It's Time We Became a Profession.

This article examines the role of public health professionals in the U.S. Despite the fact that public health can take credit for 80 percent of improved longevity and health, the story is simply not known to many people in the country. Investments in public health have decreased from 3 percent of health spending in the country to 0.9 percent. Local health budgets and staff are being reduced and their responsibilities transferred elsewhere. In addition, most public health employees are undervalued and underpaid. Hence, the Association of Schools of Public Health and the American Public Health Association, stated that one important factor affecting public health spending is the absence of discernible, visible, organized professionalism.