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The Contested Boundaries of American Public Health
Bookstore | Seasonal Catalog Book Listings | Spring and Summer 2008 Catalog | The Contested Boundaries of American Public Health


The Contested Boundaries of American Public Health

Price: $24.95  

Authors: Edited by James Colgrove, Gerald E. Markowitz, and David Rosner
Subject: Health and Medicine, Sociology
Paper ISBN 978-0-8135-4312-3

Pages: 288 pages, 7 illustrations
Publication Date:
May 2008
Series: Critical Issues in Health and Medicine



Praise for The Contested Boundaries of American Public Health

"This book is a must read for anyone with a stake in protecting and promoting our public's health."—Dr. Elin A. Gursky, Sc.D., Fellow and Prinicipal Deputy for Biodefense, ANSER/Analytic Services Inc.

"An important read for anyone in the field of public health, The Contested Boundaries of American Public Health provides a timely analysis of the many ways in which the boundaries of public health are constantly being negotiated. From the emergence of chronic diseases as leading causes of death to the threats of bioterrorism in a post 9-11 world, the authors lay down a compelling, analytical foundation as they examine how far public health should extend its reach and what means are appropriate to carry out its mission."—Georges C. Benjamin, MD, FACP, FACEP (E), executive director of the American Public Health Association

"An invaluable introduction to an often-neglected, but increasingly visible aspect of medicine in society. This should be of interest to anyone interested in the formation of policy in the twenty-first century."—Charles Rosenberg, Harvard University


Description:

The role of public health services in America is generally considered to be the reduction of illness, suffering, and death. But what exactly does this mean in practice? At different points in history, professionals in the field have addressed housing reform, education about sex and illegal drugs, hospital and clinic care, gun violence, and even bioterrorism. But there is no agreement about how far public health efforts should go in attempting to modify behaviors seen as lifestyle choices, or whether the field's mandate extends to intervening in broader social and economic conditions.

The authors of the thirteen essays in this book attempt to understand what are, and what should be, the field's chief goals and activities. Drawing on examples that include September 11th, Hurricane Katrina, the anthrax scare, and more, contributors examine the historical evolution of the profession and show how public health is changing in the context of natural and human-made disasters and the politics that surround them.


About the Authors:

James Colgrove is an assistant professor of sociomedical sciences at Columbia University.

Gerald E. Markowitz is a distinguished professor of history at John Jay College, City University of New York.

David Rosner is the Ronald Lauterstein professor of sociomedical sciences and history at Columbia University and the codirector of the Center for the History and Ethics of Public Health.


Contributors:

Ronald Bayer, Phil Brown, Isil Celimli, Amy L. Fairchild, Sherry Glied, Marianna Hillemeier, Beatrix Hoffman, Marian Moser Jones, Mary Clare Lennon, Nicole Lurie, William McAllister, Christopher D. Nelson, Dennis P. Scanlon, Alvin R. Tarlov, Nancy Tomes, Jeffrey Wasserman



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Price: $24.95  






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