Dean Buekens takes a stand on “A Public Health of Consequences”

In the August issue of the American Journal of Public Health (AJPH), Dr. Pierre Buekens, dean of the Tulane University School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine, reminds public health professionals to not let fear get in the way of the task of positively affecting the health of populations.

Since the beginning of 2017, the AJPH has asked authors to take on the topic of “A public health of consequence,” inviting them to expound on issues of relevance to public health.

In “Public Health Without Fear of Consequences or Inconsequences,” Dean Buekens calls on his colleagues to not shy away from the impediments to the central tenets of public health, reminding them to beware of the pitfalls of following what might be called safe public health career. His advice encourages practitioners and academicians alike to take on controversial issues, confront neglected areas, take risks, and more.

The commentary is in the August 2017 edition of the AJPH, which is a publication of the American Public Health Association.