Stephen Smith, Founder of the American Public Health Association

Stephen Smith, Founder of the American Public Health Association

Stephen Smith, a physician and attorney, served on the New York City's Metropolitan Health Board and founded the American Public Health Association in 1872. This was the first national organization created to improve public health standards. Its initials goals were:

1. "To awaken and maintain the active and permanent interests of the people in sanitary administration;
2. To facilitate the enlightenment of the public on this topic
3. To promote the appointment of more competent health authorities
4. To promote science and measures for practical application to public hygiene."

When it was first formed, the APHA had only ten members. It is now the "oldest and most diverse organization of public health professionals in the world," and continues to protect the nation through preventive health services and activities. The health professionals of the APHA are "working to ensure access to health care, protect funding for core public health services and eliminate health disparities."

Bain News Service

1-Jan-14

http://lcweb2.loc.gov/service/pnp/ggbain/15000/15059v.jpg

For further exploration please visit American Public Health Association: http://www.apha.org/

Link: http://lcweb2.loc.gov/service/pnp/ggbain/15000/15059v.jpg

Sources: The APHA Statistics Section. (n.d.). American Public Health Association. Retrieved Oct, 9, 2012, from http://bit.ly/UPUZVj

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Stephen Smith, APHA, Public Health, Healthcare, Health

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