Business Insight What is Public Health Every country with a civilized government has a health institution designing health policies, making decisions in emergencies, working closely with drug administration agencies and, in general, supporting the society and its well-being. There is no reasonable person who would eliminate safety and a health policy from our national needs. However, how public health institutions work is yet another story. In the US, we have a national agency level and state-based agencies level. National institutions under federal administration are FDA, Federal Drug Administration, and CDC, Center for Disease Control. There are many other associations and organizations, all non- for-profit, who may support public health, but they do not issue nation-wide policies. FDA and CDC have different and very distinct programs and they do not overlap their activities. They are both supported by the National Institute of Health, which is the largest research organization in the world, delivering thousands of new drug discoveries and current data on many studies. All these institutions work very closely with the Department of Health and Human Services. The state-level agencies vary by name, size, and scope of activities. Their role is sometimes to follow the directions of the federal agencies, and some other times, to design and fulfill the roles of their own state. They are different because the states are different. They all are under direct supervision of governors for each state. presented by Arlington Dermatology We all as a country had a very good example of public health in action during the COVID-19 pandemic. During and after COVID-19, we have seen a lot of finger- pointing and blame games, usually based on politics rather than facts. Frankly, nobody knew much about COVID until we already saw some consequences of it. Making nationwide decisions in regard to something unknown is not a fairytale. Your chance of being right or wrong is practically 50/50. Yet, if we all remember that it was about our own safety, being more proactive rather than less proactive was probably safer for us as a society. It was amazing that not many people notice the distinctions among the states: wearing masks in Boston or New York, where winter placed all of people indoor and in close proximity of each other was totally different that wearing masks in Florida, where people can stay outdoor 12 months of each year. Vaccinations of children attending schools saved many lives for years. But the timing of vaccinations may vary from child to child due to various health events and genetic disorders. We could list many more examples of flexibility needed in following wide-issued directions and that flexibility requires a lot of common sense by all institutions. Public health is very much needed in providing society-wide studies. Every new virus or national emergency in health can and should serve as a lesson for the future. Medical science is every-changing. I could not stress enough how much what I knew in medical school and what I know now has evolved and changed over the years. This is why doctors and medical scientists are not only required to follow continuing education rules; they simply must continue learning. And active participation in clinical research is the best way to stay on the front of that process. The two worst things that can happen are for people who are in public health not to continue learning and instead, politicizing decisions made in public health institutions. Believe me, when you get sick or are at risk of getting sick, the last thing you want to hear is politics. The first thing you want is a well-educated doctor who will show you your options to getting back to health. Michael Bukhalo, MD Arlington Dermatology 5301 Keystone Court Rolling Meadows, IL 60008 Tel. 847 392 5440 | www.arlingtondermatology.net Business Insight What is Public Health Every country with a civilized government has a health institution designing health policies , making decisions in emergencies , working closely with drug administration agencies and , in general , supporting the society and its well - being . There is no reasonable person who would eliminate safety and a health policy from our national needs . However , how public health institutions work is yet another story . In the US , we have a national agency level and state - based agencies level . National institutions under federal administration are FDA , Federal Drug Administration , and CDC , Center for Disease Control . There are many other associations and organizations , all non for - profit , who may support public health , but they do not issue nation - wide policies . FDA and CDC have different and very distinct programs and they do not overlap their activities . They are both supported by the National Institute of Health , which is the largest research organization in the world , delivering thousands of new drug discoveries and current data on many studies . All these institutions work very closely with the Department of Health and Human Services . The state - level agencies vary by name , size , and scope of activities . Their role is sometimes to follow the directions of the federal agencies , and some other times , to design and fulfill the roles of their own state . They are different because the states are different . They all are under direct supervision of governors for each state . presented by Arlington Dermatology We all as a country had a very good example of public health in action during the COVID - 19 pandemic . During and after COVID - 19 , we have seen a lot of finger pointing and blame games , usually based on politics rather than facts . Frankly , nobody knew much about COVID until we already saw some consequences of it . Making nationwide decisions in regard to something unknown is not a fairytale . Your chance of being right or wrong is practically 50/50 . Yet , if we all remember that it was about our own safety , being more proactive rather than less proactive was probably safer for us as a society . It was amazing that not many people notice the distinctions among the states : wearing masks in Boston or New York , where winter placed all of people indoor and in close proximity of each other was totally different that wearing masks in Florida , where people can stay outdoor 12 months of each year . Vaccinations of children attending schools saved many lives for years . But the timing of vaccinations may vary from child to child due to various health events and genetic disorders . We could list many more examples of flexibility needed in following wide - issued directions and that flexibility requires a lot of common sense by all institutions . Public health is very much needed in providing society - wide studies . Every new virus or national emergency in health can and should serve as a lesson for the future . Medical science is every - changing . I could not stress enough how much what I knew in medical school and what I know now has evolved and changed over the years . This is why doctors and medical scientists are not only required to follow continuing education rules ; they simply must continue learning . And active participation in clinical research is the best way to stay on the front of that process . The two worst things that can happen are for people who are in public health not to continue learning and instead , politicizing decisions made in public health institutions . Believe me , when you get sick or are at risk of getting sick , the last thing you want to hear is politics . The first thing you want is a well - educated doctor who will show you your options to getting back to health . Michael Bukhalo , MD Arlington Dermatology 5301 Keystone Court Rolling Meadows , IL 60008 Tel . 847 392 5440 | www.arlingtondermatology.net