The 131st Annual Meeting (November 15-19, 2003) of APHA

Abstract #73075

Dan Harper¹, Joseph Beck¹, Darryl Barnett, DrPH¹, and Steven Konkel, PHD, AICP². (1) Department of Environmental Health Sciences, Eastern Kentucky University, 521 Lancaster Avenue, Room 220 Dizney Bldg, Richmond, KY 40475, (859) 622-6344, dan.harper@eku.edu, (2) Environmental Health Science, Eastern Kentucky University, 521 Lancaster Avenue, Richmond, KY 40475-3102

The identity of environmental health is currently at risk from a lack of a common mission and vision for the profession. The development of a basic mission statement and a long term vision is essential for the profession to be able to identify who they are, their purpose, and to be able to claim existence. Further if it is to be considered a sustainable profession, the essential elements of a common core of knowledge must be identified and, even more importantly, accepted by the environmental health workforce through catch up training and education. The current lack of diversity in the workforce, and the continued fragmentation into sub specialties within the environmental health arena makes the likelihood of its survival doubtful at this point. The development of these essential elements and a professional base identifying the mission and vision coupled with the development of true partnerships are critical. These partnerships must be based on compatible organizational values shared by academia, government, and private enterprise. This is essential to advance the accomplishment of the "Nexus Concept.”

Learning Objectives:

• Understand the need for a Mission, and Vision for Environmental Health;
• Understand the relationship between a mission and a professional identity;
• Understand the elements of a sound strategic plan and why a profession without a common identity and vision may not exist in reality; and 4. Understand the required components for the identification of a profession.

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.