This section serves as your entry point into the world of public health. According to Infectious Diseases & Conditions, "public health is a practice that focuses on the promotion of physical, mental, and social health and well-being and on the prevention of disease and disability among groups of people. It differs from the practice of medicine because it focuses on prevention rather than cures and addresses the needs of people as a whole rather than as individual persons."
The Gale Encyclopedia of Medicine defines public health as "the science and clinical practice of population and community-based efforts to prevent disease and disability, and to promote physical and mental health. It considers the health of groups, communities, or populations as opposed to the health of individuals. Historically, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has been the key organization for coordinating public health efforts in the United States. The CDC also supports state and local public health authorities. Worldwide, the World Health Organization, a part of the United Nations, coordinates global public health with participation from each of its 194 member states. The eradication of smallpox, identifying and responding to influenza pandemics, and implementing the International Health Regulations are some examples of worldwide public health efforts. The science of public health is called epidemiology. It is the study of the occurrence of disease in naturally existing populations, such as nations, cities, or communities."