Necessity of Teaching the History of Public Health from a Critical Perspective

It is quite common for public health professionals to receive their academic training at either the undergraduate and graduate levels without ever formally or systematically studying the history of public health. This presentation underscores why specifically critical histories of public health are imperative not only to foster an understanding the historical bases of health (in)equity and social determinants of health, but also to see how current health disparities have deep historical roots. The Main purpose of this presentation, however, is to provide examples of how an undergraduate class entitled the "critical history of public health in the U.S." approaches such a study to not only foster a deep understanding of public health issues in diverse populations, but also to cultivate (intellectual) activism. This presentation reveals relevant aspects of the content of this course as well as fosters a discussion about pedagogical approaches to the historical study of public health. Also, various forms of resistance this class faces given its unconventional approach to history are explored.