Health at the Nexus: Land Use & Public Health Marc Schenker M.D., M.P.H. Dept. Public Health Sciences University of California, Davis

The public health community has led in increasing awareness of land use and health

AJPH Built Environment and Health September, 2003

Urban Sprawl and Public Health: Designing, Planning and building for Healthy Communities Frumkin, Frank, Jackson; 2004

Frederick Law Olmsted ( ) Founder of American landscape architecture General Secretary of the Sanitary Commission during the Civil War

The Vision of Public Health “Healthy People in Healthy Communities.”

Biology Behavior Environment ConceptionDeath Child Health Adolescent Health Adult Health Healthy Aging

Innate traits Individual behavior Social, family, community networks Living and working conditions Broad social, economic, cultural, environmental conditions at local, state, national global level Determinants of Population Health Innate traits Dahlgren, 1991

Public Health Approach to Disease Prevention Population-focused, organized effort to assist individuals, groups and communities. –ASSESSMENT –POLICY DEVELOPMENT –ASSURANCE Multidisciplinary approaches –educational –environmental –behavioral –legal Address root or underlying causes of disease

The Root Cause Approach to Public Health Will Require  Expansion of effective public-private partnerships  Greater coordination between the health care delivery system and the public health system  Increased cross-sector collaboration (public health, housing, transportation, education, etc) that recognizes the multiple factors affecting health  Increased financial investment

Public Health: A Natural Vehicle for Leading the Effort to Improve Land Use and Health Inherently multidisciplinary Research is based on populations, including behavioral, environmental, biologic factors An active practice/policy focus Involvement of communities A track record of accomplishments

Public Health and the UC Davis Strategic Plan Contribute to the solution of society’s most pressing health problems locally and around the globe through disciplinary and interdisciplinary research, life-long education, and community partnerships. “ “ Contribute to the solution of society’s most pressing health problems locally and around the globe through disciplinary and interdisciplinary research, life-long education, and community partnerships. “ ~ Campus Strategic Plan

Public Health Fits with the Overall Academic Campus Profile Unique Co-Location of Five Professional Schools Graduate School of Management School of Education School of Law School of Medicine School of Veterinary Medicine The UCD Advantage

UC Davis Tradition of Interdisciplinary Research and Teaching The John Muir Institute of the Environment Center for Occupational and Environmental Health Institute for Transportation Studies Center for Healthcare Policy and Research Alzheimer's Disease Center The M.I.N.D. Institute UC Davis Cancer Center Center for Vector borne Disease Western Center for Agricultural Health and Safety USDA Western Human Nutrition Research Center Program in International and Community Nutrition And many more…. Interdisciplinary centers and investigators, including:

A Growing Interaction in Public Health Between UC Davis and California Dept. of Public Health Volunteer clinical faculty Academic Health Department MPH co-teaching, practicums Cancer research program Emergency preparedness program And many more……

We are moving from awareness of public health and land use to the more difficult challenge of implementing changes. This effort should include using modern public health research and practice tools, increased collaboration of public health and medicine, innovative new multidisciplinary approaches and ultimately creating healthier communities by design. Conclusion

"I had an interview with the Board of Guardians of St. James's parish, on the evening of Thursday,7th September, and represented the above circumstances to them. In consequence of what I said, the handle of the pump was removed on the following day." John Snow Public Health Intervention

The End