公共卫生在全球人口中发挥着至关重要的作用。 这一领域致力于改善人口、社区、组织和个人的健康，并保护他们的福祉。 当更大的利益受到威胁时，或者当该领域出现新的研究时，就应该由公共卫生专业人员介入。 他们可能开发疫苗，促进重大健康运动，增加获得医疗保健的机会，或采取措施改善他人的生活和工作环境。 今天有许多影响国家公共卫生的当代倡议，因此人们可以通过许多方式参与进来。

如果你正在考虑将来从事公共卫生工作，请继续往下读。 以下是2022年影响我们国家的五项公共卫生举措，以及如何在今天影响积极变化的细节。

1. 应对气候变化对公共卫生的影响

This year, the 美国公共卫生协会 (APHA) listed the effects of climate change as one of the organization’s top advocacy priorities.

随着气候变化的持续，疾病和死亡率也将上升。 因此，美国必须立即采取行动，为公共卫生系统做好准备，保护民众——尤其是弱势群体。

In a 全国公共卫生周公告, President Biden also declared, “We must make transformational investments in our climate resilience and continue to address dangerous environmental injustices that threaten public health and have hit communities of color the hardest.”

2. 扩大种族平等

In November 2020, the 美国医学协会 identified racism as a threat to public health. The same year, 按种族和族裔划分的健康差异情况介绍 verified race to be a disproportionate factor in health coverage, conditions, mental health care, and causes of death. In April 2021, the director of the CDC called racism a “serious public health threat,” and by August 2021, 种族主义被宣布为公共卫生危机 across 37 states.

In 2022, the 凯撒家庭基金会 found that American Indians, Alaskan Natives, Blacks, and Latinos have been twice as likely to die from COVID-19 as whites.

In his Proclamation during National Public Health Week, President Biden stated, “We must take commonsense steps to address the public health epidemic of gun violence, which disproportionately impacts Black Americans.”

粮食不安全和住房不稳定等社会经济因素也是种族健康不平等的主要原因。 In the 2022 outline of the 美国公共卫生协会’s advocacy plans, the organization emphasized eliminating police violence and expanding voting access. The APHA’s agenda also indicated, “To achieve health equity…we must address racism as a driving force of the social determinants of health (e.g., housing, education, and employment) and a root cause of disparate outcomes for communities of color….”

3. 改造心理健康机会

在他的初步国情咨文中，拜登宣布了他的建议：

• 在中小学、学院和大学发展获得精神卫生支持的途径
• 改善退伍军人获得当日心理健康护理的机会
• 将精神卫生和药物使用治疗纳入初级保健机构
• 投资于社交媒体对心理健康危害的研究，并且
• Through the 美国救援计划, launch a 988心理健康危机热线 to support local crisis calls, and establish mobile response teams, among other strategic mental health measures

4. 向卓越的病人护理敞开大门

在美国医院协会（AHA）的宣传议程中，“保护患者获得护理和保险”是重要的。 该协会促进退伍军人接受全面的社区护理，并提倡向边缘群体提供关键的保健和社会服务的“大都市定点医院”。

美国心脏协会的备忘录还提到了使远程医疗的某些方面成为永久性的——包括适当的门诊护理，扩大可以提供远程医疗服务的从业人员，以及作为远程站点的农村卫生诊所。

Similarly, in a statement detailing a 统一议程 from the White House, President Biden outlined developing more access to virtual mental health care options.

“It’s imperative that we promote better pathways to care and make it as easy as possible for all Americans with behavioral health needs … to access the resources that will improve their well-being,” the briefing room released.

5. 促进卫生保健专业人员

The 美国医院协会的2022年宣传议程 detailed their support for the health care workforce through apprenticeship programs and organizations that award health care scholarships.

In his State of the Union Address, President Biden also endorsed the 洛娜·布林医生医疗服务提供者保护法 — an awareness campaign to address mental health stigmatization and backed help-seeking and self-care within the profession.

In addition, the 美国公共卫生协会 also affirmed its approval for 贷款偿还和减免计划 for 公共卫生专业人员 who dedicate two years of practice in a local, state, or tribal health department.

获得灵感并产生真正影响的动机

有这么多悬而未决的公共卫生问题需要解决，这是其他人加紧努力的机会。 如果你很好奇，数据驱动，以事业为导向，现在是考虑公共卫生职业的最佳时机。

公共卫生领域的大多数职业都需要大专以上学历。 Advanced 公共卫生专业人员, like epidemiologists and biostatisticians, hold a 公共卫生硕士学位. Meanwhile, community health educators, health promotion specialists, and advocates can hold a 公共卫生学士学位.

由于提供灵活的公共卫生学位课程，即使是在职学生也可以在方便的时候继续他们的职业目标和学习。 无论是获得公共卫生学士学位还是硕士学位，都有无数的职业选择可以产生影响。

公共卫生专业正在等待像你这样的领导者。

做自己喜欢的事情，让自己与众不同。 在解决影响你所在社区的公共卫生倡议方面有所作为。

你对获得公共卫生学位感兴趣吗？ 点击这里 以公共卫生为职业，了解更多有关关心社区福祉的知识。