It is important for public health students and professionals to keep up with all of the latest news concerning healthcare, medicine, technology and public policy, but it can be difficult to locate the best resources for this information. This guide presents the top outlets for industry information and scientific studies in several categories: blogs, professional associations, government agencies, educational organizations, journals and Twitter accounts. Prospective students can also check out our latest rankings of public health degree programs, including the best online MPH programs.
Professional Associations and Government Agencies
American Public Health Association (APHA)
The American Public Health Association is one of the oldest and most respected organizations for public health professionals in the world. It was founded in 1872 to improve the health of American families and communities. Today, the association promotes universal access to healthcare in the United States and acts as the collective voice of public health officials from across the country. APHA publishes a peer-reviewed journal, the American Journal of Public Health, and a newspaper, The Nation’s Health.
Public Health Foundation (PHF)
The Public Health Foundation has been dedicated to improving the health of U.S. communities for more than 40 years. This is accomplished through research, analysis, professional training and assistance in using technology that is new to the field. This independent, nonprofit organization does not offer memberships. Instead, it is open to all community health organizations and individuals interested in public health.
U.S. Department of Health & Human Services (HHS)
The U.S. Department of Health & Human Services is the official federal agency charged with protecting the health of all American residents. HHS receives more grant money than all other federal agencies combined, excluding the military, to reach its goals and perform its legislated tasks, such as the administration of the Medicare and Medicaid programs. In addition to these two important programs, HHS offers over 300 other programs concerning health and human services.
U.S. Food and Drug Administration
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration is an agency that falls under the jurisdiction of the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services. It consists of two operating offices, six product centers and a research center. The FDA is responsible for protecting the health of U.S. residents by regulating food, drugs, vaccines, medical equipment, cosmetics, and other biological products.
U.S. Public Health Service Commissioned Corps
The Commissioned Corps is a division of the Department of Health & Human Services that consists of paid workers and volunteers. The Commissioned Corps includes doctors, nurses, pharmacists, researchers and other healthcare professionals, and it is overseen by the surgeon general. This corps of healthcare workers is considered to be one of the seven uniformed services of the United States, and officers work with a range of domestic and foreign government agencies for the benefit of public health.
World Health Organization (WHO)
The World Health Organization is the premier global organization dedicated to public health. WHO was established in 1945 by the United Nations, and operations began on April 7, 1948. The anniversary of this day is now celebrated every year as World Health Day. WHO provides leadership on issues of public health to governments and organizations around the world, and it sets global standards for healthcare.
Public Health Education and Accrediting Agencies
The Harry S. Truman Scholarship Foundation
The Harry S. Truman Scholarship Foundation is for students, scholars and educators in the field of public health. The website offers news, announcements and event listings in several categories. However, the primary purpose of the foundation is to offer scholarships to college juniors who show potential in becoming future leaders.
Public Health Accreditation Board (PHAB)
The Public Health Accreditation Board works through several strategic partnerships to promote health by assessing the quality of the public health educational departments of U.S. colleges and universities. PHAB firmly believes that a quality governmental public health system performing at peak efficiency will lead to a healthier country. The board was created in 2007 as a result of the Exploring Accreditation program launched by the CDC in 2005.
National Association of Local Boards of Health
The National Association of Local Boards of Health works in close partnership with PHAB and other organizations to support the national public health accreditation program. Membership is open to state, local, territorial and tribal health departments.
Public Health Journals and Databases
International Journal of Public Health
The International Journal of Public Health publishes scientific articles that have been submitted by researchers in the U.S. and overseas. Original research, reviews, manuscripts and articles on theory and methodology are all welcomed by the editors. In addition, the journal publishes opinions and commentary on select topics. This journal is known for the speed in which it publishes articles. Once articles are approved by the editors, they appear in an online edition of the journal in less than 23 days.
Medscape News Public Health & Prevention
Public Health & Prevention from Medscape News is a database of informational articles and scientific research from more than 125 of the leading publications, peer-reviewed journals and textbooks from around the world. Medscape is a division of WebMD, and the information presented is organized into the following categories: recent news, expert advice, conference reports, forum discussions and archived articles.
Public Health
Public Health is an international, peer-reviewed journal for epidemiology. The journal publishes research articles, data analysis, and evaluations of public health programs. In addition, editors review health screenings, health policies and legal issues.
Public Health Blogs
Brett Keller
The personal blog of Brett Keller, a public health and public policy graduate student in Princeton, New Jersey, focuses on a wide range of issues. Epidemiology, public health, economic development and statistical methods are some of the topics he has recently covered.
