NCCDH was fortunate to be invited to Sparking Population Health Solutions, an international summit held in Ottawa that brought together researchers, influencers, and decision makers to discuss shifting the emphasis from studying the problem to creating solutions for population health.
I (Raymond) have been a Public Health Inspector (PHI) for over 15 years and currently fulfill the role of Environmental Health Specialist with Toronto Public Health (TPH) within the Healthy Environments directorate.
Looking back at the last 10 years I have worked in the field of environmental health, the most memorable and rewarding career moments all involved connecting with the public, educating others and effecting change. These are the moments that inspire me and motivate me to continue my career in public health.
In over 20 years of working in public health, I have seen how Environmental Health Officers (EHOs) can be effective advocates for individual clients, but knowing when to intervene in an individual case in the name of public health can be a challenge.
This past year, we have seen an explosion of interest in how the work of Public Health Inspectors (PHIs; a.k.a. Environmental Health Officers – EHOs) intersects with social determinants of health (SDH) and health equity.
Since its inception, the National Collaborating Centre for Determinants of Health (NCCDH) has sought to encourage and support public health to engage effectively in intersectoral action (1,2) because the conditions that influence health fall far outside the authority of public health organizations.
In February 2016, the NCCs for Determinants of Health and Aboriginal Health hosted The North West Health Equity Forum. Using an innovative approach, the event linked over 100 stakeholders across four regions to explore a collective impact approach to improving health equity in rural/remote settings.
Language is a tricky thing … it is both biological and a learned system rooted in cultural norms and beliefs. It makes it possible for us to think and act conceptually within a moral or values-based frame. Language is both rational and emotional. It simultaneously makes us think and makes us feel.
What are the major issues facing environmental health practitioners in public health? The Canadian Institute of Public Health Inspectors (CIPHI) explored this these at their 81st annual educational conference titled “Looking Back, Moving Forward” held in Ottawa September 13-16, 2015.
What does it mean to ‘rethink public health? The association of Public Health agencies (alPHa) in Ontario posed this question as the organizing theme of their annual conference held in June 2015.
