You may not think about public health much, unless the news mentions a disease outbreak or food recall. However, public health affects your life—and your community—every day. Public health professionals are always working for you, operating behind the scenes and creating safeguards to help everyone stay healthy and safe.  

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) defines public health as the science of protecting and improving the health of people and their communities. This is different from health care because public health focuses on everyone’s health rather than individual health.  

Public health includes all of the programs, systems, policies, and regulations designed to help keep people and communities safe, prevent disease, and encourage choices that promote good health.  

This year is the 30th anniversary of National Public Health Week, which is recognized the first week of April.