Impact of Public Health History Course: A Personal Reflection

This is a reflective essay on the History of Public Health course, detailing how the course extended the student's existing knowledge and how the lessons learned will inform future practice. The student emphasizes the significance of understanding the history, principles, and challenges in public health, as well as related concepts like Evidence-Based Research, health equality, community engagement, and public health ethics. The reflection highlights the importance of public health in protecting the public, responding to emergencies, promoting healthy behaviors, and formulating public health policies. The student intends to apply this knowledge to promote healthy living, prepare for emergencies, distribute healthcare resources equitably, and participate in policy formulation to achieve health equity and equality.

Running head: REFLECTION 1
Reflection
Name
Institution

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Reflection
Introduction
History of Public Health is one of the most significant courses I have undertaken this
semester. As a student of public health, I should be all-round because I need to know everything
about my area of specialization ranging from its history, growth, development, transformations,
emerging issues as well as the challenges that are faced in the public health sector both within
and out of my country. This course, therefore, served its purpose well because it gave me an
opportunity to learn a lot of new information on topics like history, principles, essence, and
challenges in public health as well as other public health-related concepts such as Evidence-
Based Research (EBR), health equality and equity, community engagement, community
empowerment, public health research, public health ethics, just t mention, but a few. Each of
these ideas was of great significance because they will improve my understanding and prepare
me to be public health professional of repute.
How the Course Extended My Existing Knowledge
I must thank the management of this institution from introducing this course and making
it as one of the core units during this semester. I must acknowledge that it was a bright idea
because he course has been making positive contributions on the students who pursue it. since I
dedicated my time to attend lectures, take notes, make notes, engaged in group discussions,
conducted further research, and did assignments, I say with no fear of contradiction that this
course will leave an indelible mark on my mind. It was indeed worthwhile because it boosted my
understanding on public health in many ways.

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First and foremost, it enabled me to have a sound knowledge of the history of public
health. Initially, I did not know that public health is a discipline that has a long history. I was also
not aware of the founders of the discipline, what motivated them and how hard they worked to
transform public health into a fully-fledged discipline (Baum, 2016). However, now, I know
thanks to the course. I am proud to say that now; I know that public health has a long history I
also know that it has taken a lot of commitments and dedication for it to be what it is today. The
pioneer public health scholars worked so hard because they knew that the discipline would be of
great contribution in the society (Rosen, 2015). That is why, over the years, several
improvements were made to ensure that public health is refined improved to ensure that is
becomes a discipline that can be relied upon to address issues of public health concern in the
society. Knowledge on the history of public health is indeed important to me because it can make
me to be an informed student who has knowledge of the past and present.
Apart from the history of public health, the course equipped me with the knowledge I
need to know about the reasons why we need it in our society today. I learnt that public health is
an essential discipline that the country cannot do without because it occupies a special position
that nothing else can replace (Aschengrau & Seage, 2013). Through this course, I got to learn
that, among the roles of public health include protecting the public from health hazards,
preparing and responding to health-related emergencies; curtailing the spread of communicable
diseases; promoting healthy behaviors; assuring the availability of public health infrastructure;
and formulation and implementation of public health policies (Bartkowiak-Théron & Asquith,
2017). That is a clear proof that show that public health is an important course because without
it, the students might not know about all these. However, now, I know why I should spend my
time studying the course. However, the good thing is that he course did not only inform me on its

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contributions, but also on its principles, scope, approaches as well other essential competencies
and concepts like EBP, research, and all the ethical principles pertaining to public health
practice.
How the Lessons from the Course will inform My Future Practice and support me in meeting
Relevant Competency Standards
The knowledge acquired in this course will not only apply to me during my study time,
but will remain relevant to me during my entire practice as a public health professional. I am
saying that because the information I got on the history, principles, approaches, scope,
conceptual framework, and the other competencies can prepare me to be a competent practitioner
who can make positive contributions to the health status of my patients and public health in
general (Tulchinsky & Varavikova, 2014).
The first way through which the knowledge will help me is that it will enable me to have
a deeper understanding of the concept of diseases and infections. I will apply all the skills so far
acquired to participate in the promotion of healthy living behaviors and standards in the country.
I will use my skills to educate the public on how to adopt healthy behaviors that cannot
compromise their health in any way (Baum, 2016). Besides, I will use my skills to prepare for
emergencies and adequately respond to them whenever necessary. Moreover, I will apply the
skills I got from the course in the distribution of healthcare resources to different parts of the
country especially to the communities that deserve it most (Brownson, Deshpande & Gillespie,
2017). My understanding on community assessment, prioritization will also enable me to
actively participate in the policy formulation and implementation process as we strive to achieve
the much desired health equity and equality in the nation.

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Conclusion
In conclusion, the History of Public Health is an invaluable course that must be
recommended to all the public health students. The course is rich in information that can be of
great contribution in preparing the students to be informed professionals. It has all that one needs
to know about public health. by pursing it, I got to know much on the history, principles,
essence, and challenges in public health as well as other public health-related concepts such as
Evidence-Based Research (EBR), health equality and equity, community engagement,
community empowerment, public health research, and public health ethics. These concepts are
of profound value because they will help me to be an ideal public health practitioner.

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References
Aschengrau, A., & Seage, G. R. (2013). Essentials of epidemiology in public health. Burlington:
Jones & Bartlett Publishers.
Bartkowiak-Théron, I., & Asquith, N. L. (2017). Conceptual divides and practice synergies in
law enforcement and public health: Some lessons from policing vulnerability in
Australia. Policing and society, 27(3), 276-288.
Baum, F. (2016). The new public health (No. Ed. 4). New York: Oxford University Press.
Brownson, R. C., Deshpande, A. D., & Gillespie, K. N. (2017). Evidence-based public health.
Oxford: Oxford university press.
Rosen, G. (2015). A history of public health. Baltimore: JHU Press.
Tulchinsky, T. H., & Varavikova, E. A. (2014). The new public health. Cambridge: Academic
Press.