Public health is a broad-based field of policy and practice that is aimed at promoting healthy behaviors, creating and monitoring a healthful environment, preventing disease and controlling contagious infections, providing education and disseminating health-related information, and ensuring access to quality health care.  Public health personnel are involved in many sectors of society, and their contributions include (but are not limited to) the following:

• Developing and implementing programs to improve nutrition, encourage exercise, reduce tobacco use, and promote safe sexual practices
• Conducting research on the effectiveness of programs designed to promote healthy behaviors
• Studying risk factors related to undesirable health outcomes, and implementing programs or interventions to reduce these risk factors
• Developing and maintaining databases on vital health information such as birth and death rates, incidence of disease and infection, and rates of substance use and abuse
• Inspecting and monitoring the quality of air, food, water, and other public resources
• Inspecting and monitoring sites that may influence the health of consumers or community residents, such as restaurants, work areas, medical facilities, and hazardous waste facilities
• Engaging in advocacy to influence health-related programs and legislation
• Providing assistance to people and communities affected by natural disasters or other catastrophic health risks