The Complex Relationship Between Poverty, Pollution, and Health Status
This talk will emphasize the public health or disease prevention approach to controlling disease, with the goal of improving the health of populations, not just individuals. By using a combination of new technologies spun by the Human Genome Project, one can develop the knowledge base to prevent disease. To exploit the unprecedented opportunities to advance our understanding of disease etiology and pathways, investments in several critical areas of research will be required. These include: 1) identification of the suite of gene-environment interactions involved in the development of major diseases; 2) elucidation of the genetic, behavioral, gender, and stage of development related causes of difference in susceptibility to disease; 3) characterization of drugs and environmental xenobiotics with respect to their intrinsic toxicity; 4) development of public health or medical prevention/intervention strategies based on knowledge of gene-environment interactions, susceptibility and intrinsic toxicity; and 5) development of mechanisms to translate knowledge and technology into the practice of public health and preventive medicine. Investment in prevention research is the best hope for eliminating the epidemic of disease. The proposed research strategy will lead to more effective surveillance systems with the capacity to analyze and assess health risks posed by genes, environment or behavior. However, success will require consumers to become more involved in priority setting and more informed about science and its applications. A larger investment in community-based prevention/intervention activities is envisioned to empower people to make their own decisions regarding their health.
Learning Objectives: (1) Identify 5 critical areas of research required to exploit the unprecedented opportunities to advance our understanding of disease etiology and pathways; (2) gain an enhanced understanding that investment in prevention research is the best hope for eliminating the epidemic of disease; and (3) appreciate the ever-increasing role of consumers to become more involved in priority setting and more informed about science and its applications toward a larger investment in community-based prevention/intervention activities.
Organizer(s):Paul Locke, DrPH, JD
Patrick O. Bohan, MS, MSEH
Allen Dearry, PhD
Marni Rosen, MPA
Presider(s):Sarah Kotchian, EdM, MPH, PHD
Award recipient(s):Kenneth Olden, PhD
Award presenter(s):Patrick O. Bohan, MS, MSEH
Organized by:Environment
CE Credits:Environmental Health, Nursing, Pharmacy, Social Work

The 130th Annual Meeting of APHA