The American Public Health Association (APHA) is Washington, D.C.-based professional organization for public health professionals in the United States. Founded in 1872 by Dr. Stephen Smith, APHA has more than 30,000 members worldwide. The Association defines itself as being "the oldest and most diverse organization of public health professionals in the world." It defines its mission as: "The Association aims to protect all Americans and their communities from preventable, serious health threats and strives to assure that community-based health promotion and disease prevention activities and preventative health services are universally accessible in the United States.
National APHA Awards
Member Groups and State Affiliates
1.1 Organizational Components: Sections and SPIGs
2 Public Health Education and Health Promotion Section
3 Awards
4 Publications
5 Annual Meeting
6 National Public Health Week
7 Leadership
8 Campaign for Children's Health Care
9 Climate Change and Public Health
10 Color Standards
11 See also
12 References
13 External links
Sections serve as the primary professional units of the Association and conduct activities that promote the mission and fulfill the goals of APHA. There are 27 Sections that represent major public health disciplines or public health programs. These sections are designed to allow members with shared interests to come together to develop scientific program content, policy papers in their areas of interest or fields of practice, provide for professional and social networking, career development and mentoring. Sections include: Maternal and Child Health, HIV/AIDS, Community Planning and Policy Development, Occupational Health and Safety, International Health and School Health Education and Services.
Special Primary Interest Groups (SPIGs) are an open group of self-selected APHA members who share a common occupational discipline or program area interest and elect no primary Section affiliation. SPIGs include: Alternative and Complementary Health Practices, Ethics, Health Law, Laboratory, Physical Activity and Veterinary Public Health.