The ACPM Science and Translation Committee (STC) is charged with providing evidence-based guidance for the various forms of preventive medicine practice: clinical, community and population, policy and advocacy. The purpose and functions of the committee are to:
The ACPM Science and Translation Committee (STC) is charged with providing evidence-based guidance for the various forms of preventive medicine practice: clinical, community and population, policy and advocacy. The purpose and functions of the committee are to:
- Develop evidence-based reviews of strategically selected topics to advance the work of the College and support preventive medicine practice.
- Translate evidence (from extant or new reviews) into useful clinical, population health policy and implementation recommendations as ACPM position statements for organizational or membership-led advocacy efforts.
This 2022 paper from the American College of Preventive Medicine published in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine used a prevention framework to identify current approaches to the opioid epidemic. All these approaches to address America’s opioid use crisis were evidence-based and have federal and state policy implications.
In addition, ACPM’s STC opioid epidemic paper recommendations are consistent and aligned with the ACPM 2024 Legislative Advocacy Agenda and specifically to two prioritized policy issues:
- Advocate for increased federal funding for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and state and local health departments to support public health readiness, preparedness to protect the public in the face of ongoing pandemic disease, support efforts to decrease chronic disease and address other health threats.
- Support efforts to fund programs and training in the field of addiction medicine and substance use prevention and treatment and related behavioral health conditions.
ACPM’s mission statement includes advocating for preventive medicine and preventive medicine physicians in health systems and health policy. It accomplishes this through the expertise and efforts of its Board of Regents, Executive Committee and committees including Advocacy and STC. This article has attempted to show how all these ACPM elements work together to advance ACPM’s vision to promote healthy lifestyles and population health.
David Niebuhr, MD, MPH, MSc
Chair, ACPM Science and Translation Committee