Why is public health important?
“We are living through an incredibly unique time in history. At this moment, people across the globe are experiencing first-hand the importance of prevention and public health ---all at the same time. Millions of lives have been saved because of past public health initiatives including standards for clean air and water, vaccine programs, and seatbelt safety laws. In the face of COVID-19, millions of lives will be saved by public health recommendations that reduce travel and community exposures.”
-- Dr. Sara St. George, Assistant Professor at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine Department of Public Health Sciences
What are the most crucial issues facing Miami-Dade from the perspective of your line of work? How can individuals or communities advocate awareness and action around these issues?
“My work focuses on developing and evaluating digital family-based obesity and chronic disease prevention interventions. Although unrelated to infectious disease, some of the targets of my interventions, including positive family communication, are crucial during these times of uncertainty and stress. Children are home from school, parents are juggling increased caregiving demands, families are suffering from the loss of income, grandparents are being asked to stay away. Overall, the family unit’s ability to navigate through this time together and in as positive a manner as possible will be critical to the health and well-being of each individual family member. In an effort to make this National Public Health Week Message helpful, I provide a few trusted resources for families here (all of which are available in English and Spanish).”
-- Dr. Sara St. George, Assistant Professor at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine Department of Public Health Sciences