Center for Global Development
The mission of the Center of Global Development (CGD) is to reduce poverty and improve health in all the regions of the world. This nonprofit group actively engages in public health research and works closely with community health centers.
Economist’s Lens
Economist’s Lens is a blog created by Kevin Frick. Frick is a professor and researcher at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. Although several months may pass between posts, solid advice is provided for the improvement of public health everywhere.
EpiAnalysis
EpiAnalysis is one of the top public health blogs concerning data analysis and statistics for public health researchers. The blog focuses on global health concerns and the socioeconomic determinants of local health conditions. The blog was founded by Dr. Sanjay Basu, who is an assistant professor of medicine at Stanford University.
Globalhealthpolicy.net
Globalhealthpolicy.net is a public health blog co-written by Andrew Harmer and Devi Sridhar, a pair of lecturers at the University of Edinburgh in Scotland. Although the blog is British, the topics covered mirror important issues in the United States, and a European perspective on global healthcare can be very helpful for American public health students, educators and officials.
Humanosphere
Humanosphere is the blog of veteran journalist Tom Paulson. He has studied global health and health policies for over 25 years, and he once worked for the science and medical department at the Seattle Post Intelligencer. Paulson’s nonprofit news organization covers topics concerning global health, science, technology, human rights and international business.
Monday Morning
Monday Morning is considered to be one the best public health blogs on the Internet. It was established by Barbara Rimer, a professor and dean at the University of North Carolina (UNC) Gillings School of Global Public Health. She started the blog as a means to communicate about public health with UNC students, faculty and the public.
Pop Health
Pop Health is a blog that examines the connection between public health and popular culture. It is written by Leah Roman, who has worked for several years as a public health professional. In addition to writing this blog, she also runs a consulting business by the name of Roman Public Health Consulting LLC.
Public Health Matters Blog
This is one of the official blogs of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control (CDC). It presents interesting articles concerning public health in several categories, including disease investigation, foodborne illness, natural disasters, emergency preparedness, waterborne pathogens and zombies.
Public Health Perspectives
Public Health Perspectives is an official blog of the Public Library of Science (PLOS). PLOS is a nonprofit advocacy group that is leading a push to transform and update research communication. All of the blogs in the PLOS Blogs Network are meticulously maintained, and they include only professionally produced material.
The Public’s Health
The Public’s Health is a blog presented by the Philadelphia Inquirer. It is maintained by Michael Yudell, associate professor at the Drexel University School of Public Health, and Jonathon Purtle, a doctoral student and worker for the Drexel Center for Nonviolence and Social Justice. Guest bloggers also make important contributions here.
Talking About Health
Talking About Health is the blog of Roxanne Parrott. She is an author and expert in the field of health communication, and the blog seeks to answer the question about why communication matters. It also provides valuable insight into a variety of public health topics that can be found in the mainstream media.
Public Health Twitter Accounts
APHA
@PublicHealth
This is the official account of the American Public Health Association. Three to six updates on public health issues are posted here every weekday, and important posts by others are retweeted.
JHU Public Health
@JohnsHopkinsSPH
This account is operated by Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health in Baltimore. The focus here is on public health research and data analysis.
John Snow Inc.
@JSIhealth
John Snow Inc. is a prominent consulting firm for the public health industry. Up to 10 tweets related to public health are made from this account each day.
Karen Grepin
@KarenGrepin
The Twitter account of Karen Grepin closely follows her global public health blog, but it also offers additional insight, personable interaction and lighthearted musings.
Leah Roman
@LeahHealth
This is the official Twitter account of Leah Roman, a prominent public health consultant who also runs the blog Pop Health. Roman uses her account to update followers on new blog posts and to answer questions about public health.
MNT Public Health
@mnt_phealth
Medical New Today (MNT) posts the latest issues and articles about public health from leading universities, journals and research institutions.
The Public’s Health
@PublicsHealth
This is the Twitter account for the Philadelphia Inquirer’s blog of the same name. It provides updates on public health news and links to articles concerning the history of public health and ethics within the field.
RWJF
@RWJF_PubHealth
The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF) is a nonprofit organization dedicated to improving health through research and community action. The foundation’s Twitter account is closely linked to its website at NewPublicHealth.org.
UMN Public Health
@publichealthmn
This is the official Twitter account of the University of Minnesota School of Public Health in Minneapolis. This public health school is considered one of the best in the country.
WHO
@WHO
The official account of the World Health Organization provides information pertaining to the health of children and adults everywhere. This account is just as helpful for the general public as it is for public health professionals.